In the 32nd Senatorial District, which encompasses part of Westmoreland County and all of Bedford, Fayette, and Somerset counties, incumbent Patrick Stefano will go up against former state representative Harry Young Cochran in Tuesday’s Republican primary.

“I was asked by a lot of people to run for our district, which needs help that we’re not getting,” said Cochran, 81, of Connellsville. “I was always big on constituent work as a legislator. Harrisburg doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem, and rural counties like ours are not being treated properly.”

Stefano, 59, of Bullskin, is heading into the end of his third term in office and said the two pressing issues facing Pennsylvania are utility affordability and a housing shortage.

“Utility affordability is right in my basket because I’m the chairman of the consumer protection and professional licensure committee, and I plan to continue my work getting regulations out of the way and getting people access to lower pricing,” he said. “And the Senate has several bills we’re releasing, including mine which will help redevelop old housing stock in our communities by addressing the LERTA (Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance) program.”

The Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance program provides property tax abatements for up to 10 years on the improved value of commercial or industrial property in designated areas.

“We’d like to change it from 10 years to 20 years, to make those types of projects more feasible,” Stefano said.

For Cochran, the priority is reducing state spending and responding to constituents’ needs.

“I’ve always been for the people,” he said. “I’m not taking any [political action committee] money whatsoever. As far as I’m concerned, Sen. Stefano works for Harrisburg and the interests that provide his PAC money.”

Stefano said he brings practical business experience to the legislature.

“I come from a small family printing company that I was part of for 40-some years, so I know to balance a budget and make payroll in a competitive business environment,” he said.

Cochran said he hopes to bring change to the 32nd District.

“There’s a lot of apathy out here among people and rightfully so,” he said. “But we have to do better and control spending. Where we can eliminate costs, we have to do it. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet, and it’s a bad taste, but it has to be done.”

No Democrats filed to run in the 32nd District.