Luzerne County Young Republicans

-co

ntent/uploads/2012/01/Aaron-Kaufer1-300×225.jpg” alt=”Young Republican, Aaron Kaufer Announces Run For State Represenative” width=”300″ height=”225″ />Luzerne County Young Republican, Aaron Kaufer, officially announced his candidacy for State Representative in the 120th District, last night.

Standing in front of a room full of supporters, Kaufer said he would focus on four priorities if elected: reforming the state grant system, cutting back on perks for legislators, improving education and spurring economic growth.

Kaufer cited his age, not as a detriment, but rather as something that will make him a more effective legislator. “In order to get anything done you need to have energy and passion, and those are two characteristics that are involved with youth”, he said. “Right now we have a political stalemate, and to overcome it you need fresh faces. People are looking for new ideas….I would not be here today if I did not believe that I could do better than those currently in office.”

Kaufer’s decision to run is part of a recent trend of Young Republicans in Luzerne County seeking, and in many cases, winning local elections. Should Kaufer succeed this year, it would be the third straight year a Young Republican was elected to a major political position. In 2010, Tarah Toohil defeated then House Majority leader Todd Eachus, to become State Representative in the 116th District and in 2011, Stefanie Salavantis defeated Jackie Musto Carroll to become District Attorney in Luzerne County.

The 120th District includes, Edwardsville, Kingston, Forty Fort, Swoyersville, Wyoming, West Wyoming, Exeter Borough, Luzerne, West Pittston, Exeter Township, Kingston Township, Jackson Township, Pringle and Courtdale.