Four vie for seat in new 12th

 

BY ROBERT L. BAKER

Wyoming County Press Examiner

Republican voters in the newly drawn 12th Congressional District will find a familiar face in the primary race later this month.

The incumbent now representing the 10th District, Tom Marino, R-Williamsport, will run against Republican Bradford County Commissioner Doug McLinko in the new 12th district. Registered Democrats will choose between Judy Herschel, a former drug counselor from Susquehanna County, and Mark Friedenberg, who teaches cybersecurity at Penn State’s main campus. The winning Democrat and Republican will face off in the November election.

Marino, known for his close ties to the Trump administration and a one-time candidate to fill the position as the nation’s drug czar, is a former Lycoming County district attorney who has touted his reputation as being tough on crime.

On Friday, Marino said he was proud of the tax cut legislation passed in Congress in December and believes it will provide more money in everyone’s hands “to create a bigger playing field across the board.”

Responding to criticism that a tax cut could increase the national debt, Marino said, “We need to downsize Washington. We have too many agencies which seem to have lost sight of common sense, and that needs to change.”

McLinko pointed to what he called Marino’s close ties to pharmaceutical companies, noting a 60 Minutes segment last year that suggested legislation the congressman pushed actually hindered the Drug Enforcement Administration in its fight against the opioid crisis in the United States.

McLinko, of Wysox, notes that his county has sued drug manufacturers to take responsibility for its culpability in helping to create the drug crisis.

That crisis is an issue which the Democrats also hope to hammer home, should Marino win the May 15 primary.

Friedenberg said he sees a big opening for Democrats in this election cycle related to the Affordable Care Act, which Republicans could not defeat last year.

Friedenberg said that, when it comes to health care, “Marino is out of step with his constituents.”

“Health care is a fundamental right of Americans, and it’s time we owned up to that,” Friedenberg said. He pointed to his endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ call in 2016 for universal health care, which he says distinguishes him from his Democratic rival.

Herschel is a certified drug and alcohol counselor who said she sees first-hand the downside of shortsighted drug policy.

As the wife of a small businessman, she also criticized the tax bill for not benefiting everyone equally and said she’d like to see more fairness built in.

She also pointed to her understanding of the community as one reason Democratic voters should pick her later this month.

“I have a genuine commitment to bipartisanship — bridging the divide and representing everyone in the 12th District,” she said. “Now is the right time for the first woman from the 12th District to go to Washington in order to shape comprehensive legislation.”

The new 12th district includes Wyoming, Susquehanna and Bradford counties and all or parts of 12 others stretching west to Lycoming.