Murt faces newcomer Kolla in election for 152nd
Residents in Bryn Athyn, Hatboro, Horsham, Upper Dublin, and Upper and Lower Moreland will vote between two candidates for the position of state representativeK For the kovK S election, incumbent Republican Tom Murt will face newcomer Ron Kolla, Democrat, for the 152nd Legislative District seatK
Murt, a resident of Upper Moreland, is a lifelong resident of Montgomery County and has served as state representative since 200TK Before being elected, Murt served as an Upper Moreland Commissioner for 10 years and as a director for the Upper Moreland School BoardK In 2003, Murt resigned from his position as commissioner before being deployed to Iraq with the Army ReserveK
Murt graduated from Penn State with an undergraduate degree, received a master’s degree at La Salle University and received a teachLnJ FHUWLfiFDWH from GwyneddMercy CollegeK He is currently enrolled in Temple University’s doctorate programK
“I feel I have been very effective as a state representative,” Murt saidK “We are very attentive to the people who live hereK”
Murt said his best achievements so far as state representative include helping disabled veterans through legislation and the disabled American veterans van; helping children and adults with special needs by providing more funding for programs and services; and legislation updating child labor laws in Pennsylvania, which now protect children who professionally act and are part of reality showsK
If re-elected, Murt said he hopes to continue his initiative to fund special needs programs and services; implement more veteran programs; and look for more funding for educationK He hopes to re-introduce a bill that would require more taxes for drilling in Pennsylvania, which he said he would like to use toward education and other public servicesK
Similarly, Kolla, of Horsham, said if he were elected, his focus would be educationK He said he would work to increase fund- ing to education through increased taxes on drillingK His plan is to use the money from taxes to increase money designated for education so the school districts have the money to run programs that would be cut from reduced funding by the governor’s budgetK
“We can fund education and property tax relief through taxes on the oil and gas industry,” Kolla saidK “I can’t sit back for two more yearsK It’s hurting our communityK”
Kolla said he hopes to alleviate property taxes by increasing funding to education so schools can effectively run programs and services necessary without increasing its tax revenueK
“I think I can really put a check on xGovK Tom Corbett],” Kolla saidK “I see what’s coming out of Harrisburg and it’s not rightK”
Kolla, who is a longtime resident in Montgomery County, graduated from Temple University and has worked as a musicianK During his time at college, Kolla worked as a jazz pianist for Carnival Cruise Lines to help pay for his educationK Locally, he has perform as a church organist for StK Catherine of Siena, StK goseph and StK Alphonsus churches and has worked as a musical theater instructor and director in Hatboro-Horsham School District and Upper Dublin Parks and RecreationK