Wanting to run for the state Legislature has been in Jeffrey Black’s mind for more than a decade.

“I made this decision in January of 2001, he said. “I was in Harrisburg in Bob Robin’s office to celebrate Dick Stevenson being sworn in.”

Black worked for the Stevenson campaign shortly after graduating from Geneva College, where he formed the College Republicans club.

“It was surreal to see a guy you poured your heart and soul into getting elected actually be elected,” he said. “I remember I said to Dick that this is something I want to do when you retire.”

Here are Black’s opinions on several issues:

Natural gas drillingBlack said he is a big supporter of Marcellus Shale gas exploration. However, Black said we need to be cautious about where the drilling occurs.“Is a drill site next to a water supply?,” he asked. “We need to protect the areas kids and family need to be around.”Black said while it is important to be safe, government cannot limit natural gas exploration, which Black said will soon be a big economic boon for the state.“We need to be wise, not hysterical,” he said.As for regulations on drilling, Black said he leans toward municipalities having at least some say in regulating laws.“Generally, when a local government can control something, it works better,” he said. “The state uses one big cookie cutter.”

EducationBlack said his more than 12 years of teaching gives him insight into the troubles in education.“I’m the only candidate who has worked in the profession,” he said.Black said there needs to be less regulation on the schools by the state.“Our education is so overregulated now that we teach to test,” he said. “We’ve gotten away from letting teachers teach and letting kids learn.”Black opposes the Common Core program, which sets standardized testing across the state.“Common Core is a heat seeking missile heading for our schools, and it can destroy a generation of students,” he said. “We need local control back in schools.”

Pension reformBlack said he believes the state needs to continue with the pension system already in place.“It was designed to fix the problem,” he said. “We need to give it a chance to let it work, and I don’t believe we’ve done that.While Black wants to test the state’s pension system a little longer, he did warn changes may be needed.“We cannot bankrupt Pennsylvania because of pensions,” he said. “If that means a reduction of benefits, or if it means new hires get a different system, it’s something we’ll have to look into.”

Tax reformBlack wants to eliminate property taxes. To compensate, he wants the state to increase sales taxes and income taxes.“It’s a hydraulic plan — equal pressure down and equal pressure up” he said.Under his plan, sales taxes would increase by 1 percent.Black said his idea would be implemented over five years to help ease the state into the new direction.“We would have one shot at this so we’d have to do it right,” he said. “It would be a learning experience for everyone involved.”

DrugsBlack said he has had firsthand experience as a teacher working with children who use drugs.“I’ve worked with kids coming off terrible addictions,” he said. “It’s a terrible situation to see in our schools.”Black said he would favor tougher restrictions on prescription pain medication. He added he would never vote for legalizing marijuana.

AgricultureBlack said he would support legislation to help preserve farm land.“This isn’t just a land issue, this is a food issue,” he said. “We need to maintain our existing agricultural land.”