House Speaker Turzai to run for Pa. governor

WEXFORD, PA. » Pennsylvania’s Republican House Speaker Mike Turzai, a leader of anti-tax and social conservatives who has helped drive austerity in state budgeting, will run for governor.

Turzai, 58, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he will seek the Republican nomination in May’s primary election to challenge Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, who is running for a second four-year term.

In an interview in a Wexford diner, Turzai called himself a “reformer with results.” But, he said, “to really make a difference you have to be governor, and you need a strong leader in that position.”

Turzai, who lives in suburban Pittsburgh, is entering what is now a four-person Republican primary field. Turzai floated his potential candidacy last spring, but stayed quiet about his plans while embroiled in this year’s months-long budget stalemate.

Turzai is the most prominent budget hawk in Republican leadership, and has been a constant adversary of Wolf’s, particularly in the two drawn-out budget fights since Wolf became governor in 2015. He even has been a bane to some Republicans, driving a harder bargain when moderates or other conservatives were ready to compromise on a big- message leads us to believe that Paravati recognizes and understands the substantial risk in using heroin or substances purported to be heroin that may contain more potent substances such as fentanyl,” Schwartz and Moretti wrote in the arrest affidavit.

Paravati allegedly continued to contact Poper’s phone on Sept. 19, apparently unaware Poper had died. Undercover detectives posing as Poper communicated with Paravati and arranged for Pavarati to deliver more drugs in the same manner as he did earlier, according to court documents.

When Paravati arrived at the Red Rowan Lane home about 7:20 p.m. Sept. 19, detectives who had the area under surveillance arrested him when he allegedly deposited fentanyl packets in Poper’s vehicle that was parked on the driveway, according to the criminal complaint.

When detectives searched Paravati they found him in possession of packets of fentanyl, according to court papers.

Paravati originally was charged with possession with intent to deliver drugs but the drug delivery resulting in death charge was added after the autopsy determined the cause of Poper’s death.

KEITH SRAKOCIC - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Republican Pennsylvania State Rep. Mike Turzai speaks during an interview where he confirmed his candidacy for governor of Pennsylvania, Tuesday, in Wexford, Pa.