Don Albanese: Experience & Ideas

The Slate Belt can be a tight community. State Rep. Rich Grucela, who is retiring at the end of this year, got to know Don Albanese through Little League baseball. Don coached Rich's kids, and must have been pretty good because Democrat Rich invited Republican Don and his wife for a tour of Harrisburg after Don announced his candidacy to succeed Grucela.

Albanese is actually a CPA who once owned apparel manufacturers in both Tatamy and NYC. He's served on Belvidere's School Board for 6 years, followed by another 6 years in the NJ 's legislature. But what he seems most proud of is his work for President Reagan's campaign. It is little wonder that some impressive people, from Senator Orrin Hatch to Reagan himself, have spoken highly of Albanese.

In the final analysis, it is what you think, not them, that matters now.

Q) Two state legislative leaders have been convicted of using their office for political or personal gain while others are under indictment. Will we ever change the way business gets done in Harrisburg?

A) This is a serious problem. It's what happens when you have legislators who make a career of spending their lives in Harrisburg - 20, 30 years. They get into the hip pockets of lobbyists, corrupt people, special interest groups, and it leads to corruption. So I'm very adamant about pushing for term limits. Senators should be in for two terms, that's 8 years, and a House member in for four terms, that's 8n years. Let the people participating in government work. Let others have a shot at it, and I think we can eliminate a lot of the corruption.

Q) Many state reps tell me too much power is invested in just a few powerful committee chairs and leaders. How can you change that?

A) I can't believe that the state of Pennsylvania has 203 members of the House and you only have 50 members of the Senate. They both have to pass Bills back and forth and they get the job done, but the House is too burdensome. I would propose that in the House of Representatives, that there be 100 members, two members in every Senate district. You can have two House members in every Senate district and it will work fine.

Q) Many state reps tell me too much power is invested in just a few powerful committee chairs and leaders. How can you change that?

A) One thing we can do is not pay the committee chairmen any more than their salary. I know in other states, and especially where I served in the House of representatives of New Jersey, committee chairmen didn't make any more money at that time than any of the other legislators. They just have to eliminate the extra perks and all the fringes for committee leaders. Majority rule in a committee should be the way things operate.

Q) The biggest concern people have is taxes, especially property taxes. Despite the promise that gambling revenue would reduce or eliminate property taxes, they go up nearly every year. Any relief in sight?

A) Property tax is an ongoing concern. It seems like they never go down. The more you give the politicians in government, the more they spend. The seniors and other people on fixed incomes really have a problem. What we have to do, in the education area of the tax bills, is put a cap on existing tax rates for seniors, so they don't go up disproportionately on seniors. Let the seniors get a break for a change. They've been paying into education taxes all their lives, and I think it's time to say, 'Hey, they've paid enough. Let the rest of the people pay now.' By capping the taxes for seniors, especially education taxes, so they don't go beyond what they presently pay, is a step in the right direction.

Q) There will be those who will say Don Albanese is not even from Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Jersey legislature who has no Pennsylvania roots. Why should we even consider this fellow?

A) Just a little bit of history. My ancestors were the founders of the Borough of Roseto. My parents were born in Roseto and raised there. My wife was born in Bangor and we now live in Bangor, Pa., and have for many years in the house she was raised in. Ninety per cent of my relatives live in the slate belt. So I think I have as much roots and rights in Pennsylvania as anybody else. After all, this isn't Arizona and this is a free country ...

Q) Well, it is Northampton County ...

A) [laughing], Well, I think it's a weak issue.

Q) Tell me a little about your experience as a NJ state legislator, and what is positive about that?

A) State legislatures all operate in the same fashion. The procedures, the mentality, the committee rulings, all of the procedures I dealt with in New Jersey I can deal with that when I take office in Harrisburg from Day One. When I met with the Minority Republican leader of the House, he said, 'It will be good to have an experienced legislator come in here.'

Q) Is there anything else you'd like LVRamblings' readers to know about your run for the state house?

A) I think the fact that I have experience, starting on the national level, being on two of President Reagan's committees to help write the fiscal and monetary plan for the Reagan campaign, reducing taxes and spending, getting government out if people's lives. My experience at the state level, knowing how the state systems work and how they don't work. From Day One, when I get to Harrisburg, I'll be able to be effective for the people I represent.

Albanese' Republican opponent, Joe Emrick, refused to sit down for an interview.