GROVE CITY — The three candidates vying for the Republican nomination for state representative in the 8th District spoke Thursday night at Grove City College.

More than 60 students, faculty and residents listened to Herman Bauer, Jeffrey Black and Tedd Nesbit voice their opinions on several issues.

In Butler County, the 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.

The candidates are seeking to follow state Rep. Dick Stevenson, a Republican, who is retiring.

Education

Candidates were asked about education and whether they would consider cutting education funds to balance the state budget.

Nesbit of Grove City emphasized that education is “vitally important.” He said $14,000 is spent on educating the average Pennsylvania student.

“I think that’s enough to educate a child,” said the Mercer County assistant district attorney and private practice attorney.

Nesbit added he’s against the Common Core curriculum, and that school boards know how to better serve their students than blanket initiatives.

Black, also of Grove City, described education as the “infrastructure of the commonwealth.”

However, government spending needs to be based on what’s valuable for the local economy.

He said he would consider making cuts in education to balance the budget.

“It depends on what the local needs are in our school districts,” said Black, who was once a Midwestern Intermediate Unit social studies teacher.

He is now a small-business owner and a Grove City Borough Council member.

Bauer agreed with Nesbit and Black that education is an important aspect of the economy.

He said the system for funding education is imperfect. Ways to offset school district property taxes need to be considered, Bauer said.

Natural gas drilling

Black has dealt with hydraulic fracturing for natural gas as vice president of the Grove City Borough Council.

The council met with experts before approving of the practice.

As long as regulations are in place and the environment remains clean, he is in favor of gas drilling.

Bauer, who has also dealt with the issue as a chairman of the Franklin Township supervisors, said he whole heartedly supports the practice. He said the number of jobs it can potentially create is unprecedented.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said.

The supervisors did approve wells in the township.

“We’re going to be good stewards of our township. We’re going to monitor them,” said Bauer, who is a financial controller for Caldon Ultrasonics.

Nesbit also emphasized the job creation aspect of fracking. Besides jobs, millions of dollars in state impact fees from drilling go back to counties and communities, he said.

Nesbit said Pennsylvanians need to embrace fracking as long as it’s done responsibly.

Term limits

Bauer said if he’s elected, he would self impose a limit of eight years in office. He said the state needs more business people and fewer career politicians.

“We need term limits. You will lose some experience, but it will bring fresh ideas,” he said.

Black said some elected officials vote by popular choice if they stay too long. A passion for the job is important, he said.

However, Nesbit doesn’t favor term limits.

As an example, he referenced retiring Stevenson, who’s been in office since 2001. Term limits would have put the respected politician out of office years ago, Nesbit said.

He added, “I think we have a term limit in the form of an election every two years.”

Other Issues

All three candidates are in favor of privatization the state liquor stores as long as it’s regulated responsibly.

They also agree that Pennsylvania should be a Right to Work state, which allows employees to decide whether they want to join or financially support a union.

The forum was organized by the Grove City College Republicans. Student Chairman Alex Dimitri moderated the event.

There are no Democrats running for the seat. The primary is May 20.

Another forum for the three candidates will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Atrium, 1031 New Castle Road, Prospect.