The candidates vying for state Rep. Keith McCall's soon-to-be-vacant 122nd District legislative seat faced off Wednesday on unemployment, economy, taxes, infrastructure and education at a debate sponsored by the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce and Blue Ridge Communications.

Republican Doyle Heffley of Lower Towamensing Township and Democrat Justin Yaich of Jim Thorpe took turns for about an hour of answer-rebuttal before a substantial audience at the Mauch Chunk Opera House in Jim Thorpe.The men are campaigning for election to the seat to be vacated in December by McCall, a Democrat. McCall in January announced his plans to retire from the office he's held for 28 years.Questions were posed by a panel composed of Carbon County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Dawn Ferrante; Blue Ridge Communications, Channel 13 reporter Sharon Gaeta and TIMES NEWS reporter Ron Gower. Questions were also sent by e-mail and some audience members wrote queries on cards to be read by Channel 13's George Roberts, who served as moderator.Each candidate gave an opening statement.Heffley said that, if elected, he would "bring conservative fiscal responsibility back to Harrisburg by lowering taxes for job creators and providing sound economic policies so businesses can survive here." He said he would keep three district offices open in the county and opposes any new sales or income tax, tolling state highways or imposing a severance tax on Marcellus shale drilling operations. He said he would cut spending by targeting illegal immigrants and welfare fraud."We can no longer continue on the road we are on. We have a spending crisis in Harrisburg we continue to spend money we don't have," he said.Yaich, who proposes eliminating the property tax by increasing sales and income taxes and favors the Marcellus severance tax, praised McCall for his efforts on the county's behalf. He said he would work with both Democrats and Republicans "in the best interests of the majority of the people" and for the betterment of future generations.The economy - jobs and taxes - loomed large in the debate.The debate kicked off with Gaeta asking Yaich "As a new state representative, how will you convince Harrisburg to spend state funds here compared to other parts of the state that may have more veteran politicians fighting for the same money?"Yaich answered that "the best way to keep representation in Carbon County ... and keep money coming back to the district is to reach across the aisle in Harrisburg and break the partisan gridlock, start working together as a team.""You can't go out there at the bottom of the ladder and shoot your mouth off and expect to get results," he said.In rebuttal, Heffley said accountability was crucial. He spoke of what he has learned working in the trucking industry."I was held accountable every day for the job that I do, and that's what I plan on taking to Harrisburg accountability. When I say I'm going to do something, I get it done. That's why I climbed the corporate ladder, that's why I got myself into management, and that's what I will bring to Harrisburg."Ferrante next asked Heffley "What is your economic development strategy and what sector do you think is most important to our economy?"Heffley answered that "tourism is huge" and that improving the county's infrastructure roads and bridges is crucial to building that industry and attracting more business to the area. He pledged to make sure the "turnpike follows through on it's commitment to build the slip-ramp off the turnpike at Route 903." He said lawmakers need to "look at every possibility to create jobs." He called for cutting the corporate net income tax and pointed to his endorsement from the state Chamber of Commerce. Heffley called for a more business-friendly environment."In Pennsylvania, we don't just lose jobs to China. We lose them to New York, New Jersey and West Virginia. We need to change our corporate tax structure in Harrisburg. We need tort reform to bring back good-paying jobs to our area," he said.Yaich, in rebuttal, said he favored "dropping the corporate net income tax to 4 percent across the board."Next, Gower questioned Yaich about the looming financial crisis in the state."Lawmakers in Harrisburg at the present time are warning that a major fiscal crisis looms as early as next fiscal year. This year, stimulus money helped prevent a major budget calamity. How can a financial disaster in 2011 and subsequent years be avoided?" Gower asked.Yaich said that the state next year "faces a $6 billion shortfall in revenues." He said that the "first thing Harrisburg is going to have to do is go over the budget line by line and reduce any unnecessary spending. I think the best way to start that process is to start with the legislators. I do not agree with per diems to show up in Harrisburg for work. I think that's ridiculous." Yaich also opposes giving legislators government cars."All the things that the government has done to pad their own salaries and make their lives easier start with cutting that. Show them the leadership in Harrisburg; be responsible and operate and live like everybody else has to," he said.In rebuttal, Heffley said that "the reason we are in this fiscal crisis right now is because of the poor policies out in Harrisburg. We continue to spend money that we don't have."He said lawmakers should "look for government waste. Look at the fact that we spent $728 million a year providing benefits for illegal immigrants that are depressing our wages and stealing our jobs. We also need to look at fraud in the welfare system," he said.One of the e-mailed questions referred to a Yaich mailer that accused Heffley of helping right wing extremists get elected to public office. Those extremists, the mailer said, were now Heffley's "cronies" and were supporting Heffley's campaign. The person asked who they were.Yaich said the mailers "came from some American Votes (political action committee). I did not approve the content of that material, so I cannot comment on it," he said.Heffley called Yaich's response "disingenuous" and said, "I don't have any political cronies. I have a lot of friends, a lot of volunteers that have put a lot of time into my campaign."A social hour followed the debate, which was also sponsored by the Mauch Chunk Opera House, and Carbon County Magazine.Yaich, 30, is director of planning for Washington Township and in his second term on Jim Thorpe Borough Council, where he had served as president, and is now vice president.According to his website, Yaich supports tax credits for small businesses that hire new employees and investing in the building and repair of infrastructure to draw business to the county. He would crack down on businesses that hire illegal aliens, and encourage "green" jobs that are sustainable and offer wages that can allow parents to support their families. Yaich also proposes tax and education reforms that would shift school taxes from the local property levies to a combination of sales and income tax.Yaich also proposes regulations that would protect the environment and drinking water from the impact of Marcellus shale drilling, and that would levy a tax on the drilling for local municipalities to maintain and repair roads and bridges from the damage incurred by the drilling.Yaich is a member of the National Rifle Association and would protect the right of residents to bear arms and to protect their personal property.If elected, Yaich said, he would aim for a "seamless transition," keeping McCall's staff in place.Heffley, 40, is a terminal manager for two J.P. Donmoyer Trucking facilities. If elected, the Lower Towamensing Township Republican, according to his website, proposes eliminating property taxes and protecting doctors from "lawsuit abuse."Heffley opposes state lawmakers' "bowing to lobbyists," holding "illegal meetings" and making "midnight decisions." Heffley also wants the state to curb spending.