Editor’s note: Today through Saturday we are publishing information on key races in the general election. The polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Democrat Thomas Kucer is challenging Republican incumbent Jack Rader to represent a portion of Monroe County for the 176th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Kucer won a spot in the primary on write-in votes.

The district includes: Chestnuthill, Eldred, Hamilton, Jackson, Polk, Ross, Tobyhanna and Tunkhannock townships.

The salary is $110,016, with per diems set at $198 per day.

We asked both candidates questions and limited responses to 100 words. Responses are in alphabetical order.

Thomas Kucer

Age: 62

Town: Hamilton Township

Background: I’ve been proud to call the Poconos home since 1996 and Hamilton Township home since 2003. As a husband, father, and 43-year union member, I believe in hard work, looking out for our neighbors, and leaving a better community for the next generation. I’m concerned about what is happening to the place we call home. Our farms, open spaces, and wildlife are disappearing under the pressure of unchecked development, including data centers and warehouses. Our voices deserve to be heard, and I’m ready to stand up for our communities and fight for the future we want our children to inherit.

Jack Rader

Age: 72

Town: Reeders

Background: My family goes back generations in our community. I grew up here, raised my children here, and am happy that my grandchildren live nearby. My connection to this community is what drives me to work hard to keep it strong. I am a small businessman who ran for his township board of supervisors to make a positive difference and, later, became state representative with the same goal. In Harrisburg, I refuse to play partisan games. Instead, I listen to residents and work to address their concerns by building consensus on common goals. If re-elected, I will continue this pragmatic leadership.

Questions

What do you see as the biggest problem facing the Poconos and how would you solve it?

Kucer: I see the natural beauty of the Poconos being destroyed by Data Centers and Warehouses. Unscrupulous developers buy up land and property, forcing out seniors then flip the property creating unaffordable housing. The Poconos used to be a haven for winter activities (skiing, snowmobiling, etc.) as well as summer fun (parks, nature trails, hiking and fishing). These are getting less and less accessible. The state can work with the county zoning officials to limit the number of permits to the corporate developers, break up the monopolies that are buying up these lands and building condos and apartment complexes.

Rader: The cost of living is at the top of everyone’s mind. As representative, I have focused on the things that give families, seniors and workers a break. That starts with controlling spending and holding the line on taxes. I’ve done that. I also voted for an energy tax cut to reduce utility rates; and to expand the Childcare Tax Credit, and Property Tax/Rent Rebate program. Working with Republicans and Democrats, we stood up to big insurance companies to better control prescription drug costs. I also supported tax cuts on everyday items we all use — from cellphones to school supplies.

Data centers have become the loudest issue in the state. Where do you draw the line between development the county should welcome and development it should turn away?

Kucer: I am a union sheet metal worker and understand the necessity of cooling and venting these data centers. However, I feel that the Poconos do not have the resources for cooling or the electricity needed for these centers. I understand that technology is always progressing. Upgrading or refurbishing EXISTING facilities can be maintained in a controlled way. New, hyper scale centers applying for permits requiring thousands of acres, destroying our air and water supplies, should be terminated immediately. The Pennsylvania Constitution guarantees everyone fresh air, clean water and the natural aesthetic beauty of the Commonwealth.

Rader: My first question is always: what do local residents want? That should be the driving force behind decision-making — and also why final decisions must be driven at the local/municipal level. The state can help by ensuring there are guardrails in place to protect utility ratepayers, our environment, and our quality-of-life, and still those would apply only if a local community decides a data center is what it desires. In Harrisburg, I voted to eliminate a special tax exemption for data centers and voted to give local governments more time to control data center development.

Electric bills are going up. What can Harrisburg do about that?

Kucer: Data centers and warehouses are drawing extraordinary amounts of power from our grids. Two bills were introduced to address this unprecedented usage: HB 2150 and HB 1260. HB 2150 required data centers to report their consumption annually. It passed in the House but the Senate never voted on it. HB 1260 requires new and existing warehouses to install solar roofing to pull off our electric grids. The Democratic controlled House has been actively addressing these concerns only to see them die in the Senate. It’s important to note that Rep. Jack Rader voted “no” on both bills.

Rader: Just this year, I voted for a bipartisan energy tax cut in the State House that included limits on utility company profits and requirements for the savings to be passed on to consumers. The bill now awaits the next step of the legislative process. Along with an energy tax cut, Pennsylvania can unleash its plentiful energy resources to help reduce the costs of producing electricity — and bring down rates for consumers.

School property taxes keep climbing while districts say state funding is unpredictable. Do you support eliminating the school property tax, and if so what replaces it?

Kucer: I support eliminating school property taxes, but we must have a responsible, sustainable plan to replace that revenue without placing an unfair burden on working families. Proposals to increase the sales tax by 2% and impose a 1.88% state income tax on paychecks deserve careful consideration because of their impact on taxpayers. I would like to explore revenue from legalizing recreational cannabis and taxing skill games as alternative funding sources. Any plan must provide reliable funding for our schools, protect homeowners, and ensure our children receive a quality education without shifting an unreasonable tax burden to families.

Rader: I have always supported and voted for eliminating school property taxes and replacing them with a mix of other revenue sources applied to the state’s entire population, not just homeowners and renters. This would be more fair. As Representative, I have also provided record education funding to local school districts to help reduce the burden on local property taxpayers. What needs more focus though is the expense side of this equation: while we should financially support our schools, we must also demand greater accountability and efficiency in how those dollars are spent to reduce the need for tax increases.

Monroe County has seen significant rising housing costs. What state-level policies would you support to improve housing affordability and availability?

Kucer: There are several ways that we can help address the issues of low inventory and rising costs, from providing tax credits for the revitalization of distressed housing areas/communities to boost interest and sales in these areas, to the possibility of providing savings tax credits for first time homebuyers to encourage saving for home purchases, to the elimination of the transfer tax.

Rader: Take the fines and penalties levied from data centers and warehouses and redirect them to LIHEAP and other organizations such as Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. These fees would not be a burden on our constituents as they are not tax dollars. This will help alleviate energy costs for low income or seniors on fixed income as well as encouraging new home ownership and lower rental costs.