Dauphin Co Dem leaders back Jack

By WAGNER FOR GOVERNOR

Harrisburg (Jan. 29, 2010) – Three Democratic Party leaders in Dauphin County today announced their endorsement of Auditor General Jack Wagner for Governor.

“Jack Wagner has a record of public service that starts with the Marine Corps in Vietnam and is continued today in his tenacious work as Auditor General, where he protects our taxpayers’ money from mismanagement, waste, and abuse,” said Peggy Grove, Democratic State Committeewoman and Chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party’s South Central Caucus. “Jack is a man who Pennsylvanians have already twice trusted with the responsibility to ‘cover their backs’ wherever their hard-earned money is at stake, and I firmly believe that we all will be well served by entrusting Pennsylvania’s future to his experienced, capable hands as our governor. I will support whichever candidate gets our Party’s endorsement on February 6, but I am urging all my Democratic friends and colleagues to vote for Jack at State Committee, and with our united endorsement to ‘Back Jack’ both in May and November.”

Grove is joined in her endorsement by Diane Bowman, Chair of the Dauphin County Democratic Committee. “Jack is a proven advocate for women, as demonstrated by his readiness to entrust women managers and administrators,” Bowman said. “Everyone will have a fair chance to serve in a Wagner administration. I am proud to endorse Jack, he will have my vote at the Democratic State Committee meeting in February, and I will encourage others to vote for him during the endorsement process.” Bowman added that she “admires the entire field of Democratic candidates for Governor and will support and work hard for the candidate that wins the Democratic nomination in the May primary election.”

Jay Purdy, Democratic State Committeeman and former Lower Paxton Township Supervisor, rounded out the Dauphin County endorsements. “As Auditor General, Jack has built on the reputation established in the office by Robert P. Casey Jr. for putting the protection of the people of Pennsylvania foremost,” Purdy said. “Not only is he their able champion, he wades right in when invited by Democratic organizations – urban, suburban, or rural – to assist them with fundraising or to boost a local candidate. Jack has proven dedication, proven intelligence, and proven that while his blood may be red, his politics are proud pure blue.”

Wagner said that he was honored by the endorsements and excited about the momentum that his campaign was gaining. “I look forward to working with these and other local leaders on the important issues facing Pennsylvania in the months and years ahead.”

As Governor, Wagner’s top priorities for Pennsylvania will include: providing a HOPE Scholarship Program to help families afford the cost of higher education, maintaining vital government services without raising taxes, maximizing the state’s new Marcellus Shale energy resources in an environmentally responsible way, and creating high quality jobs to grow our economy.

Wagner, twice elected with bipartisan support as the state’s independent fiscal watchdog, received record-breaking vote totals in his re-election in 2008. He has been adding more supporters and endorsements every week to his campaign for Governor, including the chairs of Democratic party committees in Bedford, Cameron, Carbon, Clarion, Fulton, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lebanon, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, and Somerset counties, as well as the affiliated political action committee of the Pennsylvania Business Council and Henry Nicholas, President of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, and President of District 1199c of the national union.

Jack Wagner is a decorated Vietnam War combat veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, former member and president of the Pittsburgh City Council, and former state senator representing Allegheny County. Between the time of his military service and his service as an elected public official, Wagner worked his way through college on the GI Bill and as a paramedic, followed by ten years working as a Certified Safety Professional helping to ensure that businesses provide safe work environments for their employees. He was chosen by Pennsylvania families and taxpayers to serve as Pennsylvania’s 50th elected Auditor General in 2004, and then he was re-elected in 2008 with 3.3 million votes and 59% of the vote.

More information about Jack Wagner, his record of reform, and his campaign for Governor can be found at www.jackwagner.org.

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