The McKean County Republican Committee is not formally backing
Republican gubernatorial candidate and former Pittsburgh Steeler
Lynn Swann in the primary election in May.
McKean County GOP Chairman C. Russell Johnson of Smethport said
Sunday it was up to the individual voters as to who they would
endorse, but the committee is not publicly backing any candidate
for governor.
Swann is running for the seat against incumbent Democrat Ed
Rendell. Since there is currently no race for the each parties nod,
the duo will likely face off in November’s general election for the
right to hold the state’s highest seat.
Johnson said he feels Swann does not have the experience
necessary to serve effectively as governor.
“I prefer substance over style,” Johnson said.
Johnson did say, however, the committee is backing all other
Republican candidates up for election.
For her part, Committee Vice President Betty Comes said during
the Lincoln Day dinner Saturday night honoring former sheriff
Donald Morey that it was her understanding a lot of people in the
county were supportive of Swann.
Others at the dinner referred comment to Johnson on the
matter.
Swann – who is running with Montgomery County Commissioner Jim
Matthews – gained enough votes across the state to force the early
departure of former Lt. Gov. William Scranton from the race.
Scranton visited Bradford last August to tout his campaign.
He is also being publicly backed by state Sen. Joe Scarnati,
R-Brockway, who said in January that Swann “is the only candidate
that has the innate ability to bring people together to improve and
enhance the quality of life for the residents in our rural
area.”
Scarnati added that Swann ” … shares many of the same principles
that are known to be common in this tranquil region of the
Commonwealth.”
For their part, U.S. Reps. John Peterson, R-Pa., and Phil
English, R-Pa., had backed Scranton for the post. Other local state
legislators have not publicly indicated they are backing Swann.
There are several Republicans statewide that have concerns about
Swann’s lack of governmental experience and about a lack of detail
on his policy positions. Swann has gained support, however, from
such lawmakers as Congressmen Bill Shuster and Joe Pitts and state
Sens. Joe Pippy, Don White and Jane Orie.
All told, Swann garnered 22 votes during the Northwest GOP
Caucus, comprised of members from McKean, Potter, Cameron, Forest
and Warren counties, among others.
Warren County Northwest Caucus Chairman Ash Khare told the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in January the support for Swann is a
“genuine grass-roots upheaval.”
Khare told the newspaper that a number of “prominent political
leaders” had called Caucus members to urge them to vote for
Scranton.
A call seeking additional comment from Khare Sunday night was
not immediately returned.
