Is Political Change Finally Here?

Is Political Change Finally Here?

By Alisha M. Kendall
The Weekly Recorder
March 28, 2008

Washington, PA- I asked Frank Yuvan to meet me at Café Bean, hoping that the relaxing atmosphere would induce a pleasant and comfortable conversation. Mr. Yuvan is a Republican running for State Representative in the 46th district of Pennsylvania. The 46th district includes parts of Washington, Allegheny, and Beaver counties.

Mr. Yuvan’s name is not on the ballot, but he is hoping for enough write-ins to get back on. He contracted bronchitis during campaigning, and when his signatures were challenged, he simply dropped out, to avoid facing up to $10,000 in lawyer fee’s. He needs a required 300 signatures in the primary next month to be placed back onto the ballot.

Frank Yuvan grew up in the Washington area, learning martial arts. He graduated from Trinity high school in 2000, and spent some time at both the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and California University, and after learning how to build anything with his hands, and receiving his E.M.T. certification, he decided teaching martial arts was the right career path for him. He feels that working with kids is always a rewarding experience, and he would be happy doing it for the rest off his life. He also owns a comic book store in Washington.

Mr. Yuvan is tired of politicians, and others talking, yet never doing anything about it. He wants action, and he is willing to do anything it takes to change things for the better. Washington is in the top five of the most corrupt cities in the United States, and is often referred to as “Little Chicago.” To highlight this problem he shared an experience he had late one night in Washington with me. He pulled up to a red light, and within five minutes he was offered to buy a prostitute and asked if he wanted some “good powder.” He said the people walked right up to his car door, like he was in a drive-thru. That is why he wants to bring about change for the county of Washington, and it is about time someone does. He mentioned the saying, “I would sacrifice my life, but never my honor,” and stated that he wanted to “bring that back to this county.”

Mr. Yuvan will do everything he can to get his name back on the ballot. In the next month he plans on introducing himself to as many people as he possibly can, as well as going door to door and holding meet and greets. He really likes to meet people and talk with them, and he is very personable. He mentioned doing demonstrations at senior centers and speaking at malls, as well as public appearances to boost his popularity. He has a great team working for him, and that is helping his campaigning as well. His campaign manager is his father whom he called “his backbone, more of a dad than he needs to be.”

Mr. Yuvan used the famous quote “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” He believes that it is a cliché and he wants to try to prove it wrong. He said he is in this because he has a drive, a desire, to change things.

He mentioned the famous issue of gas prices. Between 50 and 60 cents for every gallon of gas goes to Pennsylvania taxes, one of the highest in the country. If the taxes were lowered even a little bit, it would make a humongous difference. He mentioned how public schools do not teach students how to eat healthy and to stay fit, and that this is a problem that needs to be addressed.

Mr. Yuvan is running against incumbent Jesse White, who is serving his first term. When asked about campaigning, he responded, “it all boils down to one simple thing: money. Raising it and spending it properly.” He only desires to be “a humble servant of the county.”

He will be busy campaigning throughout Washington in the next month before the primaries.