Two seeking nominations in 39th Legislative District
Republican retired businessman Tom Kirsch of Bethel Park and Robert Rhoderick, a Democratic Elizabeth Township commissioner, have announced their intentions to run for their parties’ nominations for the 39th Legislative District seat now held by Congressional candidate Rick Saccone.
“One thing that will separate me from other candidates is that I can speak my mind freely and not worry about losing an election because I’ve already planned for retirement.” Kirsch continued, “I will be able to lead on issues that are important to this district while many others would run and hide.”
Among others, Kirsch has worked for USX Corp. in international division accounting and realty development, as a portfolio manager for Westinghouse Credit Corp. and facilities manager for Federated Investors Inc.’s company-owned assets in the United States and Europe.
Although he has seen what he called “mild reform” of underfunded state pensions, “If we are serious about pension reform then we should abolish them for all future state employees, including elected officials.” Kirsch said in a news release. “It’s unfair to ask seniors on fixed incomes to pay for lavish benefits for state employees.”
Rhoderick, owner and operator of a chiropractic clinic, is a former member of Elizabeth Forward School Board and legislative assistant to state Rep. Bill Kortz.
He is a former member of Teamsters Local 205 and third generation of his family to hold union membership.
Rhoderick called creation of middle-class jobs the focus of his campaign and, in a news release, also spoke of the need to improve schools.
“We have one of the most technologically advanced school districts in the state and we did it without raising taxes,” he said.
Rhoderick said as president of his local board of commissioners, nearly $2 million was cut from the previous year’s budget “without cutting services to the residents … With strong leadership, we can turn this economy around. I have been an elected official for seven years and we’ve never raised taxes.”
The candidates intend to file nominating petitions for the May 15 primary. The 39th District includes Wards 2, 3 and 9 in Bethel Park in addition to other southern Allegheny County communities plus Finleyville and Nottingham, Somerset and Union townships in Washington County.
Saccone, who was elected to the state Legislature in 2010, is the Republican nominee in a special congressional election March 13, running against Democrat Conor Lamb and Libertarian Drew Gray Miller to succeed Tim Murphy, who resigned last year.