Wolf has not yet accepted Wagner’s challenge to debate in all 67 of the state’s counties.
Scott Wagner, the Republican candidate for governor, challenged Gov. Tom Wolf to participate in a town hall-style debate in all 67 counties in the state.
Wolf has not accepted, and Wagner appeared on NewsTalk 103.7 to criticize the governor for thinking he is above having to stand in front of the people of Pennsylvania to explain why there is so much trash along the highways and so many potholes on interstates.
Wagner, who resigned from the state Senate on Monday to focus on his campaign, said, “It’s time for Pennsylvanians to have a gubernatorial campaign that focuses on them for a change. They deserve candidates who are not afraid to provide direct and personalized answers on their plans for the future of the commonwealth. I believe that Governor Wolf is failing us, and that it’s important for voters in every county to get a chance to see the differences between us in person so that they can make an informed choice when they head to the polls in November.”
Jeff Bartos, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, added, “This may be a foreign concept to Gov. Wolf, but Scott and I think a lieutenant governor should have a firm understanding of the administration’s agenda and be able to step in for the governor whenever necessary. Therefore, if Gov. Wolf does not have time to attend all 67 debates, I suggest that he allow Mayor Fetterman and I to articulate the views of our respective tickets in front of the people.”
John Fetterman, the mayor of Braddock, is Wolf’s running mate.
Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Val DiGiorgio commented on Wagner’s departure from the Senate.
“I support Scott’s decision to resign from the Senate at this time in order to devote his time and focus to running a successful gubernatorial campaign. Scott Wagner has always been an outsider that has worked to change the status quo. Even since before getting to Harrisburg, he has realized that many aspects of our government are broken. His best chance at fixing them comes not from the Senate, but from the governor’s office. From winning his Senate seat by a write-in campaign and through his time in the General Assembly, Scott has shown the tenacity and reform-minded leadership needed to defeat Tom Wolf and move Pennsylvania forward. The Republican Party of Pennsylvania is excited to continue to work with Scott over the coming months to bring a Republican back to the governor’s office.”
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Paul Glover, the Green Party candidate for governor, is calling for a focus on jobs rather than jails and a rebuilding of cities.
Glover said, if elected, he will establish a Green Labor Administration and a state bank, which will invest tax revenue and pension funds to accelerate the job-creation process.
For more than 40 years, Glover has been a developer of green jobs programs. As governor, he plans to shift the state budget away from prisons and into schools that prioritize green job skills.
Glover is author of the books Deep Green Jobs and Green Jobs Philly, which detail how to create 100,000 green jobs in Philadelphia.
“Philadelphia has a 26 percent poverty rate and a 38 percent high school dropout rate,” he said. “These Philadelphians, and such people statewide, will not likely get STEM jobs. So we need to create ‘stem’ jobs to manage urban greenhouses on our vacant lots, plant orchards, install solar panels, remove excess paving, build low-cost tiny houses and so forth.”
In addition, Glover proposes what he calls a “Police Integrity Congresses,” which transfers control of police hiring, firing and standards to the communities most affected by police patrols.
“Police departments and police unions often protect bad officers, while police review boards have little leverage,” he said, adding that the media should cease printing mug shots, which he says “make criminals famous while reinforcing false stereotypes of black males.” ••
