Eliyahu Gasson | opinions editor

A special election on March 25, will determine which party controls the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

The death of state Rep. Matt Gergley on Jan. 19 has left the house in a deadlocked tie with 101 Democrats and 101 Republicans. Democrat Dan Goughnour, Republican Charles D. Davis and Libertarian Adam Kitta are the candidates running in the 35th Legislative District, which includes Clairton, Duquesne, Homestead, Munhall, Liberty, Lincoln, Mckeesport, Port Vue, Versailles, West Homestead, parts of West Mifflin, Whitaker and White Oak.

Democratic candidate Dan Goughnour

Goughnour, 39, has been a police officer in McKeesport for 16 years and is currently the captain of police detectives, according to his campaign website. He has also served on the McKeesport Area School District’s school board for the last three years and chairs the safe schools committee.

Goughnour did not respond to a request for an interview with The Duke.

His campaign website contains a list of priorities including: Strengthening public safety by providing funding for firefighters, police and first responders; Boosting job training programs to provide opportunities for everyone in the region; Supporting public schools and reducing the cost of groceries and everyday essentials.

Republican candidate Charles D. Davis

Davis, 66, has served on the White Oak Borough Council since 2003. According to his website, he has chaired a number of committees on the council including police, fire and EMS, public works, health, environment and safety and planning and zoning.

In an email sent to The Duke, Davis said he wants to lower taxes in order to keep “more hard-earned money in the pockets of Pennsylvanians by fighting against unnecessary tax increases.”

He also said he wants to improve the economy by supporting jobs at U.S. Steel and attracting new businesses.

Davis also told The Duke that he wants to improve public safety in the state by supporting first responders and removing urban blight.

“Many towns across the commonwealth have struggled with economic hardship following the closure of mills and major businesses, often resulting in blight within our communities,” he wrote to The Duke. “By offering targeted incentives to homeowners, we can help them rehabilitate their properties, restore neighborhood pride and drive local economic growth.”

Libertarian candidate Adam Kitta

Kitta, 26, of White Oak is the assistant director for The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division’s Emergency Disaster Services Department and the vice president for Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

“I have a passion for helping people and I have a passion for getting involved however I feel like I can make a difference,” he said.

Kitta said one of the pillars of his campaign is to bring a new trade school into the 35th district to bring more opportunity to the Monongahela Valley.

“Many of our residents rely on public transportation in this district and to get to the city could add an extra hour or more in travel time to get to those programs,” he said. “So bringing a school or program into this area would help alleviate that burden for those people.”

Kitta also said that school choice is an important pillar of his campaign.

“I believe that the question really comes down to whether people should rely on the government to make the decision on where their child should go to school or whether the parents believe that they should make the decision,” he said.

Kitta said he wants to tackle the issue of urban blight, which can be a public safety hazard.

“You’re looking at a major public safety issue whenever it comes to something happening to those buildings whether it’s a fire or you have squatters that are staying in those facilities,” he said.

Kitta thinks the best way to deal with urban blight is to work with the private sector and community non-profits to find a solution.