State Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the favorite in the governor’s race, was in the area Sunday afternoon to rally voters.
Shapiro appeared at the Michael J. Crescenz Medal of Honor Rising Sun VFW Post 2819, 6850 Martins Mill Road.
The event was sponsored and organized by state Rep. Jared Solomon, state Sen. Tina Tartaglione and 35th Ward Democratic leader Bill Dolbow. Others in attendance included City Councilman Mike Driscoll, former City Controller Alan Butkovitz, legislative candidates Anthony Bellmon and Pat Gallagher and Council candidates Anthony Phillips and Jim Harrity.
Solomon warmed up the crowd, telling them to hold up campaign signs and chant, “Josh,” when the candidate entered the room. He credited Shapiro for promoting ethics reform as a state legislator, balancing budgets as a Montgomery County commissioner and strengthening consumer protections and addressing abuses in the Catholic church as attorney general.
The crowd booed Republican candidate Doug Mastriano when Solomon mentioned his name. Solomon criticized Mastriano for wearing a Confederate uniform in a U.S. Army War College faculty photograph and for “fear mongering.”
Shapiro thanked Solomon for his support, adding that he’ll be an ally in Harrisburg.
“He’s going to be in the room, and Northeast Philly’s going to be heard from,” Shapiro said.
Shapiro said one of his focuses is on education: more funding for public schools, an end to a reliance on standardized test scores and more music, art, vo-tech and mental health counselors.
As attorney general, he said he’s arrested child predators and people on drug and illegal gun charges and taken student loan companies and opioid manufacturers to court.
As governor, he’d hire more cops., cut business taxes and support more union apprentice jobs.
“Together, we’re going to raise the minimum wage to $15,” he said.
Shapiro criticized Mastriano for his views on abortion and support for banning some school books, and described him as the most dangerous and extreme candidate in the nation. Mastriano, he noted, was at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
“He has to be defeated,” Shapiro said. ••
