By Matt Snyder
Herald Staff Writer
MERCER COUNTY —
Roberta Biros is back and reloaded after her failed bid to win the Mercer County treasurer seat last fall. Her new undertaking is taking on 20-year incumbent state Sen. Robert D. Robbins, Salem Township, R-50th District.
Mrs. Biros, a conservative Mercer County small businesswoman and political blogger, drew headlines last year after she left the Republican party, registered as a Democrat, and took on longtime incumbent Mercer County Treasurer Ginny Steese Richardson, a Republican.
At the time, she said the county Republican party was too beholden to some of its longest-serving elected officials.
In a very public dispute with Mrs. Biros, Mercer County Democratic Chairman Bob Lark questioned Mrs. Biros’s sudden conversion to the Democrats and her viability as a candidate, wondering openly if she was dragging Democrats into a Republican feud.
Mrs. Biros lost the election against Mrs. Richardson in the fall by 36 points, garnering 6,049 of about 18,957 votes.
Arguing that politics has become a “good old boys” club in Mercer County, Mrs. Biros is campaigning against Robbins as a conservative independent on a platform of small government, fiscal responsibility, and term limits.
“We need a fiscal conservative in the state senate that will work to cut spending, decrease the tax burden on individuals and small businesses, and turn the state government around,” Mrs. Biros wrote in her release.
Mrs. Biros’s home sports a tea party sign promoting the 10 a.m. Saturday rally on the courthouse steps, which she plans to attend, and her blog, “Mercer County Conservatives,” has tea party merchandise advertisers.
Asked if she is a tea party candidate, Mrs. Biros said there are no “tea party candidates.” Her platform, though, matches their views, she said.
In order to get on the ballot as an independent, Mrs. Biros said she will need to collect at least 827 signatures to her nominating papers.
She will be facing off with a longtime incumbent with considerable political support without the aid of a major party, but Mrs. Biros said she received little party backing as a Democrat and she is versed in managing her own campaign.
Mrs. Biros attacked Robbins in her release, hitting him on voting for pay raises, protecting cost of living increases, and saying he hides from his constituents and the press.
Robbins was returning to Harrisburg Sunday night, his wife Cindy said, and was not available for comment.
