Published: November 05, 2008 01:49 am      

Burns claims seat in 72nd

EBENSBURG — A slight lead in parts of Somerset County was not enough for Chris Voccio to offset a greater lead by Frank Burns in Cambria County, giving Burns a victory to represent the 72nd district in the state House.

As votes were tallied, Republican Voccio gained a slight edge in the Windber and Conemaugh Township parts of Somerset County. Democrat Burns grained a greater edge in the Cambria County areas of Ebensburg south to Middle Taylor and Lower Yoder townships.

Voccio conceded to Burns by telephone message shortly after 10 p.m., wishing him good fortune in his succession to the seat held by Thomas Yewcic, who is retiring.

“We came close. We ran a strong race, and we did well considering the overwhelming Democratic registration we faced,” Voccio said.

“I’m proud of all the folks who helped with this, and I wish Mr. Burns well in his efforts,” said Voccio, as he hugged those who were leaving his campaign headquarters in downtown Ebensburg.

It was a cordial ending to a campaign that was punctuated by negative attacks that ended with a barrage of negative advertisements from both sides.

Burns did not immediately return a call.

The final tally, not counting absentee ballots, was 14,059 to 12,682 – a slight difference considering the 2-to-1 Democratic registration edge.

Throughout the campaign, Burns, 32, offered optimism and promised a new perspective.

Voccio characterized Burns as a youngster who wanted to be a career politician rather than look out for taxpayers. 

At debates, Burns described Voccio as representing the interests of big business and the wealthy and “rubbing elbows with the millionaires of this district.”

In campaign ads, he presented a picture of what he said was Voccio’s private jet airplane.

In turn, Voccio stressed his years of management positions in the media, which he said demonstrated his leadership qualities.

Both candidates agreed they would allow no new taxes.

“Cuts have to be made, and that’'s why our legislators must have no ties to special interests,” Burns said in an interview at The Tribune-Democrat. “Tough decisions are coming, and many state programs must be cut.”

Voccio, too, advocated belt-tightening.

“I would make all department heads aware that we will cut state spending across the board, except for public safety. I would tell them to cut 5 percent from the budgets of each department.”

Burns, too, has problems with the state’s taxing system.

“We need to get the tax structure under control,” Burns said.

Burns would like to see tax breaks for some public service segments, such as volunteer firefighters.

“Imagine the tax burden if we had to go to paid firefighters,” he said. “Maybe we could use tax incentives, tuition credits or other mechanisms to make sure we keep the volunteers.”