Larry Padora wants to make Pennsylvania a better state for both citizens and businesses, and thinks serving as state representative for the 124th District will allow him to do that.
"I think career politicians have broken Harrisburg and it needs to be fixed," Padora, 38, of New Ringgold, said recently during a session with The Republican-Herald's editorial board. "It's either fix it or go bankrupt."
Padora, the operator of the Italian Bakery, Tamaqua, and president of New Ringgold Borough Council, is challenging incumbent Republican state Rep. Jerry Knowles in the April 24 primary election.
Padora said Knowles is the kind of politician who has imperiled Pennsylvania's future, and that Republican voters deserve a choice.
"We're threatening their careers. Jerry's been a career politician. He won't take the big risk," Padora said.
Padora said that if elected, he will not take a state pension.
"You're supposed to do this for public service," he said. "We're spending my kids', and my grandchildren's, futures."
Property taxes are unconstitutional and should be abolished, Padora said.
"You never own your property free and clear," as guaranteed by the state Constitution, with property taxes to pay, Padora said. "You always have this hanging over your shoulder."
Furthermore, he said, eliminating property taxes and reassessments will encourage people to renovate and invest in their homes, which will improve neighborhoods.
To replace money lost from the elimination of property taxes, Padora said he would raise the sales tax to 7 percent from its current level of 6 percent and expand it to include services.
He said one good thing about a sales tax increase would be that out-of-state residents traveling and shopping in Pennsylvania would pay a share of that hike.
Padora would guarantee that school districts received $8,500 per student under his proposal, but that they would not be looking at an unlimited pool of money.
"The school districts have to learn to tighten their belt," he said.
Less of any money raised from taxes should go to pensions, salaries and services for Harrisburg politicians, Padora said.
"Taxpayers shouldn't be an unlimited credit card," he said.
The state should substitute 401(k) accounts for pensions for new officials, and not have automatic cost-of-living increases, according to Padora, who added that Harrisburg politicians, like Pennsylvania school districts, need to learn to tighten their belts.
"It doesn't work that way in the real world," he said.
Pennsylvania needs more such real-world jobs, and must change its tax and budget systems to produce them, Padora said. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce rated the state's business climate 49th, the second-worst in the entire country, he said. "We're not a business-friendly state. We need to be," Padora said in urging Pennsylvania to follow the examples of North Dakota and Texas in improving the business climate. "We have the worst environment for businesses."
Padora said the state also should eliminate prevailing wages in government contracts, which he said could allow more work to be done, and stop making political appointments to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
He said counties, not the state, should have control over the development of Marcellus Shale natural gas fields, and that any impact fees imposed should remain at the local level.
Padora said he will bring a better method of governing to Harrisburg, and that he is the better choice for GOP voters in the 124th District.
"I think it's time for a change," he said.