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Third Party Candidate Taking on Incumbent in 20th State House District

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Constitution Party candidate Jim Barr said he decided to run for the 20th State House seat in the North Hills because he feels the whole country is in bad shape, and he wants to start affecting change on the state level. This is Barr’s second time running for state office, having run as a Republican the first time.

“I’ve been involved in politics and now I totally understand what government’s role is and government’s role is just to protect our rights, it’s not supposed to provide things for us,” he said.

Barr is taking on incumbent, Democrat Adam Ravenstahl, whose campaign did not respond to repeated requests for an interview. On Ravenstahl’s campaign website, legislative priorities listed include property tax reform, transportation, education, and government reform.

Barr didn’t run down a list of issues, instead he said his platform is simple – to strictly enforce the U.S. and Pennsylvania constitutions.

“If they went strictly by the constitution that would definitely…we could balance budgets, I would be opposed to our National Guard troops going overseas. The National Guard was designed to protect the states. They’re not supposed to be going to other countries and getting involved in entanglements and other country’s personal affairs,” said Barr.

Barr is the only Constitution Party candidate in Pennsylvania because the Republican Party challenged the signatures of other candidates. He said his candidacy is an uphill battle.

“It’s a difficult challenge but I’m doing what I believe in. I can no longer support Republicans or the Democrats. They aren’t in line of what is the duties of the federal government and the PA government. Even though it is difficult, I think through education is the only way to let people know the two-party system is not working.”