The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 87

'TTTT yy 'f 'T' Pittsburgh Press, Sept, 27, 1978 H-3 election '78 Dark-Horse Sacco Bucking Pott In 28th tion of marijuana and selling it in state stores. "It's obvious a lot of people smoke," he argued. "And right now all the revenues are going to organized crime." Sacco opposes legalization of marijuana but supports a lower drinking age. "Eighteen-year-olds already can vote and be drafted," he said. "Not allowing them to drink really creates inconsistencies." Pott has moved to quash a recent proposal to establish a facility for the criminally insane at Warrendale, which is within his district.

Sacco said he was inclined to agree, but refused to commit himself without more information. "Naturally your first inclination is to say he said. "But there might be a good reason for picking that place. I'd have to look into it further." The 28th state Legislative District includes the townships of Aleppo, Leet, Marshall, McCandless, Pine and Richland, and the boroughs of Bell Acres, Bradford Woods, Edgeworth, Franklin Park, Haysville, Leetsdale, Osborne, Sewickley, Sewickley Heights and Sewickley Hills. feN ''1 who still maintains a small clientele, is opposed to making the Legislature a full-time job.

"We make a lot of work in Harrisburg," he insisted. "We do more screwing around," continued Pott, warming to his subject. "We've done nothing substantive in this legislative session." Pott said he blames the Senate and House leadership of both parties. Such criticism would be bold coming from most junior legislators, but Pott speaks with the confidence of one who was born to political power. The son of a former Republican county chairman, he is considered by some observers to be a potentially important figure in his party.

While George Sr. was known for inveighing frequently against "ultra-liberals and members of the Americans for Democratic Action, his son terms himself "a moderate Republican." He notes wryly that the ADA recently gave his voting record a 36 percent approval rating much to his father's chagrin. Nonetheless, Pott would seem to have respectable Republican credentials. He attended Shade Side Academy for high school, majored in economics and worked for the accounting firm of Price Waterhouse upon graduation. His voting record generally reflects the conservative image projected by his dark, tailored suits.

Pott voted for the death penalty and against the use of state funds for abortions. He wants to turn state stores over to private enterprise but opposes lowering the drinking age. Incongruously, he'd "like to see us consider licensing the private cultiva late specific positions and proposals than an incumbent legislator. Instead, he talks about his philosophy of government and his personal "style." His major criticism of Pott was over the incumbent's alleged failure to stay in touch with the voters. Otherwise, Sacco said, the two opponents might represent their district similarly.

"I don't know if the Democrats would like it if I say this, but I'm rather conservative personally," Sacco said, citing his opposition to deficit spending and higher taxes as some of the typically Republican positions to which he subscribes. When Pott listed a number of recommendations from a 1975 Pennsylvania Economy League report as possible areas for budget cutting, Sacco said he probably would go along with the proposals. Among the recommendations Pott wants to implement is a reduction in unemployment benefits. The representative said Pennsylvania's compensation program was the most liberal in the country and that, as a consequence, the Commonwealth is heavily in debt to the federal government. He also favors reducing faculties in state schools as enrollments decline.

Considering areas for possible bureaucratic fat-trimming, Pott noted the state owns 12,000 vehicles one for every nine employees and decried the fact that every state agency "seems to have its own little PR department that publishes its own little publication." Pott also disputed the state Public Welfare Department's claim that its Frank J. Sacco Jr. is a rare creature. He's a Democrat, running for office in Allegheny County. And he's an underdog.

Sacco, 28, is trying to unseat incunv bent Republican Rep. George F. Potl Jr. in the 28th state Legislative District, the only district in the North Hills where the GOP holds a registration edge. There were 17,882 Republicans and 13,108 Democrats as of last May's primary.

That statistic is only one of a number of reasons the Sacco-Pott matchup probably will prove less interesting as a horse race than another episode in the career of the rising 35-year-old Republican legislator. In his first term of office, the Richland Township incumbent likes to point out, he has acquired more power than most rookie representatives. He sits on two committees of "extreme Health and Welfare and Finance. He likes to tick off the number of bills he has sponsored. Sacco charges Pott has devoted too much time to Harrisburg and not enough to his district.

The Democratic leader of Sewickley Borough council is making a campaign theme out of his door-to-door stumping strategy. As a municipal official, he's placed a premium on personal contact with his constituents, Sacco says. He vows to remain just as accessible if elected to the state Legislature. A rangy man with a serious mien and a dark, frequently furrowed brow, Sacco admits he's less able to formu FRANK J. SACCO GEORGE F.

POTT Battle in GOP territory. caseworkers are overworked. Rather than decreasing the current caseload of 60, Pott leans toward raising the number of clients an individual caseworker should be expected to handle. Both Sacco and Pott would support an increase in the gasoline tax if the additional revenues are earmarked for highway maintenance. Both agree that turning the maintenance of smaller state roads over to local municipalities is impractical.

They differ on the question of whether the size of the Legislature should be reduced. A sales engineer for Westinghouse Sacco would like to see the professional standards of the private sector introduced to state government. He suggests reducing the size of the 253-member General Assembly and increasing a representative's $18,720 annual salary to $25,000. Pott, a certified public accountant An Early Edge: Mall Bars Foe State Sen. Edward Early, D-Ross, beams and glad-hands his constituents at Northway Mall.

But he's not campaigning he's serving the public, Early insists. And mall officials, who prohibit campaigning in the merchandising center, agree with the senator. Meanwhile, Early's Republican opponent in the 40th Senatorial District race, Drew Ley, is learning about the advantages of incumbency the hard way. Ley's bid to meet the voters at the mall has been rejected because shopkeepers don't want their marketplace turned into a political rallying hall. Early has manned a card table on the mall's upper level every Friday evening for eight years.

There the senator talks to people who come to him for help, according to Joseph Piccolomini, mall manager. Piccolomini debunks as "utterly ridiculous" Ley's contention that the challenger is "a little guy being stepped on by the big guy and the mall." The manager explained that Early's presence at the mall is not campaigning because the senator does not pass out printed materials, collect signatures or display signs and banners. "If Early does not overtly campaign, he can stay another eight years," Piccolomini said. Meanwhile, Ley has issued a challenge to anyone who can find a shopper whom Early has shushed for promising to vote for the incumbent. 31st Psychiatrist, Student Stress Reform t'fr it To audit or to houseclean? That is the question being posed in the 31st Legislative District by two self-avowed reformers, Brian D.

Clark and Paul F. Kost. They are vying to succeed retiring state Rep. Helen D. Gillette, a six-term Democrat.

And while odds are the same party will maintain control of her seat, Mrs. Gillette's likely replacement is not readily distinguishable from his GOP opponent. One pushes fiscal reform and the other political reform, but both Democrat Clark and Republican Kost share a hostility to the reigning government establishment. Both tend to criticize Mrs. Gillette more than they criticize each other.

A semester away from earning a bachelor's degree in accounting, Clark thinks the skills he's acquired at Indiana University of Pennsylvania will enable him to solve problems that range from an unfinished Allegheny Valley Expressway to a decline in high school students' achievement test scores. But in his emphasis on figures, Clark neglects one PAUL F. KOST BRIAN D. CLARK Vying for seat of retiring Helen Gillette. important fact, says his Republican opponent.

Kost, a 66-year old psychiatrist, insists the state's dilemmas fiscal and otherwise are symptoms of political corruption. Identifying the Democratic administration with cronyism, patronage and "boondoggling," Kost prescribed a strong dose of Republican officeholders. It's unlikely the 31st Legislative District will follow the doctor's orders. There are nearly twice as many Democrats as Republicans, and, in 1976, when Kost ran against Mrs. Gillette, he was soundly beaten.

This year, the Allison Park Republican couldn't even win his party's nomination. The runner-up in a three-way race, Kost was asked to replace primary victor William Maloney, who died in June. Kost and Clark agree that completion of the Allegheny Valley Expressway should be a top legislative priority because the road will encourage development in their district, which encompasses the northeast corner of the county. Both promise to be active in soliciting their constituents' opinions and aggressive in forwarding them on the floor of the House legislative duties they say Mrs. Gillette failed to fulfill.

Both call for reduction of the legislature's size, zero-based budgeting and "sunset" legislation. Both favor elimination of public school teachers' right to strike. The lack of funds to complete a 3.2-mile gap in the Allegheny Valley Expressway typifies the state's inefficiency and waste, according to Kost, who blames a patronage-heavy bureaucracy. On a proposal to increase PennDot's revenues by increasing the gasoline tax 3V4 cents, Kost said: "The first thing we have to do is check up on where the money has gone in the past, then make our decision. Continued on page 17.

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POTT 28TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT This week, the House is considering the controversial District of Columbia Congressional Representation Amendment. I oppose further diluting Pennsylvania's influence in national affairs. The proper method to use to grant congressional representation to citizens living in Washington, D.C., is to cede the populated portions of the district back to Maryland. Over 100 years ago, land that once was the District of Columbia was given back to Virginia. Congress should consider the same approach today, rather than to further diminish the powers and rights of the states.

FREDKOTROZO-D 29TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT Record profits in the state lottery fund indicate senior citizen programs can be expanded without costing taxpayers a penny. The lottery experienced a $112.2 million profit in the last fiscal year, almost double the previous $58.8 million. Since proceeds are earmarked for senior citizen programs, I propose we either increase the income limit from $7,500 to $10,000 or raise the maximum rebate figure from its present limit of $200. Three programs are financed by lottery dollars free urban transit, property tax rebates and rental rebates. This reflects credit on those who supported the original legislation in 1971, and has proven a boon to many elderly citizens.

I pledge to continue adding to the benefits as profits increase, should I be elected in November. RICHARD 33RD LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT My opponent contends if PennDot were to assure him the additional revenues would be used for road maintenance, he could vote for a gasoline tax increase of 3.5 cents a gallon. Savings Plan Annual Effective Minimum Dividend Annual Deposit Rate Yield' Regular Passbook 5lA 5.47 None 90-Day Passbook 534 6.00 None 1- Year Certificate 6Vz 6.81 $1,000 2 Year Certificate 6'2 6.81 $1,000 3 Year Certificate 634 7.08 $1,000 4- Year Certificate 7'2 7.90 $1,000 6-Year Certificate 734 8.17 $1,000 8-Year Certificate 8.00 8.45 $1,000 Six Month Money Market Certificate. CAKE DESIGNED by Dorothy Sheerbaum Kfflir-arfi 31 Rate changes weekly (auction average, discount basis). Workingmens pays Vt more interest than treasury bills and commercial banks.

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