Gov. Tom Corbett debuted a campaign commercial last week that touts the 178,000 private sector jobs created in the last three years and an unemployment rate of 5.6 percent that is the lowest since September 2008.
In addition, the television spot references a survey conducted by Site Selection magazine showing Pennsylvania №1 in the northeastern United States for building new facilities.
“Gov. Tom Corbett is building a stronger Pennsylvania, and that’s a story we are excited to tell to the voters,” said campaign communications director Chris Pack. “Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate is at a five-year low, and we have more people working in the state’s private sector than at any other point in history. Gov. Tom Corbett is building a stronger Pennsylvania for our future, and he’s not done yet.”
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Meanwhile, Corbett was endorsed by the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry.
The latest jobs report released by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry found that 21,700 private sector jobs were created for the month of May. The unemployment rate also fell for the 10th consecutive month to 5.6 percent — a five-year low.
“We proudly endorse Gov. Tom Corbett for re-election because he has made the tough decisions necessary to build a stronger Pennsylvania,” said Guy Ciarrocchi, president of the group. “Thanks to Gov. Tom Corbett’s leadership in Harrisburg, Chester County is rebounding from the recession and from the bad economy that his administration inherited when he took office. We are now stronger with more people employed in the private sector than at any other point in our state’s history, while our unemployment continues to free-fall. We are excited to see where our state is headed under four more years of Gov. Tom Corbett’s leadership in Harrisburg.”
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The Philadelphia Republican Party is criticizing Mayor Michael Nutter for his comments regarding complaints about the vulgarity used by performers at the July 4 Welcome America concert.
Thousands of people watched the concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and the show was broadcast live on Channel 6.
Nutter told KYW Newsradio that the acts are well known, and that people could have gone to the bathroom or gotten something to eat when the performers began to use foul language.
“Since the acts are fairly well known to perform in a nonfamily-friendly manner, as Nutter points out, shouldn’t the city have avoided using them?” asked Joe DeFelice, executive director of the local GOP.
DeFelice said people should expect class during Philadelphia’s July 4 celebration. He added that Nutter’s comments don’t sound very welcoming to the Welcome America crowd.
“What does he want people to do? Spend 30 minutes trying to get off the Parkway after they hear the first five f-bombs?” DeFelice asked.
This is the second year in a row that there’s been controversy during a major outdoor concert in Philadelphia. During last August’s Made in America concert, Public Enemy displayed a banner that read, “Free Mumia Abu-Jamal,” referring to the convicted killer of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner.
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Ken Trujillo, a possible Democratic candidate for mayor in 2015, has hired a campaign team.
Trujillo is a former city solicitor and assistant U.S. attorney. He lives in Chestnut Hill with his wife and daughter.
“Philadelphians have a unique opportunity to build a true 21st-century city that expands our middle class and finally provides the world-class public education our children deserve,” he said. “That is why I’ve assembled a top-flight team of campaign professionals to help me lead a serious conversation with the people of Philadelphia about our future.”
The team consists of Jane Slusser (political director); Vaughn Ross (finance director); Bill Hyers and Jessie Bradley (general campaign consulting); Anna Greenberg (polling); and Ken Snyder and Terrie Pickerill (media).
Hyers was named Campaign Manager of the Year by the American Association of Political Consultants for helping Bill de Blasio win last year’s New York mayoral race. In 2007, Hyers was campaign manager and Bradley the field director for Michael Nutter’s mayoral campaign.
Snyder Pickerill Media Group has worked with former Mayor John Street, former Gov. Ed Rendell, congressional candidate Brendan Boyle and lieutenant governor candidate Mike Stack.
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The Committee of Seventy is seeking volunteers to analyze data leading up to November’s governor’s election and next year’s races for mayor and City Council.
Participants will take part in a short training session. They will examine political ads and political coverage by media, putting in as many or as few hours as they want.
To apply, email [email protected] ••
