SOMERSET — A Jefferson Township construction company owner with a background in local politics is the second Republican seeking the party nomination to replace retiring state Rep. Bob Bastian, R-Somerset.
Ed Sroka, 50, of Bakersville, owner of W.S. Edwards Building Systems Inc., has been a Republican committeeman in the township for a decade and served as county chairman for U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster’s campaign.
“I’ve been a businessman for 30 years,” Sroka said. “You see the problems people face.
“You see their needs.”
Sroka, whose company does construction and remodeling in Somerset, Westmoreland and Fayette counties, is president of the Somerset County Builders Association.
He also is on the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Builders Association and the National Association of Home Builders, and recently was appointed to serve on the board of Pennsylvania Association for Affordable Housing.
He said economic development is the key issue facing the 69th Legislative District.
“Our greatest asset is natural resources: The ski resorts, state parks, bike trail,” Sroka said.
“Those are things we have to capitalize on. We have to encourage economic development in those areas, and at the same time we have to protect the resources.”
Sroka is a graduate of Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Beaver County, with a degree in human resources.
He is a member of Somerset Rotary, Habitat for Humanity and the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, and volunteers for Junior Achievement.
He worked with the Somerset County Planning Commission in the development of the county’s comprehensive plan.
Sroka and his wife, Heidi, moved to the area 18 years ago because of their love for skiing, hunting, camping and the outdoors. They have two children – Sarah, 12, and Helena, 4 – and are members of St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Somerset.
Mike Brendle, a Lincoln Township businessman, also is seeking the Republican nomination. Ken Warnick of Meyersdale, director of student services at Allegheny College of Maryland, is running on the Democratic ticket.
Politics
Related Photos
-
File Photo
Discussion
Businessman seeking nomination in 69th
- Politics
-
-
DeWeese says he will resign when sentenced
A Democratic state lawmaker who has been convicted on corruption charges said today he will follow tradition and step down from the House of Representatives when he is sentenced, but that he hopes to delay the proceeding so he can run for re-election.
-
Highlights of Gov. Corbett's state spending plan
Read on to see a bulleted list of Gov. Tom Corbett’s $27.1 billion state spending plan for the year that starts July 1.
-
Pa. gas drilling fee bill debate ends without vote
Pennsylvania, the only major gas-producing state that does not tax the taking of natural gas from its soil, moved closer Tuesday to imposing a fee on the drilling in the vast Marcellus Shale reserves that have transformed the state in recent years.
-
$27.1B budget proposed
Gov. Tom Corbett on Tuesday proposed a budget of $27.1 billion, with no tax increases, deep cuts to higher education assistance and a range of cost-cutting in services for the poor, elderly and disabled.
-
Universities face steep cuts
State universities still trying to recover from deep cuts last year would have their public funding slashed even further under a budget plan unveiled Tuesday, leading some institutions to warn of a choice between maintaining buildings and offering academic programs students need to graduate.
-
Plan hurts middle class, local Democrats contend
While members of his own party praised Gov. Tom Corbett’s fiscal restraint, some local Democratic lawmakers said the Republican’s proposed budget panders to corporate interests while inflicting pain on the middle class.
-
Santorum: Country 'is in jeopardy'
Rick Santorum’s campaign slogan could very well be one word: doomsday. ... Unless, of course, Republicans pick Santorum as the party’s presidential nominee and he goes on to defeat President Barack Obama.
-
Gingrich storms to SC victory, scrambling GOP race
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich stormed to an upset victory in the South Carolina primary Saturday night, dealing a sharp setback to former front-runner Mitt Romney and abruptly scrambling the race for the Republican presidential nomination.
In victory, Gingrich praised his Republican rivals and attacked President Barack Obama and "elites in New York and Washington."
-
AP source: Obama campaign seeks ad rates in states
President Barack Obama's re-election campaign has requested advertising rates in a number of key states, a sign that it could be close to airing its first television commercials of the 2012 race.
-
Santorum accuses pro-Romney 'henchmen' of lying in S.C.
Republican Rick Santorum complained bitterly Monday that a political action committee that supports presidential rival Mitt Romney is lying about his record. He called on Romney, the front-runner in the nomination race, to ask the group to edit or remove its advertisements from the air before Saturday’s pivotal primary in South Carolina.
- More Politics Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
