Published: February 01, 2008 09:34 am      

Upper Yoder businessman enters state House race

An Upper Yoder Township businessman and operator of the Johnstown Municipal Golf Course announced Monday that he is running for retiring state Rep. Tom Yewcic’s seat in Harrisburg.

David Gehlman, a Democrat, made his announcement in front of about 75 supporters in the gymnasium of Visitation Roman Catholic Church in the 8th Ward.

Gehlman, president of Visitation’s parish council, went right to the issues, telling the crowd that the minimum wage should never have been ignored like it was in the past.

He said for 10 years, workers making minimum wage received only one increase and that was for 1 percent.

He said it would have been better to give those workers moderate increases that they deserved during those 10 years instead of all at one time as they did a year ago. That caused businesses and the general public to absorb and fund the raise all at once.

The workers also would have been more of an asset to the economy by making more money during those years, Gehlman said.

The Upper Yoder Township resident said Pennsylvania needs to do more to become a business-friendly state.

He said in 2005, when he and his wife, Marilyn, opened their Roxberry Creamery, in the Roxbury neighborhood of the city, he was able to acquire a low-interest loan from the state to get started. He said he was only able to get the loan because of the city’s financially distressed status. Elsewhere, that loan would not have been available, he said.

Gehlman said the state has to do more to help businesses grow with loans such as that.

That growth would mean more jobs, and that creates more revenues for the government. In the end, economic growth creates higher-paying jobs and job security for Pennsylvanians, he said.

The plight of struggling volunteer fire companies and police departments in townships and boroughs that need to replace equipment also was noted.

Gehlman said that, in Johnstown, workers are assessed a commuter tax to subsidize that same type of equipment.

That’s double jeopardy because those workers already pay an occupational tax to the city, he said.

The state should step in to provide more assistance to the city so the commuter tax could be eliminated, he said.

State grants should be made available where needed to help townships and boroughs with their needs, he said.

Trish Corle, who was at the rally and who has known Gehlman for a long time, said he would make a good lawmaker for the 72nd district.

He not only listens to what people have to say, but he also hears what they say, Corle said.

Somerset County Commissioner John Vatavuk, who is related to Gehlman’s wife, said at the rally that Gehlman comes from the same mold as Yewcic.

Gehlman is a hard worker and has good morals and Christian values, he said.

Gehlman is the only Democrat so far to announce his candidacy.

On the Republican side, two candidates – Scott Hunt and Chris Voccio – are in the running.

In Cambria County, the 72nd district extends from Ebensburg south to Middle Taylor and Lower Yoder townships. In Somerset County, it covers Windber, Conemaugh Township, the Shade-Central City School District and half of the North Star School District.