HERMITAGE Businessman to seek 50th state Senate seat

Creating jobs across the district will be his primary goal.
FARRELL, Pa. -- A businessman with companies in Mercer and Crawford counties will throw his hat into the ring for the 50th state Senate seat this year.
Kyle Klaric, 39, of Cornell Drive, Hermitage, will seek the Democratic nomination for the post held by Robert Robbins of Greenville, a Republican.
Klaric will make his formal announcement at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 at Premier Hydraulics Inc. at 11 Wallis Ave. He owns the business.
He said he can help create jobs throughout the district, something he's already done on his own.
He also owns Klaric Forge and Machine Inc. in Crawford County and is managing partner in KSD Properties in both Mercer and Crawford counties.
"If I can't create jobs in four years, I won't seek re-election," Klaric said.
Background: He graduated from Sharon High School and Slippery Rock University and refers to himself as "a western Pennsylvania guy."
Although he said he has always voted Democrat, Klaric was a registered Republican until last November, when he switched registration to the Democratic party.
"I never left the Republican party, they left me," he said, accusing the Republicans of supporting only corporate America.
Klaric said he has no desire to be a career politician.
"I just want to help the people," he said.
Creating jobs isn't his only goal.
Other issues: The state program providing prescription drug benefits to senior citizens needs a cost-of-living increase, he said, and he also thinks that county and city real estate taxes can be lowered.
Klaric favors the equalized distribution of school subsidies so that the state pays the same amount for a pupil in Farrell as it pays for a pupil in Mount. Lebanon.
Some top Senate Democrats are expected to attend his Feb. 19 announcement, including Senate leader Robert Mellow of the 22nd District and Allen Kukovich of the 39th District. Kukovich is seeking the lieutenant governor's seat on the Democratic ticket.