Published: February 01, 2008 12:00 pm      

Businessman seeking nomination in 69th

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.