Stephen Semenza, a lawyer from Old Forge, announced he is seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for the special election in Pennsylvania’s 114th House District.
The special election is to fill the seat of the late Democratic state Rep. Sid Michael Kavulich, who died in October at the age of 62 from complications of open heart surgery.
Semenza, 29, just switched party affiliations last week from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that, “He’s running because he wants to serve the public and switched parties because it gives him a better chance to win a nomination.”
According to the Times-Tribune, Semenza sees himself as “socially moderate, but fiscally conservative” so the changing of parties was not too significant in his eyes.
The Times-Tribune also reports Semenza claims to, “believe in free markets, low taxes and privatization and will make cutting school property taxes a centerpiece of his campaign.”
The official county Republican party committees will nominate their candidate for the special election seat. This article did not specifically name other candidates interested in pursuing the seat.
The Times-Tribune reports that Speaker Mike Turzai likely will announce the date of the special election early in the new year, with the date expecting to be in March.
Kavulich represented the 114th district in Lackawanna County and served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2011. He was a Democratic member of the following committees: Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Finance, Gaming Oversight, Local Government, and Tourism & Recreational Development.
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10 Responses
Semenza knows the fix was in for Jim Wansacz so he had no choice but to run as a republican. Much like David Reed did and Tara Toohill and the list goes on and on of good Democrat’s switching to republican because the Democrats alway fix who they nominate. See Crooked Hillary
I remember when Dave Reed changed from D to R. I think he could of won a Primary against Steelman. Did he change on his own or was he recruited by Jeff Coleman? The Dems have lost a ton of seats in Western PA since 2000. Deweese was a horrible leader.
Look up “toolbag” in the dictionary, this is the picture that pops up.
That guy looks like smutz, so vote for me to win this district in 2019
I switched to the Liberian Party so that I could win for this district in 2019
We really need to get rid of most these State Rep seats.
Why?
good choice and for his win will be a upset win in this district in 2019.
I will be a good choice and to win will be not an upset in this district in 2019
He already seems shady and a political opportunist from his brazen switch of parties. Who does he think he is, Arlen Specter?