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Lentz hit for using a state car
Democratic congressional candidate Bryan Lentz is taking some heat from his opponent for joining many other state lawmakers in using a taxpayer funded car—seemingly in violation of a 2006 campaign pledge.
Republican Pat Meehan’s campaign criticized Lentz on the matter this week, noting that Lentz made Republican Tom Gannon’s use of a taxpayer funded car an issue before narrowly unseating him in a 2006 run for state House. At the time, Lentz said he wouldn’t use a state car if elected, telling one reporters that “I’ll pay for my own car like everybody else in this district.”
In 2009, Lentz started making use of a taxpayer-funded Ford Escape hybrid—and Meehan’s campaign says that makes Lentz a “hypocrite.”
“Actions speak louder than words, and Bryan Lentz’s tough rhetoric on the campaign trail in 2006 doesn’t match his actions in Harrisburg in 2009,” Meehan campaign manager Bryan Kendro said in a statement Wednesday. “This is just another instance of Lentz saying one thing when he’s searching for votes, but doing something completely different once he’s safely in office.”
In a statement, Lentz campaign manager Kevin McTigue did not deny Lentz’s use of a state car, but tried to turn the focus back on Meehan.
“If Pat Meehan, who has spent the bulk of his professional life on the public payroll and drastically increased the budget of his office while District Attorney, wants to get into a debate on reform, Bryan Lentz is happy to do that and will help find a venue for the discussion,” McTigue said. “The truth is, in his short time in Harrisburg, Bryan Lentz has voted on numerous measures for reform. Surely Pat Meehan isn’t criticizing Bryan for using his existing budget to pay for necessary travel rather than taking reimbursements that would go in his pocket.”
September 30, 2010 at 11:13 am
Tags: Bryan Lentz, PA-7, Pat Meehan
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David Diano
Sep 30th, 2010
Seems to me that Lentz’s 2006 pledge covered only his first term. Lentz’s second term began in 2009. As long as Lentz didn’t repeat the pledge during his 2008 reelection bid, I don’t see it as an hypocrisy.
I guess Meehan isn’t too worried about his own pledges regarding the upholding the Constitution and the law. What’s the story with all those forged petition signatures? As an “officer of the court”, Meehan should be pushing for prosecutions of the culprits.
Oh… wait… I forgot… Meehan’s a hypocrite and political shill… nevermind..
s. d. willy
Sep 30th, 2010
David,
make sure the sump pump is working…basements flood in this kind of weather
Tony Soprano
Sep 30th, 2010
Diano, are you kidding me? Not even the Lentz people offered the “it only counted for the first term!!!” defense because they know how so obviously stupid that sounds. Your vacuous and pedantic attempts at shilling for Lentz’s hypocrisy are pathetic.
Byron Lentz
Sep 30th, 2010
Look on the bright side. At least I drove a hybrid!
- Byron Lentz
Byron Lentz
Sep 30th, 2010
Byron Lentz — Screwing over taxpayers in the most environmentally sustainable way possible since 2006!
sick of it all
Sep 30th, 2010
so what
David Diano
Sep 30th, 2010
Tony-
Maybe they didn’t offer the first term only, but at least my answer’s better than the non-answer they gave.
Just say that Bryan held to it during the first term, but it became too impractical during the second term. Maybe the hybrid got better mileage than his regular car. Maybe one of the family cars had problems so he gave up one car for his wife, and dropped the unreliable car. Or just say, “I don’t know. I’ll have Bryan get back to you.”
Whatever the reason, just own up to it, explain it and move on, before you switch the focus back to Meehan. Bryan’s an adult and he certainly made a conscience decision, just explain his reasoning and then criticize Meehan’s own behavior.
If you aren’t going to do that, then just don’t bother issuing a statement.
PA2010 should get a direct answer from Lentz himself, and not the campaign manager, who was probably caught unaware and just fumbled for response because Lentz was unavailable.
What?!?
Sep 30th, 2010
Ripping into Gannon for taking per diems and a state funded car were two of the the central planks of Lentz’ reform platform in the 2006 campaign.
The reason Lentz doesn’t try to explain it is because its indefensible to campaign for office by ripping into an incumbent for taking the perks of the office and then taking them yourself when you get elected.
David Diano
Oct 1st, 2010
What-
Lentz wasn’t my legislator, so I can’t say I paid much attention to the details of his 2006 campaign promises. The current Congressional campaign staff wasn’t around then and shouldn’t be trying to bluff their way through the question.
Dan-
If you want a straight answer, speak to Lentz directly, because he’s the only person with direct knowledge of the answer.
delco mod
Oct 1st, 2010
Another example of a politician lying his way into office.
Because voters wanted to believe Lentz, it cost a state rep. (Gannon) his job. Though the loss of Gannon was no great loss to Delco, it’s now only fitting that Lentz go down as well.
When will these geniuses realize that the truth matters and they’re being watched by folks much smarter than they are.