Incumbent Doyle Heffley is being challenged by Democrat Kara Scott to represent Carbon County in the 122nd district of the state House of Representatives.

The 122nd district represents all of Carbon County except for Summit Hill. That borough is part of the 124th district, which is currently represented by Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-Schuylkill.

Candidates were asked to answer questions about the plans, if elected:

Kara Scott

Democrat

Address:

Bowmanstown

Qualifications for office:

President of Bowmanstown Borough Council and vice president of the Carbon County Council of Governments.

Behavioral consultant for local families, and mother of four young men. I have engaged with and understand the needs of people on many different social, economic and educational levels. My approach is to encourage people to work together to reach common goals. Harrisburg needs my experience, and I need the legislature as a platform to better serve our communities.

What would your top three priorities be as state representative?

Secure funding to help lift our communities, in areas of education, supporting small businesses, offering more than lip-service for our veterans, and ensuring the best higher education possible for hardworking students. Reduce tax burden on our seniors by advocating for the elimination of their property taxes. Education to bring good jobs and keep our children and grandchildren from moving from their families. Bring ethics to government and put people ahead of politics and corporate profits.

How would you bring jobs to Carbon County?

Rebuild our infrastructure, both physical and cyber. I’ll encourage ecotourism by protecting our local environment and using our precious resources with long-term viability in mind, not short-term profit for a minority of non-resident investors. By upgrading infrastructure and focusing public investments in education and training, we can encourage established businesses to locate here, and increase local small business start-ups.

Many efforts have been made to bring light to the opioid crisis, What is the next step?

Holding pharmaceutical companies financially accountable for the epidemic they helped create. We need to treat addicts humanely, support their families and the organizations that are fighting on the ground. We need to establish drug courts that encourage rehabilitation over prison, create more long-term rehabilitation centers and reform the costly “rinse and repeat” prison system.

Efforts have been made to abolish property taxes. What is the answer?

House Bill 76 is a start, but not enough. We must increase revenue to our schools and simultaneously bring relief to overburdened homeowners. It’s time to make large corporations pay their fair share for the education and training of workers they’ll depend on to produce profits. The greatest beneficiaries of well-educated workers are currently the least likely to contribute to funding our schools. That has got to change.

Doyle Heffley

Republican

Address:

Lower Towamensing Township

Qualifications: As a husband, a father of two daughters and lifelong resident of Carbon County, I understand the issues confronting our families. Prior to running for office, I worked in the private sector where I started at the bottom and worked my way up to a management position responsible for over 100 employees. As state representative, I am committed to continuing to fight for taxpayers, address the opioid epidemic and bring new jobs to our region.

What would your top three priorities be as state representative?

I have been fighting and will continue to fight to eliminate the property tax burden on working families and seniors. I will also continue to hold government accountable by reducing wasteful spending, insuring your tax dollars are spent wisely to educate our children, provide assistance for seniors and care for those who are disabled. Finally, I am focused on fighting the drug epidemic that is destroying our communities.

How would you bring jobs to Carbon County?

We must create a business-friendly environment that grows our local economy and increases opportunities for workers to secure family-sustaining jobs with benefits. I will continue to work with our schools and technical institutions to ensure we are preparing students for the jobs of the future and providing retraining programs for those looking for work.

Many efforts have been made to bring light to the opioid crisis. What is the next step?

I passed legislation (House Bill 825) providing help to those suffering from addiction. Also, through the opioid task force we have been able to increase funding for treatment and secure grants for local police to purchase new equipment and prescription take back boxes. Additionally, I am working on HB 2727 which would create a statewide platform for the Blue Guardian Program which connects law enforcement and certified recover specialist with overdose victims expediting their enrollment in treatment.

Many efforts have been made to abolish property taxes. What is the answer?

I support and voted for HB76, a proposal that would eliminate property taxes. I also supported a constitutional amendment that passed last year to allow for 100 percent homestead reduction of property taxes. My colleagues and I have introduced legislation to fully fund property tax elimination for homeowners in their primary residence. I’m not afraid to take on the powerful special interests in Harrisburg that are blocking these popular proposals.