Republican Mike Puskaric has apparently won the race for the legislative seat occupied by outgoing state Rep. Rick Saccone.
According to unofficial election results, Puskaric beat out Democrat Rob Rhoderick on Tuesday to represent the 39th House district in Harrisburg. The district straddles Allegheny and Washington counties.
Puskaric, of Elizabeth Township, works for Matrix Property Settlements. He said during the campaign that he wants to bring development and investment to his district.
Some families in the 39th District struggle to pay property taxes, so he told 90.5 WESA that he hopes to do away with those taxes and replace them with an increased sales or income tax.
Rhoderick, also of Elizabeth Township, owns a chiropractic business and has held seats on the local school board and board of commissioners. While campaigning, he said he wanted to fund public schools with a sales tax and a severance tax on natural gas drilling. He also said he would like to see elected officials pay their own legal settlements, rather than taxpayers.
Saccone, who lost two bids for Congress this year, has occupied the seat since 2011.
