Newly Elected State Lawmaker Touts Fiscal Conservatism

Margaret Smykla
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A first-time fiscal conservative running for state office at a time when voters are railing against incumbents is bound to attract notice, and in the state’s 56th District, it resulted in a big change.

“Residents told me they were tired of ‘business as usual’ in Harrisburg, that the system was broken and that the only way to fix it was to infuse new blood,” said Republican George Dunbar, who defeated 13-year incumbent Democrat James Casorio on Nov. 2 to represent the 56th District in the state House of Representatives.

The Westmoreland County district covers Jeannette, Irwin, North Irwin and Penn Borough and parts of North Huntington and Penn Township.

While registration in Westmoreland County is heavily Democratic, voters will vote for a Republican candidate if they support the message, Mr. Dunbar said.

“I was upset by increased spending,” he said of his reason for seeking office. “Decreasing spending is a goal,” he said, now that he has the seat.

A first-time fiscal conservative running for state office at a time when voters are railing against incumbents is bound to attract notice, and in the state’s 56th District, it resulted in a big change.

“Residents told me they were tired of ‘business as usual’ in Harrisburg, that the system was broken and that the only way to fix it was to infuse new blood,” said Republican George Dunbar, who defeated 13-year incumbent Democrat James Casorio on Nov. 2 to represent the 56th District in the state House of Representatives.

The Westmoreland County district covers Jeannette, Irwin, North Irwin and Penn Borough and parts of North Huntington and Penn Township.

While registration in Westmoreland County is heavily Democratic, voters will vote for a Republican candidate if they support the message, Mr. Dunbar said.

“I was upset by increased spending,” he said of his reason for seeking office. “Decreasing spending is a goal,” he said, now that he has the seat.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10336/1107468-56.stm