Seeing as how our elected officials for state representatives in Lackawanna and Wayne Counties in Pennsylvaniaonce are once again running unopposed, I will once again in 2010, run for state representative in the 115th District. This seat is currently being held by Ed Staback.
Paul Dudrich
Paul DudrichAge: 51Municipality: Jessup borough Occupation: School teacher Higher education: Bachelor’s degree in special education from East Stroudsburg University. Family: Wife, Kimberly; two adult daughters, Korie and Sarah. |
Paul Dudrich has a steep hill to climb.
The 51-year-old educator not only has to beat an entrenched incumbent in the upcoming Democratic Party primary for the 115th Legislative District — a statistical challenge in itself — but must also do so without campaign donations or prestigious endorsements that have been swept up by his opponent, longtime legislator Rep. Ed Staback, D-Olyphant.
Even Mr. Dudrich’s own union, the Pennsylvania State Education Association, has gone with the incumbent in the race. Mr. Dudrich found that out when he received a flier in the mail from the association’s political action committee. The association isn’t returning his calls and didn’t return a call to The Times- Tribune for comment.
Mr. Dudrich’s climb is steep, but he doesn’t think it is insurmountable. While lacking money and political support, he hopes to make use of his tenacity with door-to-door campaigning and the public’s frustration with empty promises of, among other things, property tax reform.
“(Mr. Staback) is fine when it comes to needing a form from his office, but when it comes down to the meat of legislation, I believe he doesn’t serve our best interests,” he said.
While Mr. Dudrich has no formal experience in public office, he said Harrisburg needs more citizen legislators. And the Midvalley resident said he has always had a deep interest in politics. Without politics and the New York Yankees, he said “there would be no reason for me to watch television.”
An avid baseball fan, he is also the nephew of the late Nestor Chylak Jr., an Olyphant-born umpire for Major League Baseball.
Part of the reason he never became involved in politics is because of his 22-year career with the U.S. Postal Service, which requires employees not run for any office. He ended his career as a postal worker about three years ago to teach at an alternative school designed for disruptive youth in Wayne County.
Now, with the opportunity to run for office, he said with his frustrations on how state politics have been managed, he felt a sense of duty.
“I am not a politician. I’m just a guy that’s sick and tired of being sick and tired,” he said.
Should he not win this primary battle, he said the experience would serve him well if he decides to run when Mr. Staback eventually retires.
“This campaign has pretty much been a one-man job, but I’ve definitely learned a lot,” he said.
Contact the writer: cschillinger@timesshamrock.com
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