Cochran returns to challenge Warner for 52nd state House District seat

Former state legislator Harry Young Cochran, a Democrat, is looking to return to Harrisburg by challenging incumbent Ryan Warner, a Republican seeking his fourth term in the 52nd state House district.

The race will be decided on Nov. 3 in part by Westmoreland County voters in Scottdale and the Bessemer No. 2 and Whites precincts in East Huntingdon Township. The district also includes Fayette County voters in Connellsville; Dawson, Dunbar, Everson, Perryopolis, Seven Springs, South Connellsville and Vanderbilt boroughs; and Bullskin, Connellsville, Dunbar, Lower Tyrone, Menallen, North Union, Perry, Saltlick and Upper Tyrone townships.

Cochran, 75, previously served two terms in the state House, beginning in 1979, and made a failed bid to reclaim his seat in 2006. An Army veteran, he has served as Connellsville’s treasurer and on its council.

Cochran championed regulation of personal care homes, local transportation funding and extension of the Mon Valley Expressway into Fayette County during his stint in the House. He said he wants to serve again because he feels the district isn’t getting a fair shake in Harrisburg.

“There are many things that need to be done,” he said. “I’d like to see light manufacturing jobs coming into the district. Our taxing policies are going to have to be favorable to business.”

Cochran sees the need for real estate tax reform for homeowners but would like to see the burden shifted to shoppers, through sales taxes assessed on non-food items, rather than an expanded income tax.

“That way, everybody pays their share,” he said. “It’s equal and fair.”

As Pennsylvania faces the financial, economic and health challenges resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, Cochran acknowledged state legislators will have to resolve a “real interesting” budgetary dilemma. “Organizations are going to come to Harrisburg for money when revenues are down.”

“I’d like to see the state opened in a fair way,” he said of pandemic restrictions. “We can’t keep closed forever.”

If he is re-elected, Warner, 37, said assisting the state’s recovery from the pandemic will be his top priority.

“We have to continue getting businesses back open and finish safely opening our economy,” he said.

With a state deficit running into the billions of dollars, he added, “We’re going to have to work hand-in-hand with the federal government.”

During his time in the House, Warner has backed legislation authorizing tax credits for firefighters and allowing entities that are open to the public to obtain epinephrine injection pens to assist patrons who may have a serious allergic episode.

Among goals he’d still like to achieve are restrictions on the use of opioid painkillers, to help combat addiction, and property tax relief.

“It’s different dynamics in different parts of the commonwealth that seem to be holding this back,” he said of tax reform. “I’ve tried to push for a compromise,” or even an expanded tax rebate program.

“I will continue fighting for commonsense legislation and budgets that cut wasteful spending, while working to create good family-sustaining jobs in our area,” Warner said.