Laughlin, of Millcreek Township, R-49th Dist., is seeking his second four-year term in the Pennsylvania Senate.

Dan Laughlin had plenty of doubts about politics and what he could accomplish in Harrisburg.

In January 2017, when the Millcreek Township contractor and former union steelworker was sworn in as the Erie regions newest state senator, Laughlin was still processing his successful bid, three months earlier, for the 49th District seat.

Laughlin derailed Democrat Sean Wileys bid for a second term with a campaign that emphasized Laughlins blue-collar background the candidate was rarely seen without his signature Carhartt jacket.

Laughlin also promised to bring a common-sense approach to state politics that would reject partisanship.

Heavily funded by then-Republican state senator and gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner, Laughlin cast Wiley as a tax-and-spend liberal who feasted on Harrisburgs perks while positioning himself as someone who would put the publics interests before partisan politics.

That message resonated with local voters.

But Laughlin admits he launched into his new job while grappling with lots of uncertainty.

"To be honest, I was not sure how effective I would be," said Laughlin, who is seeking a second four-year term in the Nov. 3 general election. His opponent is Democrat Julie Slomski, a former northwest regional director for Gov. Tom Wolf

"I come from the private sector. I am probably one of the most blue-collar guy we have in the Senate. I didnt just own my business, I was in the trenches with my guys. But I also had not done this before," he said.

"What I quickly found out was that this job, like everything, is about building relationships. Thats how you get stuff done in Harrisburg, and theres no magic to it," Laughlin said. "So I sat down, listened to people about what their issues were and put some effort into creating relationships."

Forging those relationships, Laughlin said, was key to helping secure an additional $14 million annually for the Erie School District at a time when the district was on the brink of financial collapse.

Erie County native Tom Ridge, the former Republican governor and the nations first director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, cited Laughlins work on the Erie School District issue this past week when he endorsed Laughlin for re-election.

Laughlin called his work on the districts fiscal woes "probably the single most significant thing I accomplished in my four years. ... I was meeting with (state Education Secretary) Pedro Rivera about this before I was even sworn in."

That approach, Laughlin said, has brought other successes as well, several of which are listed on Laughlins campaign website, http://www.votelaughlin.com.

They include helping to facilitate conversations between Millcreek Township and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine that kept the medical school from relocating to Florida; pushing for tax incentive programs like the states City Revitalization and Improvement Zones, which allows certain tax revenues generated by businesses to be used to fund development; and working to lower prescription drug costs statewide.

"I didnt know what to expect, but I knew I had a good work ethic and that I could apply it to this job," Laughlin said. "I think I have been an effective voice for our region in Harrisburg and Ive worked in a fairly bipartisan manner down there."

Verel Salmon, chairman of the Erie County Republican Party, called Laughlin "the ideal candidate" and an excellent legislator.

Salmon said Laughlins financial advocacy on behalf of the Erie School District funding and his work to craft child care-specific legislation following a 2019 fire at the Harris Family Daycare in Erie that killed five children were both "remarkable" examples "and they say a lot about the man.

"That was a wrestling match to get that state funding for the Erie School District. For a Republican to take that active of a stand for the city says a lot," Salmon said.

If re-elected, Laughlin said a bill he co-sponsored, Senate Bill 580, will be among his top priorities.

If passed, the bill would allow for paid family leave for working Pennsylvanians.

Asked about his opponent, Laughlin said "I got to know Julie Slomski four years ago when I was campaigning. She was a pretty good staffer for (Wolf)"

However, Laughlin said, Slomski would be in lock-step with Wolf if elected. A Laughlin television ad proclaims that "Erie doesnt need another Harrisburg lifer in office."

Laughlin, who is married with three children, said he expects to need about $1 million for his re-election campaign and that he has raised about $700,000 so far.

Most of that is being spent on media advertising for digital, television, print and direct mail. His campaign has also been going door-to-door to reach voters, with the candidate and volunteers wearing masks to adhere to COVID-19-related safety guidelines.

"I think were also up to about 40,.000 people that weve reached by phone," Laughlin said.

The message, Laughlin said, is simple.

"There is still work to be done," Laughlin said.

Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ETNflowers.

Link:
Laughlin says he's been 'effective voice' for Erie region - GoErie.com