Mustello, Doctor make pitches for 11th seat
Republican Marci Mustello and Democrat Sam Doctor took the stage at Butler County Community College's Succop Theater Thursday evening to discuss the issues at play in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
The pair are vying for the 11th District seat in a special election to replace long-term representative Brian Ellis, who resigned in March. Doctor and Mustello found some common ground, but they struck different tones on issues such as drugs, organized labor and the conduct of elected officials.
Butler Eagle publisher Ron Vodenichar moderated, and a crowd sporting much of Butler County's political scene soundtracked with applause and shouts.
After their debate, the venue hosted a talk between two candidates for the Pennsylvania State Senate's 41st District, followed by a discussion between Court of Common Pleas judicial candidates. More than 100 attended.
On two occasions during the night, drug policy drew probably the clearest division between Mustello and Doctor.
Mustello came out against marijuana legalization.
“I really don't think now is the time to introduce another drug into our society,” Mustello said.
To that, Doctor shot back, “It's already here. It's not reintroducing it. We're giving a tax break to black market drug trade right now. That's what we're doing.”
Asked to describe her road-map out of the opioid epidemic, Mustello called for more policing, and for more education about addictive drugs.
“We need to empower law enforcement,” Mustello said. “We need to make sure these bad guys are put away.”
Meanwhile, Doctor said the blame falls on drug companies.
“We need to start holding the people that are responsible accountable, first of all,” Doctor said of the issue. “The pharmaceutical industry.”
Both said they wouldn't support reducing the size of the 203-member House if it meant losing their jobs, as they wouldn't want less representation from Butler County.
Neither candidate supports the natural gas severance taxes proposed by Gov. Tom Wolf. Both agreed that natural gas drilling is a boon for the area that ought to be continued, but that said industry should be carefully managed.
The most boisterous moment of the night came during a discussion of labor unions. Vodenichar asked Mustello about her perceptions of organized labor's status in the state right now.
She responded: “Really without talking to all the labor organizations and all the members, I really can't answer what exactly their needs are and what their wants are, I'm always open to talking to them. That's what I've been doing for the past 22 years from Erie County down to Butler County. Talking to labor leaders and finding out what they need and want for their business.”
To which Doctor, a member of UAW Local 3303, directly lashed out. “From the experiences of our officers, when they came to visit Mike Kelly in D.C., we are not treated with friendship and openness.”
Upon hearing that point, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, spoke up from the crowd. Mustello has worked for Kelly for years and is on leave for this race.
“No way,” Kelly shouted.
The pair differed in their thinking of how gifts to legislators should be handled. State law currently requires disclosure of gifts over $250. Mustello said all gifts should be disclosed, and Doctor said such gifts shoudn't be allowed at all.
Doctor opened the night with a shot at Mustello, and she returned the favor in her closing statements. In opening, Doctor said that, as a kid, his family wasn't talking about “rubbing elbows with congresspeople.” In closing, Mustello said “I think the differences are clear in our experience, qualifications and visions for this community.”
Both candidates live in Butler Township. Mustello is 48, and Doctor is 28. Mustello is a long-term political aide, while Doctor is a crane operator at AK Steel.
The special election is May 21.
