Two Challenge Ravenstahl for House District 20 Seat in Tuesday's Primary

Democrats in Ross and West View will see three choices on the ballot Tuesday for the Pennsylvania House District 20 seat. No Republican is running. 

The incumbent, Adam Ravenstahl, has held the seat since being elected to it in a special election in June 2010, and has been endorsed for re-election by the Allegheny County Democratic Committee and the Ross Township Democratic Committee. 

He has also received endorsements by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Allegheny County Labor Council, the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, the Pennsylvania State Education Association, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers and State Rep. Dom Costa, among others. 

Ravenstahl cites property tax reform as one of his top priorities, noting that he voted against the 2011-2012 state budget in part because of the cuts to education funding. 

On Marcellus Shale, according to his campaign's website, he said he has cast votes against proposed legislation that "created the lowest tax rate in the country for drillers, doesn't provide funding for environmental impacts of drilling, and took zoning control away from our local elected officials." 

He also cites public transportation as a priority, particularly finding funding for . 

A 2003 graduate of North Catholic High School and a 2007 graduate of Robert Morris University, Ravenstahl worked at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Finance Department as a business analyst before being elected. He is the brother of Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl. 

Challenging Ravenstahl for the seat is Dave Schuilenburg, 38, of Summer Hill.

Schuilenburg works full time as a 911 dispatcher for Allegheny County and part time as an independent contractor for Pittsburgh's Yellow Cab Company. He is vice president of the Summer Hill Citizens Committee, was elected to the Allegheny County Democratic Committee and serves as executive member of the Environmental Charter School, where his two children attend. 

Although a self described "community activist" and a candidate with a liberal bent, Schuilenburg said his strength is working with parties of different opinions and finding solutions to problems.

"I'm not going up there to be an obstructionist," he said. 

On the issue of Marcellus Shale drilling, for example, he said he doesn't expect to be able to prevent the drilling—but that he does want to advocate for safeguards for landowners. 

I want "to make the best of a losing situation," he said. 

On the issue of transportation, he said he would like to see money raised through a tax on the casinos. He also cited finding adequate funding for education as one of his top priorities. 

While there are many areas where he and Ravenstahl agree, Schuilenburg said his experience working as a grass-roots community member and his ability to propose solutions and work out compromises is what differentiates him. 

"Adam is in the middle of a learning curve," he said. "There's nothing wrong with that." 

A Canadian who became an American citizen in 2007, Schuilenburg has not held public office before. He ran as an independent candidate for the Pittsburgh City Council in 2006 and 2007, first in a special election to fill the seat left vacant by Luke Ravenstahl, who became mayor and second in a primary against incumbent Darlene Harris. 

He said he was raised to become involved in local politics and is running for office because he believes in giving back to his adopted country.

Also challenging Ravenstahl is Ross resident and former Ross Township commissioner Mark Purcell. 

Purcell, 65, was most recently chief of staf to Rep. Bill Kortz of the 38th District. He is a Vietnam veteran and former owner of the Golden Triangle Jewelry Company in Ross. He served on the commission from 1978 to 1998. 

Purcell said one of his top priorities if elected would be advocating for the end of the property tax system and replacing it with a broad-based sales tax. 

"The property assessment system is a mess, and it needs to be eliminated," he said. 

He said that he also wants to tighten the state budget by looking for wasteful spending, particularly public welfare programs. 

Other priorities on his platform include imposing term limits for state representatives and supporting single-payer health insurance. 

Purcell said he differs from Ravenstahl in that he is outspoken. 

"Just listening doesn't work," he said. "He doesn't have a voice. I believe I have the experience and the maturity." 

Purcell also ran against Ravenstahl for the House District 20 seat in 2010.