ST. MARYS – Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann made
several stops during a campaign trip through Elk County on
Friday.

Swann said he wanted to visit the downtown area because “it’s
good to talk to businessmen and women because they have a good feel
about how the economy is going.”

He said local business owners are the ones most in tune with the
local economy, judging on what people buy and how.

“You have a good sense of what’s happening in the community,”
Swann said. “Pennsylvania is a very diverse state, and state
leadership has to understand that.”

Mayor Sally Geyer welcomed Swann to the city at his first
stop.

“I hope he enjoyed his visit and found the town quaint,” Geyer
told The Era.

Swann made a stop at Elk County Ammo and Arms, where he
purchased his hunting license, then stopped at the Station Inn,
where he spoke with a very vocal group of supporters about why he
feels he would make the better choice for governor.

“It’s supposed to be about representing you. It shouldn’t be
about my direction,” Swann said. “It should be a reflection of
where you feel Pennsylvania should go.”

Swann said before he decided to run for governor, he traveled
around the state, talking to people and finding out what issues
were important to them.

The residents have spoken, he said, and they want more jobs and
more opportunities for their children. Property tax and health care
were the top issues. “We continue to talk about reforming property
tax. (Governor Ed) Rendell promised to reduce property taxes by 30
percent, but hasn’t,” Swann said.

“We need to make sure we have a system, not to put a band aid on
it. We may have given some senior citizens some additional dollars,
but for five out of six, we haven’t done anything.”

Swann’s final stop in Elk County was Smiths Sports Store, where
he spoke with another group of supporters, many of whom were
wearing black and gold Steelers jerseys and waiving “Terrible
Towels.”

Swann’s next stop will be the Cameron County Fair.