State Treasurer Rob McCord last week joined the Democratic race for governor.
McCord made his announcements at Montgomery County Community College and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 5 apprenticeship training center in Pittsburgh.
The candidate prioritized public education investment, college affordability and job creation.
As treasurer, he fought Gov. Tom Corbett’s attempt to privatize the Pennsylvania Lottery. He has also battled the governor on health-care cuts.
“Tom Corbett has been a bad governor, and I’m ready to get us back on track,” he said.
Upon his entry into the race, McCord received the endorsement of the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters, which represents about 95,000 people.
“Pennsylvania needs a leader who has a proven record of standing up for Pennsylvania’s working families and standing up to Tom Corbett’s bad policies, and Rob has both,” said William Hamilton, president of the Teamsters.
Republicans are not impressed with McCord’s candidacy. Rob Gleason, chairman of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, said he had a “paper-thin” record.
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U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, another Democratic candidate for governor, last week released a three-point agenda to boost public schools.
Schwartz is calling for universal preschool for 4-year-olds, expanded access to full-day kindergarten and reduced class size in kindergarten through third grade; a 5-percent severance tax on natural gas production to raise money for early education; and a transparent funding formula that recognizes student and school district characteristics, considers local effort and provides sustained, adequate and fair funding to every school district.
“Pennsylvania needs a new governor who understands that strong schools are the foundation for building a better future for our children and a stronger economy,” she said.
Mike Barley, campaign manager for Corbett, described Schwartz’s plan as “flawed.”
“The simple truth to Congresswoman Schwartz’s plan is that the math just doesn’t add up,” he said. “If you tax natural gas to the point they leave and take jobs with them, how will she be getting the funding for any of these initiatives? Pennsylvanians can only be left to wonder what other taxes she will raise to make up the difference.”
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Marjorie Margolies, a Democratic candidate in the 13th Congressional District, held a fundraiser last week in Washington, D.C., featuring 34 current and former members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Margolies served one term in Congress in the 1990s.
The list of current members supporting her includes Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, of Maryland; and ranking committee members Nita Lowey (N.Y.), Henry Waxman (Calif.), Maxine Waters (Calif.) and Dutch Ruppersberger (Md.).
The group of former members includes former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta (Calif.); former presidential candidate Pat Schroeder (Colo.); former Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Martin Frost (Texas); and Ron Klink, a former western Pennsylvania congressman who ran for Senate in 2000.
“In my brief time in Congress, I was fortunate to work with some of the best and brightest; men and women who passed Family and Medical Leave, the Brady Bill and the Clinton budget. I am proud that these leaders are standing behind my campaign today,” Margolies said.
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The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming election is Monday, Oct. 7.
Citizens can visit www.votespa.com to check their registration status, download a voter registration form and find information on their polling place.
Registration forms are also available at PennDOT photo and driver’s license centers.
For more information, call toll-free 1–877-VOTESPA. ••