SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Both Governor Josh Shapiro and his Republican challenger Stacy Garrity returned to the campaign trail in our area over the weekend.
Voters we spoke to in Somerset County shared their concerns ahead of the upcoming election as they awaited the Governor’s arrival on Sunday.
“It’s the same concerns most people have. The price of gas, I bought a really nice big truck here about two years ago. Now it sits in front of my house most of the time because it’s $100 to fill up,” said one voter.
“Well, obviously, the issue on everyone’s mind right now and many Somerset County residents is the economy. And I think that is the number one issue that everybody is really focused on as we head to the midterms,” added Somerset County commissioner Pamela Tokar-Ickes.
“Yeah, the cost of living is high. The gas is high, diesel is high, fuel oil, groceries. Everything is high right now,” another voter said.
In the meantime, at Zeigler’s Tavern in Windber, former state treasurer Stacy Garrity says the current governor is part of the problem.
“Listen, everything is more expensive since Shapiro took office. I mean, let your groceries grow up 40%; your water went up 25 to 35%.”
In response, Gov. Shapiro says he’s actually grown the economy.
“We’ve created more jobs in my first four years as governor than the prior 15 years combined. We’ve cut taxes 10 different times to put money back in people’s pockets. I’m an independent guy who brings people together to get stuff done.”
Additionally, voters supporting Shapiro and those behind Garrity both say Pennsylvania needs Skill Games because they help fund our local volunteer fire companies and VFW’s.
Under me, no, we’re bringing them back. We’ll convene a special session, we’ll roll up our sleeves and we’ll work out something. That is a win-win. And you have my word. I am not a career politician.
The governor says he understands the need for funding and says he’s in favor of regulating the machines.
We had a deal to pass a bill to get it to my desk and the Republicans who control the state Senate literally skipped out. They went home and refused to consider it.
There seems to be a lot separating the Democrat and the Republican in this gubernatorial race as voters will have to decide on Tuesday, November 3rd.