It must be an election year.
Starting this weekend, residents in the four-county region will
receive visits from federal and state lawmakers on the campaign
trail as political races begin heating up as November’s general
election draws near.
Among those coming: U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., Gov. Ed
Rendell, state Treasurer Robert Casey Jr., and Republican candidate
for governor and former Pittsburgh Steeler, Lynn Swann.
According to officials with Rendell’s re-election campaign, the
Democrat will make stops in Smethport and Ridgway on Sunday, while
visiting sites in St. Marys and Emporium on Monday. Rendell will
also make a non-campaign stop at Werzalit of America Inc. on Holley
Avenue in Bradford Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the McKean County Democratic Committee has announced
that Casey, a challenger to Santorum for the U.S. Senate, will
arrive in Smethport Aug. 5.
On the other side of the aisle, local Republican officials said
Santorum is slated to be in Bradford on Aug. 12 to make an
appearance at Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems, while Swann
will visit Ridgway on Saturday.
Swann’s campaign officials said Wednesday that although a
definite schedule hasn’t been worked out yet, the Republican will
likely also visit other portions of northcentral Pennsylvania in
the coming months as well.
Santorum’s re-election chairwoman for McKean County, Denise
Jadlowiec, said Wednesday night the senator will be at Beacon Light
from 8:15 to 10 a.m. for a continental breakfast, tour and Power
Point presentation about the organization.
“He’s excited to come,” Jadlowiec said. “Rick is really
interested in autism. That’s very close to his heart. He’s
interested in seeing what Beacon Light has to offer.”
Santorum currently has legislation making its way through
Congress to combat autism. The measure passed out of the Senate
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, McKean County Democratic Chairwoman Judy Church said
Casey will be attending a “lawn party” hosted by Smethport resident
Vicky McElwee from roughly noon to 1:30 p.m.
“He (Casey) is going to be campaigning,” Church said, noting
Casey has been taking a grassroots approach to his campaign by
attending gatherings at the homes of supporters. “It will be a
chance for him to meet and greet everyone and give people an
opportunity to know him.”
Church said the get-together is open to the public; anyone with
questions should contact a Democratic county committeeperson.
“He is a wonderful man and is laid back,” Church said of Casey,
adding the party “is hopeful” he is elected to Congress on Nov. 7.
“He’s held several key offices during his time in politics and is
not as inexperienced as Santorum likes to sometimes state that he
is.”
Church said Casey visited the area before while campaigning for
auditor general.
Conversely, Santorum made stops in Elk, Cameron and nearby
Forest counties earlier this month and Zippo Manufacturing Co. last
June.
On the gubernatorial front, Rendell’s campaign office said the
governor will bring his re-election bid to McKean, Elk, Cameron,
Warren and Erie counties starting this weekend.
After visiting Erie County on Saturday, Rendell will meet Warren
County Democrats before making his way to Smethport and Ridgway on
Sunday. Officials said Rendell will visit the Smethport Welcome
Center (Senior Center) at 5:15 p.m. for a reception with county
party leaders.
Rendell will have an evening reception with Elk and Jefferson
county Democrats at 7 p.m. at the Ridgway Public Library. On
Monday, the governor will appear at 10:30 a.m. for retail
campaigning in St. Marys, followed by a luncheon for Potter and
Cameron county Democrats at 1 p.m. at 11 W. 4th St. in Emporium and
more retail campaign work at 2 p.m. there.
According to Rendell’s campaign, the governor will also be
stopping for a non-campaign event at 4:15 p.m. at Werzalit in
Bradford in what is being dubbed an “official event.” He is
expected to make an announcement at that time.
A call seeking comment from Werzalit President Alan Ramsey was
not immediately returned as of press time.
“He’ll be on his cross Pennsylvania bus tour,” Church said. “The
governor will be meeting with the Democratic Committee and anybody
who wants to speak to him is welcome to attend.”
Church said on the committee’s agenda will be a discussion on
the forestry school slated to be established in the borough by Penn
State University. “The committee also has some local issues we want
to discuss with him.”
“It’s great to have him come up,” Church said, noting several
Republicans in the county are also backing him. “He’s made several
trips to our area over the years.”
During one of Rendell’s last stops in the region, he made a stop
at Bradford Regional Medical Center, awarding $11 million in
economic development funding.
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Swann’s campaign said Wednesday, in
addition to his stop in Ridgway at a private residence, he is
looking at making a swing through the rest of the region in the
near future.
