The stretch run has arrived for a political race that has evolved into a bitter campaign for the 83rd state House seat, with each candidate defending actions, statements and advertisements in attempts to take down his opponent.
The challenger, Republican Harry Rogers, claims the public is hardly getting the true story in campaign ads put out by his political enemies.
Mirabito, for his part, said Rogers has a lot of explaining to do for his alleged past actions.
"He says I'm out of control," he said. "That is a personal attack on me."
Mirabito referred to advertisements claiming he was an out-of-control liberal who spends millions of dollars of taxpayer money.
The two-term Democratic lawmaker said Rogers needs to discuss the issues, rather than resort to attacks.
Rogers takes issue with an advertisement that he said wrongly portrays him as a drunk driver.
He didn't refute that he was pulled over by police during a traffic stop in Lycoming County 22 years ago.
He claimed to have submitted to a blood test that subsequently cleared him of being under the influence of alcohol or any substance.
"It (DUI) was dismissed," he said.
Rogers said he was cited for driving in the passing lane and careless driving.
In the advertisement, which was sent as a flyer and paid for by the group, People for Ethics and Morality in Government, Rogers is referred to as Wrong Way Rogers.
"What they are trying to convey is that I was being charged with DUI, to say I was driving the wrong way on the street," he said. "I was driving in the passing lane."
Mirabito said he had nothing to do with the ad, but backs its veracity.
"The reality is that it is all true," he said. "I didn't place the ad. The people that placed the ad, I'll bet they had everything verified."
Rogers claims People for Ethics and Morality in Government is a "political self-interest group bankrolled by Mirabito."
Also at issue is a case stemming from a March 30, 2008 incident in which Rogers is alleged to have alerted police after spotting Willlamsport City Councilman Bill Hall drinking in a city bar and leaving the establishment to get in his car.
At the time, Rogers was Lycoming County Republican chairman and working on the campaign of E. Eugene Yaw, who sought the Republican nomination for the open 23rd state Senate seat.
Hall was backing Steven W. Cappelli, who had given up his House seat to run for Senate.
After leaving the tavern, Hall was in fact, stopped by police, but he was not charged with DUI.
Court records noted that Hall failed two of three field sobriety tests but passed a breathalyzer test.
At a press conference two days later, Hall said he suspected politics was behind the traffic stop.
Rogers later alleged he was defamed by Hall through statements made to the media. He claimed he was slandered when Hall accused him of "attempting to smear Cappelli through me."
Court papers revealed Hall mailed a letter in mid- to late April 2008 titled "Fellow Republican" that discussed his opinions on the March 30 incident.
Rogers claimed Hall's letter was libelous, accusing him of making false reports to law enforcement and obstructing government operations.
He also accused Cappelli of distributing allegedly defamatory statements in campaign material.
Rogers's case was dismissed in Lycoming County Court in March 2011, and earlier this year his appeal was thrown out by the state Superior Court.
However, he is seeking a further appeal through the state Supreme Court.
In a newspaper ad paid for by People for Ethics and Morality in Government, it states "Harry Rogers is currently involved in litigation suing fellow Republicans."
The ad asks, "What is a county employee doing contacting the police, trying to get them to arrest a political opponent? Is this the type of representation you want in Harrisburg?"
Mirabito said he stands by the ad.
Rogers said he only is using his "own personal financial resources in his attempt to hold these local politicians accountable for their actions."
Mirabito questioned why Rogers would allow someone he suspected of being drunk leave a barroom for his vehicle.
"He was looking for his own personal gain and that of Gene Yaw, who was running against Steve Cappelli," he said. "In an age when we are all talking about taking personal responsibility, here is a candidate not taking personal responsibility. I can't imagine why we would want to elect a candidates who is not willing to take responsibility."
Once again, Mirabito took issue with Rogers's assertions that he is a tax-and-spend liberal.
"My voting record is clear," he said. "If I am an out of control spending liberal, so is Yaw and (state Rep.) Everett."
He referred to recent spending legislation that all three lawmakers backed.
Mirabito, accused by Rogers of favoring increased taxes, borrowing and spending practices and "financing taxpayer-paid shrines to politicians in Philadelphia," said he'd like to know where Rogers stands on the issues.
"I didn't know I had to speak with Mirabito about the issues," Rogers said. "That is what I've been doing with the people. I'm glad he thinks I should call him up and speak with him about the issues."
