Wednesday, February 20, 2002
Creating family-sustaining jobs is the major goal of his campaign.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
FARRELL, Pa. -- Businessman Kyle Klaric will seek the Democrat nomination for the 50th state Senate seat.
Klaric, 39, of Cornell Drive, Hermitage, made his announcement before more than 50 supporters Tuesday at his business here, Premier Hydraulics Inc.
Klaric wanted to draw attention to the fact that he has been able to create jobs here and in neighboring Crawford County and said creating more jobs that can support families and boost the economy is his primary goal.
That got support from state Sens. Robert Mellow, D-22nd, Allen Kukovich, D-39th, and Raphael Musto, D-14th, who traveled to the Shenango Valley to show their backing for Klaric, who will be challenging incumbent Robert Robbins of Greenville, a Republican.
Klaric, flanked by his wife and two daughters, said he is a former steelworker who knows the importance of "family-sustaining" jobs.
Issues: Bringing new industry into the district and helping those businesses that are already here will be his key goal, Klaric said, telling his supporters, "It will take a team effort."
State equity in school funding is another priority.
Klaric said he is "outraged" by a proposal in Gov. Mark Schweiker's budget to spend $75 million to bail out the financially troubled Philadelphia School District while giving the other 500 school districts in the state a total of just $40 million more.
The state should be giving each district the same amount for each student, he said, claiming that the state's failure to fund education at the proper level increases the tax burden on property owners who pay school property taxes.
He also favors a stronger focus on vocational education in the public schools, questioning why students must incur thousands of dollars in costs to learn a trade after leaving school. The public schools should be providing that training, he said.
Finally, Klaric said the state needs to guarantee senior citizens financial health, and he will work to cut the cost of prescription drugs that senior citizens must buy to maintain their physical health.