By Petra Chesner Schlatter; BucksLocalNews.com

Republican Dr. Robert Ciervo, chairman of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors and a career educator, tossed his hat into the ring for state representative in the 31st Legislative District on Thursday.

Surrounded by 80 supporters, Ciervo formally announced his candidacy for the seat, which represents Newtown Borough, Newtown Township, Yardley Borough, Lower Makefield Township and a portion of Upper Makefield Township in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

“I feel compelled to run because Harrisburg is making mistakes. Harrisburg is putting our best interests at risk. We need to change it,” said Ciervo. “But I’m going to need your help,” he told the gathering of supporters, including former State Rep. Dave Steil and Bucks County Commissioner Jim Cawley. “This is just the beginning. It’s going to be a long road.”

Ciervo grew up in Newtown, attended Council Rock schools from kindergarten through 12th grade and is a 1986 graduate of Council Rock High School. He went on to complete his bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Pittsburgh before completing his Ph.D. at Temple University in 1998. He is director of the Rutgers-Camden Learning Center and an occasional adjunct professor in psychology.

Standing on the steps of the Newtown Borough Hall, Ciervo outlined what he called his “New Prescription for Pennsylvania,” calling for spending controls, reforms and putting taxpayers first.

In 2007, Ciervo said taxpayers in the Council Rock School District forked over more than $110 million to Harrisburg in tax dollars and got back $31 million in funding subsidies for public education.

“Our school district’s operating expenses are only funded 15 to 17 percent by state revenue where the city of Philadelphia gets 60 percent of its revenue from the state,” Ciervo said. “We have to change the way we do business in Harrisburg.”

At the same time, said Ciervo, “We need to control state spending to hold the line on taxes. It is not that Harrisburg does not spend enough; it is that it does not spend wisely. I will be the agent of change to make that occur.

“As a township supervisor,” continued Ciervo, “I have controlled spending, lowered taxes while preserving open space and improving our infrastructure. I will be a leader in this area.”

Ciervo called for pension and benefit reform, real medical malpractice reform “to keep our young doctors in the state,” and lobbyist reform “to protect taxpayers from special interest groups.”

On the economy, Ciervo said Harrisburg needs to invest in its current job creators -- universities, disease research centers and biotechnology firms -- and attract new and larger businesses by making “Pennsylvania competitive again for job creation.”

Ciervo also spoke passionately about the current legislature’s decision to withhold budgeted monies to teaching hospitals like the Fox Chase Cancer Center.

“I found it personally offensive that the current legislature would withhold budgeted monies in an effort to blackmail legislators into voting to legalize black jack,” he said.

“Holding our college students and cancer patients hostage by delaying their funding after the monies have been approved is just wrong,” he said. “It is especially wrong when the budget was 100 days late. I will not stand for that if elected to represent the residents of the 31st district. He also added he took special offense given both of his parents succumbed to cancer in the last six years and they were treated routinely at Fox Chase in Philadelphia for many years.”

Steve Santarsiero currently holds the seat of state representative in the 31st district. He has not formally declared his candidacy, but intends to do so in the near future, according to Tony Bush, a spokesperson for Santarsiero.

Bush said it is too early to start the campaign. He noted that Santarsiero has only been in office for about a year and that he is spending his time “fighting for the citizens.”

Santarsiero, a Lower Makefield resident, served on the Lower Makefield Township Board of Supervisors and held the post of chairman.