Bartolotta, Borello offer different approaches in state Senate race

Republican state Sen. Camera Bartolotta is facing independent challenger Jodi Borello in a race that could have implications beyond southwestern Pennsylvania.

The candidates have different approaches to the cost of living, data center development and oil and gas regulation. With limited public polling available, the race’s competitiveness remains difficult to gauge.

Cost of living

Both candidates say they want to address the financial pressures facing Pennsylvania families, but they emphasize different solutions.

Bartolotta argues that energy production is important to the state’s economy and affordability.

“We need to take a look at what we can do to alleviate the pressure on the pocketbooks of Pennsylvanians, and that is not by allowing environmental extremists to take over the government and shut down energy production,” Bartolotta said.

Borello says raising the minimum wage should be part of the solution.

“Well, first and foremost, people are asking for the minimum wage to be raised, so that is something that needs to be done at the state level. That preemption needs to be removed so each community can decide what people should be getting paid for their jobs,” Borello said.

Flooding a concern for Bartolotta

Bartolotta said massive flooding remains a critical concern for her constituents after meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday.

She said she is pressing engineers to focus on ways to reduce the impact of future flooding.

“How are we going to alleviate the strain the next time water comes out of the sky? These are things we have to focus on,” Bartolotta said.

Data center development

The rapid growth of data centers has raised questions about economic development, electricity demand, water usage, emissions and the effects on nearby communities.

Borello is calling for a statewide moratorium on new data centers while lawmakers establish regulations governing their development.

“First and foremost, we need a statewide moratorium on data centers,” Borello said. “We need to set the floor for the regulations at the state so it’s not being pushed onto municipalities to be in charge of, that’s not what municipalities are meant to do.”

Borello said statewide regulations should address water usage, emissions from generators and setbacks between data centers and homes.

“People do not want these data centers a hundred feet from their homes, and that’s a legitimate argument and a legitimate concern, and it needs to be addressed at the state level,” she said.

Bartolotta pointed to legislation she co-sponsored that would allow municipalities to enact a six-month moratorium on data center development.

“The other bill I have, SB 1345, I co-sponsored that, that allows municipalities to vote to have a six-month moratorium to slow down, get their ducks in a row, ask all the right questions,” Bartolotta said.

The candidates’ approaches differ in scope. Borello wants a statewide pause, while Bartolotta cited a proposal that would give municipalities the option to temporarily halt development.

Oil and gas regulation

Oil and gas development is another major issue in the region, where the industry has deep economic roots.

Both candidates say they support the industry, but Borello emphasizes stronger protections for residents and workers who live and work near industrial operations.

Borello said her position is personal. Her family lived next to a gas well and processing station, where she said operations continued for years.

“My family had a gas well and a picking station placed behind our home,” Borello said. “They were blowing off from a picking station seven days a week, three times a day for over a decade.”

Borello said she sought help from elected officials and regulatory agencies.

“I reached out to every politician that I could find from the municipal level all the way up to the White House asking for help,” she said. “I was ignored by every politician, every single regulatory agency. We were ignored.”

Borello said her advocacy led to testimony before statewide grand juries, including one that resulted in eight recommendations to better regulate the industry and protect residents and workers.

“That grand jury resulted in eight recommendations to better regulate the industry, which would actually protect both workers and residents,” Borello said.

Bartolotta emphasized the region’s history of energy production and the jobs it supports.

“The two biggest counties, Washington and Greene, these are generations of coal mining families, generations now of gas drilling families, and we know how to do this in a safe and effective way,” Bartolotta said. “If you don’t generate power, you’re done.”

Borello runs as an independent

Borello said she decided to run as an independent because she believes voters feel ignored by both major political parties.

She has publicly said she voted for Donald Trump three times.

“For years, people have felt that they’ve been failed by both parties, both the Republican and the Democratic Party,” Borello said. “People feel like they’re not being heard, and that is what I’m going to bring. I am going to be responsible for the people that live in this district and not large corporations.”

Bartolotta points to legislative record

Bartolotta said her experience in the Senate and ability to work across party lines have helped her get legislation passed.

She said she recently reached a milestone in her tenure.

“Just last week, I was able to get my 12th bill signed into law in my tenure,” Bartolotta said. “I’m a Republican. I’ve had only Democrat governors in my entire tenure, but because I can work with others across the aisle, Democrat, Republican, I’ve been able to get really meaningful legislation across the finish line.”

Bartolotta is making her legislative record and bipartisan work part of her case for reelection.

How close is the race?

There has been little publicly released polling in the race.

The only publicly released poll identified for the race shows both candidates tied at 43% each after undecided voters were asked which way they lean.

With only one public poll available, it is difficult to draw a definitive conclusion about the state of the race.

If Borello wins, her status as an independent could become significant if the balance of power in the state Senate is close. Depending on the outcome of other Senate races and the chamber’s organizational vote, an independent senator could influence which party controls the chamber and which legislation moves forward.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW