PENNSYLVANIA New candidate enters race for 17th District seat

The write-in candidate admits he isn't likely to win.
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- There's been a late entry in the Nov. 2 election for the 17th District seat in the state House of Representatives.
William Allen of Eagle Street announced Wednesday that he will be a write-in candidate for the post held by Rod Wilt of Greenville. The 17th District includes portions of Mercer and Crawford counties.
Wilt is a Republican and was running unopposed.
Allen, a registered Democrat who said he is more of an independent, said he decided to run because no candidate should be unopposed.
Allen, 40, a chef and owner of an Internet radio program, said he's never sought political office before.
"The reality is, I don't expect to win," Allen said. "I simply want to give people who are unhappy with Rod Wilt's work someone else to vote for as a show of unhappiness over Wilt's lack of effort to correct the area's situation on a variety of issues."
Allen said Wilt has failed to deal with the issues of job creation, economic development and the tourism industry but attached his names to bills that helped no one.
His plans
Allen said he wants to make insurance companies more responsible for timely payment of insurance claims and he would like limits placed on fees that banks and other institutions can charge for a variety of service such as ATM fees.
He also thinks the state needs to impose some oversight on gasoline companies that are charging $2 a gallon for regular gasoline supposedly because of rising crude prices yet are making record profits in the process.
He accused Wilt of taking too many dollars from big business and political action committees that are not the friends of Mercer and Crawford County residents.
The area needs a stronger advocate in Harrisburg, Allen said.