Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann visited Zippo
Manufacturing Co. Friday morning, toured the plant and visitors
center – and greeted as many happy Steelers fans as he could along
the way.
Waving to workers, stopping to pose for photographs, shaking
hands, conversing with workers, Swann – a former Pittsburgh Steeler
and an NFL Hall of Fame player – made his way through the plant in
a whirlwind tour led by Chief Financial Officer Rich Roupe and Jim
Minich, employee relations manager of Zippo.
Swann would stop at a work station, pick up a product, inspect
it and return it to the employee, usually offering a big smile and
a handshake along with it.
“How are you?” an employee would ask.
“If I’d get your vote, I’d be better,” Swann would quickly
respond.
At the visitors center, the Rev. Jim Line, his wife, Nicole, and
infant daughter, Ruth, were waiting for Swann’s arrival. In true
politician mode, Swann held Ruth as he shook hands and posed for
photos with her parents.
“We’re supporting him for what he stands for and believes in,”
Nicole Line said. “I’m a school teacher, and what he believes for
education and other issues … it’s not just that we’re
Republicans.”
After Swann toured the visitors center, he addressed the small
crowd that had gathered.
“Zippo has been here a long time,” he said. “They are one of the
world’s iconic brands.”
He called Zippo a tribute to the business environment in
Pennsylvania, saying he had just spoken to some longtime employees
while on the tour of the factory.
“Zippo is dedicated to Bradford,” he said. “You’ve seen the kids
grow up here. I think the state owes you a debt of gratitude.”
While it is important to continue attracting businesses to the
Commonwealth, it is equally important to treat Pennsylvania’s long
standing businesses – like Zippo – with the respect they
deserve.
“We need to make sure we take care of our own,” Swann said. “You
have our support.”
He also spoke about the importance of getting to know all of
Pennsylvania, and not just concentrating on the big cities like
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
“It’s important to maintain contact throughout the state,” he
said, “so you don’t forget what the problems are.”
It shouldn’t be different parts of the state vying for
attention, Swann said. “It’s not east-versus-west. We’re making
sure it’s an even playing field.
“I’m trying to keep in touch and in tune with rural
Pennsylvania. We need to be concerned with all of Pennsylvania. I
can’t do that if I spend all of my time in Philadelphia or
Pittsburgh.
“We have lots of great places here.”
He briefly addressed a concern of rural areas in the state – a
proposal to reduce the size of the state legislature, a move which
some believe will negatively impact rural representation at the
state level.
“I think we can afford to have a smaller legislature,” Swann
said. “I think they’ll be more responsive.”
Reducing the number of legislators will create a significant
savings for taxpayers, he added, saying costs would be cut as much
as $90 million.
“I think the representation will still be there. We have to make
sure when we reduce it, we do that in the right manner.”
Northwest Pennsylvania Republican Caucus Chairman Ash Khare was
accompanying Swann on the tour.
“Sixty percent of Pennsylvanians are not happy right now,” he
said. “They believe the state is going in the wrong direction.”
Referring to the upcoming gubernatorial election, Khare said,
“It’s a very winnable race.”
Khare said Gov. Ed Rendell recently spent $7 million on
campaigning and his polling numbers did not change.
“If that’s all he’s got, we’re not sweating it.”
