Louis R. Jasikoff wants to redefine what public service while putting the needs of his constituents first if elected to state Representative of the 117th District.

“People are fed up,” Jasikoff said. “There is a royalty class running the country and it starts in Harrisburg.”

The Independent Party’s candidate, Jasikoff is campaigning against incumbent state Rep. Karen Boback, who will appear on both the Republican and Democratic ballots, and John J. Sweeney, the Green Party’s candidate, for a two-year term in the state House of Representatives.

Jasikoff said running on the Independent ticket means he does not have any strings attached, unlike the Republican and Democrat candidates.

But, he said, that does not mean he is unattached to the issues facing the constituents of the district.

School taxes

Jasikoff is against raising taxes on homeowners to fund school districts.

Instead, he proposes capping salaries and pensions of not only teachers but elected officials, as well.

“Salaries should not exceed local income levels,” Jasikoff said. “People are being taxed out of their homes. Senior (citizens) are losing their homes.”

Jasikoff did not say if he supports House of Representative Bill 76 that would replace school property taxes with alternative tax revenue sources such as increasing sales tax up to seven percent and expanding the tax range of items such as candy and gum, newspapers and magazines, laundry services and haircuts.

The bill would also allow school districts in need of additional revenue to present a referendum to voters within their district to raise the earned income or personal income tax rates.

Jasikoff said, if elected, he would “never vote on a bill until it was publicly advertised for at least 72 hours,” which would give him time to collect feedback from his constituents.

“I will find out what a bill is all about before voting,” he said.

Job creation

Jasikoff did not offer any formal plans for job creation.

Dairy farmers

The area’s dairy farmers are falling victim to federally regulated raw milk rates that have dropped nearly 40 percent this year.

The fees farmers pay to have their products processed exceed raw milk prices, creating a deficit for their businesses and households.

Jasikoff noted he has seen three-generation farms “packing up” as a result of the issue.

He doesn’t claim to be a “career politician” and does not know the “ins and outs” of the problem but is willing to research what can be done to support local dairy farmers.

Online gambling

Jasikoff would be receptive to regulation of online gambling “as long as it doesn’t have a negative effect” on his constituents.

“There is always baggage with this kind of thing,” he said. “I would want to look at (state) spending and see where it (revenue from online gambling) is going.”

Jasikoff is the founder and producer of the WBIG family of publications that includes the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Independent Gazette. He is also co-host of a radio talk show called Jasikoff & Friends on Twigs Cafe Radio, an Internet based radio website.

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By Eileen Godin

egodin@timesleader.com

LOUIS R. JASIKOFF

Political party: Independent

Incumbent: No

Age: 65

Hometown: Dalton

Family: A son, a daughter and five grandchildren

Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter @TLNews.