Primary Election 2020: Cook faces Bottino in quest for 3rd term

By ERIC SEIVERLING
eseiverling@yourmvi.com
The Pennsylvania 49th Legislative District’s primary June 2 features two Republicans squaring off for the right to be on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
Incumbent Bud Cook has served two terms as a state representative, taking office in 2016. His challenger, Tony Bottino Jr., former president of the Monongahela Chamber of Commerce, announced his candidacy in November.
Democrat Randy Barli is unopposed on his party’s ticket and secured his spot on the general election ballot.
Bottino said he decided to run for the seat because he wants to see people work together.
“I am running as a conservative Republican who is pro-life and pro-Second Amendment,” Bottino said in response to a Mon Valley Independent questionnaire sent to the dueling candidates. “I will work with local, county and state government to improve the communities of the 49th District. Specifically, I will attract industry, small business and families to our area. Our current representative only wants to fight with everyone. I want to build bridges. Working together we can make the communities of the 49th District better than ever. This will take the type of leadership that I want to provide.”
But, Cook is quick to point out his achievements as a two-term representative.
“My most important accomplishments since taking office has been stopping Gov. (Tom) Wolf’s tax increases on working families and our jobs, stopping his infringements on our Second Amendment rights and opposing his expansion of more illegal drugs as we fight the opioid crisis,” Cook responded. “I have pushed hard for property tax elimination, HB 76, and our investigation to determine where the promised property tax reduction money ended up in Washington County. We are engaged in a Right-to-Know legal battle with county officials to expose exactly who and how the funds have been distributed. What we uncovered is extremely troubling and currently findings have been shared with the auditor general, attorney general and federal officials. Regardless of the outcome of the current election, we intend to pursue this to its conclusion.”
With the coronavirus pandemic paralyzing the country since March, both candidates spoke out on how they plan to help the region recover from the economic devastation the virus has left in its wake.
“The most important help we can provide the residents of our towns and small businesses is to restart our economy and allow businesses to open now,” Cook said. “Local businesses can flourish if they are not handcuffed and prevented from competing against the big box stores. We must prevent Gov. Wolf and career politicians in Harrisburg from raising taxes. We have great opportunities right here in the Mon Valley due to our natural resources. I serve as the secretary of the Travel and Tourism Committee, which provides me with contacts statewide to promote our area. There is greater opportunities promoting as a region as opposed to a single destination.”
Bottino said his experience as Monongahela Chamber of Commerce president will help the area rebound financially from COVID-19.
“I have been doing this for many years,” he said. “I will continue to help existing businesses recover. I will also attract new business to our communities. This is right in my wheelhouse. Working with local, county and state leadership, I will access every possible resource to make this happen. This is a distinct contrast to my opponent who has burned his bridges with other leaders. In effect, he cannot work with other leaders like I will.”
And the coronavirus epidemic isn’t the only economic issue facing the Mon Valley, as both candidates point to funding for issues such as blight and a deteriorating infrastructure as a major concern.
“Blighted and abandoned properties are a danger to the public, increase crime rates in our neighborhoods and reduce property values,” Cook said. “I was proud to vote for senator Pat Stefano’s law that gives communities another tool to effectively address a growing problem in many areas of our district and across Pennsylvania. This legislation provided local municipalities with some of the strongest tools in recent memory to fight this growing problem.”
“I will pursue funding from all of the state agencies in addressing the issues that face community development,” Bottino said. “We need to attract families to our communities. We already have affordable housing. When we effectively deal with blight, public safety, recreation and education, we will see more families buy homes and raise their families right here in our district. That will increase our tax base which will help us deal with other issues.”
The candidates continued with the issues they feel should receive the most attention.
Bottino said he’s focused on three district issues: assisting and attracting industry, assisting and attracting small business and community development.
Cook said the three main issues facing the district are preventing new taxes, addressing current property taxes and creating a transparent government.
If elected, both candidates said they have a plan of action for achieving their goals.
“In direct contrast to my opponent, I will work with local, county and state leaders to tackle the economic and community issues that have plagued our communities for many years” Bottino said.
“I will continue to tell my bosses, those who elected me, what they ‘must hear’ as opposed to what some career politicians only ‘want them to hear,’” Cook said.
The state’s 49th Legislative District comprises parts of Fayette County including Franklin, Jefferson and Washington townships and Belle Vernon, Fayette City and Newell boroughs; part of Washington County, including the city of Monongahela, townships of Carroll, Fallowfield, North Bethlehem, West Bethlehem and West Pike Run and boroughs of Allenport, Beallsville, Bentleyville, California, Charleroi, Coal Center, Cokeburg, Deemston, Donora, Dunlevy, Elco, Ellsworth, Long Branch, Marianna, New Eagle, North Charleroi, Roscoe, Speers, Stockdale, Twilight and West Brownsville.