Taxpayer, job status raised in House race

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Does being employed and paying property taxes weigh heavily in the minds of voters when someone seeks public office? Candidate Rick Mirabito believes it does, and that's the message he is trying to get across about his political opponent, Dave Huffman.

Huffman, meanwhile, says Mirabito's attacks are being "addressed by attorneys" and described his opponent for the 83rd District seat being vacated by Rep. Steven W. Cappelli as "unprofessional."

Mirabito advertisements and pro-Mirabito e-mail messages have questioned whether Huffman has a job and suggested that there is relevance to the fact that he owns no property and therefore pays no property taxes.

Huffman said he was "disgusted" by what he described as "attacks."

"I had hoped we could conduct the campaign as gentlemen and could discuss issues," he said. "He can say what he wants. I have a job and don't own property."

He said he didn't see the necessity to be specific about his job and suggested the fact he doesn't pay property tax is irrelevant.

Mirabito contends such questions are "not an attack" and should be answered by any candidate for elected office.

"Accountability requires transparency," he said, claiming candidates and elected officials routinely file statements making clear any potential conflicts of interest.

Huffman's "statement of financial interests" filed last February, he added, lists his occupation as a sales manager for Durdach Brothers Inc. on Liberty Drive and campaign literature suggests he is a local businessman.

Mirabito's "statement of financial interests" lists his profession as "businessman" and his real estate business as "Mirabito Properties Inc.

"You can't just run for office without explaining what your business is," argued Mirabito. "Voters can't evaluate him without his history."

"I have a job and I don't own property and I don't think it's good to embellish on things that are (in a) negative advertisement," countered Huffman. "Let's talk about the issues."

Mirabito, meanwhile, claims he doesn't believe not being a property owner or paying property tax should preclude someone from seeking elected office, but he said Huffman has attempted to create "an illusion for people that he's going to eliminate property taxes" and accuses him of not wanting to eliminate property taxes.

"I feel the pain of property taxes much worse than he does," Mirabito added.

Huffman has done extensive door-to-door campaigning but has tended to not participate in political forums due to other commitments. He was at the candidates' forum Tuesday night, for example, but excused himself and left halfway through, saying he had another commitment.

The allegations in question are from campaign advertisements by Mirabito and an e-mail circulated by Mirabito supporters and written by David B. Stone Jr., president of the Williamsport Area School Board, on which Huffman served one term.

Stone described Huffman as "not a clear thinker" and "a nay-sayer who was unable to come up with positive ideas."

He also alleged Huffman was "not interested in opening a dialogue with other board members" to explain his positions.

Huffman defended his term as a school board member, admitting he sometimes disagreed with the majority.

In a recent e-mail to the Sun-Gazette, Huffman added, "I have no regrets about any of my votes. I took the time to understand all the issues and not vote always to get along."

Mirabito alleges Huffman's record on the school board is that of someone who votes "no" on issues but does "not have an alternative" plan.

"Does he really think it's that easy?" he added.

Because Huffman's last listed place of employment was Durbach Brothers, a telephone call was placed to the company's satellite office on Liberty Drive, where an employee said he had not worked there for four or more months. The employee declined to give a name and had indicated no direct knowledge of exactly when and why Huffman left.