Franklin Twp. man runs in 8th
FRANKLIN TWP — A third candidate is running to replace retiring state Rep. Dick Stevenson.
Herman Bauer of Franklin Township has announced that he will run in the May 20th Republican primary to represent the 8th District in the state House.
“I will be a full-time voice for the residents of the 8th District who want the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to become a leader in promoting economic growth, funding education that is focused on learning rather than test scores and maintaining our highways and bridges to the highest standards,” Bauer said in a statement.
Stevenson of Grove City announced in December that he will not run for re-election. The Republican has served in the House since 2001.
Bauer is the chairman of the Franklin Township supervisors. He said that experience has given him insight on how to be a good steward of tax dollars. He also said he twice supported tax cuts while still maintaining services.
He said that the state can revitalize job growth, especially with the current “once in a lifetime” economic boom of the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry, and still preserve water quality and landowner rights.
He said he would work for changes in several areas, including how education is funded, tax reform, pension costs, the high cost of college education and “midnight deadline deals” in the Legislature which he said compromise the state budget process.
“A fundamental shift in how the state budgets our tax dollars must be undertaken,” Bauer said.
He said that he wants to follow in Stevenson’s footsteps.
“I will always work toward restraint of government and preserving individual rights, including gun ownership,” Bauer said.
A financial controller for Caldon Ultrasonics, a high-tech business unit of the Cameron Corp., he has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.
Bauer attends Mount Chestnut Presbyterian Church. Over the years, he has served as an elder, deacon and youth director at various churches.
He and his wife, Rebecca, have five adult children.
Tedd Nesbit, a Grove City lawyer, and Jeffrey Black, a Grove City borough councilman and business owner, also have announced that they will run for the seat in the GOP primary.
In Butler County, the 8th District covers Brady, Center, Cherry, Clay, Franklin, Marion, Mercer, Muddy Creek and Worth townships and Harrisville, Portersville, West Liberty and West Sunbury.
It also covers southeastern Mercer County, including Grove City.
