Republican Richard Alloway is seeking a second term in the state Senate in the 2012 election.

The the only opposition in his path at this point is a write-in challenge from James Taylor, a man he defeated when first seeking the seat in 2008.

Taylor, 68, is a tea party and Franklin County 912 Patriots supporter who withdrew his nominating petition this year in face of a challenge.

Alloway, 44, said he wants to focus on improving the state's economy if re-elected.

The 33rd District includes portions of York, Adams and Franklin counties.

In York County, it includes Dover, Dover Township Paradise Township and Heidelberg Township.

The York Dispatch asked the candidates a series of questions. Alloway did not respond.

Questions:

1. What measures should the state Legislature take to improve Pennsylvania's economy and help create more jobs in the Commonwealth?

Alloway: No response.

Taylor: It was recently reported that Pennsylvania has the highest taxes on corporations in the U.S. PA is also one of the few states that does not give a break on taxes on corporations during the first year they establish business in the state. Therefore, what incentive do businesses have to move to PA?

The state legislature should reduce corporate taxes and eliminate taxes on new corporations during their first year in existence.

Right-to-work states consistently have higher employment rates than non right-to-work states like PA. The legislature needs to pass a right-to-work law as soon as possible to correct this just as Indiana recently did. With these reforms there is no question that the state's economy would substantially improve with new jobs becoming available to PA workers.

The unions oppose right-to-work and are the biggest boosters for taxes on corporations, proving that their interests having little to do with better opportunities for workers. Don't say "workers" when you're talking about unions.

2. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation can point to a large backlog of road and bridge projects across the state. How dire are Pa.'s transportation needs? And how should it fund those backlogged projects?

Alloway: No response.

Taylor: Sell the roads to private contractors who will maintain them better and at lower costs. The roads should be paid for by the people who use them; private contractors would establish tolls that would pay for maintaining the roads in better condition than they are now. People would initially complain, but would eventually realize that the roads are better maintained and safer. PA is a critical crossroads for transportation. PA should be exploiting its location better than it does. Private contractors would do a better job because they own the roads; government bureaucrats and workers are paid no matter what kind of job they do.

3. With a focus on highway safety, state government has adopted new rules for teen drivers and a texting ban for everyone in the past year. Are more measures along those lines needed? Would you support a ban on handheld cell phones? A helmet requirement for motorcyclists? Why or why not?

Alloway: No response.

Taylor: No. I oppose helmet laws and laws that ban teenagers from using cell phones while driving. Our country is running headlong into a society where personal behavior is controlled. We are trying to pass laws that protect people from themselves when they should be personally responsible for themselves. Where does it end?

4. Residents have long complained about property taxes, though in recent years, Act 1 has succeeded in stemming the rapid increase in school property taxes. Does the state need property tax reform? Why or why not? And, if so, how would you approach the issue? Should property tax relief be restricted to homesteads (a homeowners' primary place of residence) or provided for all property owners? Why?

Alloway: No response.

Taylor: Probably a majority of people who have children in our public schools pay no tax to support the schools. Our institutions must be funded at least in part by the people who use them. There are also many thousands of illegal aliens or children of illegal aliens using our schools who own no property and are a 100 percent burden on school funding. Property taxes as the primary means of funding schools should be eliminated as stated in HB 1776 and SB 1400. Funding of schools should be shifted to sales taxes which everyone pays.

5. State funding for education, and especially higher education, has declined under the Corbett administration. Do you agree or disagree with the approach the administration has taken toward education funding? Explain your answer. What changes would you recommend in terms of funding education?

Alloway: No response.

Taylor: I agree with cuts in higher education and believe they should be cut further. There are too many young people attending our colleges and a college degree seems to have become a fundamental right. It is not or the Founding Fathers would have put it in the Constitution along with our true rights. We have people with degrees forced to work in jobs that don't require a degree. Most students in our universities have no business in college; they stumble through their four to seven years in school getting Bs and Cs when they should be getting Fs. Furthermore they are taught by professors who are often not educated enough to teach high school who award students grades they don't deserve just to get them out on the street.

In short our universities have become places where we house young people for years and give jobs to mediocre professors. There are 17 million kids in college and it's costing our society billions. We need one tenth the colleges and one tenth the students. If students show true aptitude in science and math, they deserve an education. If they can score at least 1200 on the SATs, they should be in college. Otherwise, they need to find jobs.

Right now American trade schools are going begging for students. Graduates of trade schools are finding jobs and making more money than the average college graduate. We need to use sense in portioning out our resources.

6. Why should voters cast a vote for you on Election Day? What qualities make you best suited for the position?

Alloway: No response.

Taylor: I will never vote to raise taxes. I am determined to do something about the massive pension debt that is sure to bankrupt the state (why wasn't this a question?). I will make a nuisance of myself until term limits for PA state a legislator is passed. I offer these positions and my answers above as a reason to write my name in as State Senator in the 33rd District.