Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)

Deminski hopes to unseat Comitta in House race

- By Bill Rettew brettew@21st-centurymed­ia.com @wcdailyloc­al on Twitter

Republican business consultant and former legislativ­e aide Nick Deminksi hopes to unseat first-term Democratic incumbent state representa­tive and former borough Mayor Carolyn Comitta in the 156th House District.

Comitta lives in West Chester and Deminski is a West Goshen Township resident.

Comitta said during a phone interview that she supports affordable health care. She voted to protect health care of 342,000 children in the state and supported expansion of PACE/PACENET which lowered medication costs for seniors, she said.

“If you have your health, you have everything,” she said. “Affordable, quality health care is a need and a right.”

Comitta is vice president of a small business. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from West Chester University and a master’s degree in education from Widener University.

She is married with two chil-

dren.

Comitta supports quality education for all. She increased funding to PreK, Special Education and higher education.

“As a mom and former teacher, I voted for all of Gov. Wolf’s initiative­s to put more money into education,” she said.

Comitta said she is a champion for public and environmen­tal safety.

She said she has fought for pipeline safety over corporate profits, clean air, clean water, and mitigating the most devastatin­g effects of climate change, sensible

gun violence prevention and seeks solutions for victims of the opioid crisis.

Deminski said he would tackle the opioid epidemic.

“I would focus on treatment and how we treat in Pennsylvan­ia,” Deminski said, during a phone interview.

Deminski said that 40 percent of opioid users show up for work while taking opioids.

“How can businesses protect?” he asked. “Let’s see how we can focus on working together with businesses to find more ways to protect, reach out and help.”

Deminski is a Henderson High School graduate and business administra­tive grad of Villanova University.

He is single, with no children.

Deminski said he wants to preserve the environmen­t and has earmarked the safety of the Sunoco Mariner East pipeline as a priority.

“We need more pressure for the governor to answer safety concerns,” Deminski said. “There is no oversight or accountabi­lity.”

The candidate wants to address the $82 billion unfunded pension debt. He suggested that employees take advantage of 401K pension plans. He also wants to be fair to people who are collecting.

Police officers could still collect a pension. He said police “deserve” pension plans.

 ?? SUBMITTED PHOTOS ?? State Rep. Carolyn Comitta and challenger Nick Deminski
SUBMITTED PHOTOS State Rep. Carolyn Comitta and challenger Nick Deminski

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