SAM BREENE LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR VENANGO COUNTY COMMISSIONER Venango County – Today, Republican Sam Breene formally announced his campaign for a second term as Venango County Commissioner. “Growing up in Venango County, I was raised with conservative principles and a deep commitment to our community. These values have guided every decision I’ve made while serving Venango County the last three years and will inform every decision I make serving the people of Venango County going forward. I’m proud of my record so far as Venango County Commissioner, but there is still work to be done to keep Venango County punching above its weight class.” Breene says, not raising taxes, increasing wages for the lowest paid county employees, and building the county’s budget reserve are a few examples of promises he made during his first campaign that he has kept. Leading the county’s grant program that distributed nearly $3 million to over 300 small businesses, non-profits, and volunteer fire departments in Venango County during the Wolf administration’s job-killing covid shutdown is one of Breene’s most important acts during his first term. Other accomplishments include creating the 911 Advisory Board which has increased communication and cooperation between first responders and their partners at Venango County 911. Breene has also prioritized election integrity during a period of many changes to the state election code. Sam Breene, a lifelong resident of Venango County, is in the last year of his first term as County Commission and is a former staffer for Republican member of United States Congress, Mike Kelly. “My goal is to be an accessible and accountable public servant who always puts Venango County and its tax-payers first. I humbly ask for the opportunity to continue serving as your county commissioner.” | Editor's note: This is Samuel Breene's announcement of his intentions to run for Venango County Commissioner as a Republican. The announcement is reprinted in its entirety as provided in a press release onFebruary 9, 2023. Candidates can send their announcements to 8and322@gmail.com for consideration for publication. |
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File photo of PENNCREST School Board President Luigi DeFrancesco speaking during a meeting in 2021 I have been struggling as to how I could ethically even cover the PENNCREST School Board happenings. I have personally been vocal about the issues surrounding the school board actions and have engaged the school board president many times regarding differing views on just about everything under the sun. Today, reading through the stellar work of the teenage student journalists of The Panther Press covering changes to school board policy wording, I realized I don't even have to worry about how I cover this story. They are on it. I'm reminded how journalism came about in the first place. This country is founded on checks and balances. The fourth estate is predicated on the fundamental notion that power corrupts and there needs to be someone, preferably many someones, to keep check on power. The Panther Press is a student newspaper, well its a student news organization utilizing many platforms to spread information they gather. They cover the sports teams, they feature a student artist periodically and they write several feature articles about staff and students as well events at the school. Traditional student newspapers are fluff usually at best. This young group of journalists tackle hard topics and, out of necessity, are the watchdogs of the folks that run their district, and in essence, have power over their news organization's ability to exist.. Kudos to the students and advisors as well as the district for not squelching their ability to be professional journalists. The result is this group has been gaining credibility and are being referenced by much bigger news organizations who find their work, not only credible, but exemplary. The most recent bit of investigative reportage came after the school board passed what some consider controversial policy changes. This staff covered these changes and wrote editorials to boot challenging authority. This is the root of American democracy being played out on the front lines. The action of the school board even led to the resignation of the district's solicitor and the Panter Press was all over this story before any of the rest of us. Here are some of their stories: https://thepantherpressdotcom.wordpress.com/2023/01/26/local-attorney-claims-penncrest-school-board-actions-contradict-legal-arguments/ https://thepantherpressdotcom.wordpress.com/2023/01/26/quinn-law-firm-drops-penncrest-school-district/ https://thepantherpressdotcom.wordpress.com/2023/01/26/photo-story-the-impact-of-policy-109-2-library-materials/ https://thepantherpressdotcom.wordpress.com/2023/01/25/column-questions-remain-about-penncrest-policy-updates/ https://thepantherpressdotcom.wordpress.com/category/news-2/district-news/ At the core of it all
The Panther Press reported that the superintendent and DeFrancesco said they will search for a new solicitor.
These are young people standing up to authority and questioning their actions. This needs to be applauded because this is the very foundation of democracy and perhaps the best civics lessons being taught in school. This school district may very well be a hot mess, but it is allowing for the best of the best in the first amendment and freedom of the press.
Below is what is on the Venango County website lays out for what the duties of the commissioners are. The commissioners are responsible for the overall management of county operation as it relates to:
In addition, the following county divisions direct report to the Board of Commissioners for the provision of services:
The Commissioners serve on the following boards directly related to county government:
The Commissioners also have a seat on or appoint people to serve on a variety of community boards of directors such as:
The Venango County Board of Commissioners is elected to serve a term of four years. Anyone seeking to publicize their candidacy for commissioner and email their announcement to 8and322@gmail.com for consideration of publication.
Full transcripts of the official announcements made so far can be found by clicking on the Editorial tab of the website. Mathew Beith Chip Abramovic
This age of news is hard. Today we met in a little ink stained room to discuss Election Day coverage only to find ourselves a few moments later writing the last words to be printed under the banner The Titusville Herald.
I have been helping, though apparently not enough, over the last few months to help the Sample family keep from closing the paper after the leader, Mike passed away earlier this year. Today the news was given to us that the last paper would be Saturday's edition. Sad to lose another paper and create yet another news hole in a society that really needs watchdogs and tellers of the stories around us. No words can truly express how this feels. The race appearing on local election ballots next Tuesday that has generated possibly the most attention nationwide than any other is the Democrat John Fetterman vs. Republican Mehmet Oz race for Pennsylvania Senator. This seat holds national importance in the fight for Senate majority. The seat is currently held by Republican Pat Toomey. There appears to be no love lost between the candidates who is speeches and social media throw barbs at one another more than they discuss policy. Here we’re going to draw from their drastically different websites to compare what they are projecting as their thoughts on policy. Natural Gas and Energy FETTERMAN: “I believe that climate change is an existential threat, and we need to transition to clean energy as quickly as possible. But we must do it in a way that preserves the union way of life for the thousands of workers currently employed or supported by the natural gas industry… I will support legislation that combats high gas prices, invests in upgrading infrastructure, and responsibly transitions us to cleaner energy sources. We must make proper investments in greener, cleaner technology in America — and make more of that technology right here at home.” OZ: “Pennsylvania is a leader in the production of natural gas and coal. The Biden Administration has launched an attack on the energy industry stifling domestic energy production and weakening the U.S. position in energy production. These attacks have resulted in skyrocketing gas and energy prices and made our current energy options less reliable. Dr. Oz will work to overturn these heavy-handed regulations that are hurting Pennsylvania jobs and our local communities.” Healthcare Dr. Oz draws from his background in the medical field for ideas on healthcare. And though he has been criticized for some of his views, he fights for them with the idea that options help with cures. His website taught a history of medical patents OZ: “…he’ll work to dismantle policies that lead to more expensive prescription drugs for our seniors, and he’ll expand access to private sector plans…,” He says “he knows the truth, the data, and the science about combatting COVID and understands how it really affects you and your family. While elites with yards tell those without yards to stay inside (where the virus was waiting) and mask up, Dr. Oz has been putting his expertise to work on behalf of us. Dr. Oz is opposed to prolonged business shutdowns, and he believes it is critical to keep our children in school because the science overwhelmingly supports it.” FETTERMAN: “I believe that healthcare is a basic, fundamental human right, not a privilege. But health care in America is far too expensive and convoluted. In the richest nation on earth, I believe we have a moral duty to guarantee quality health care coverage for every American, and end the disgusting practice of corporations profiting from people’s health and well-being…, I will support any legislation that gets us closer to the goal of universal health care coverage… I will also support efforts to lower the Medicare eligibility age to 60 while expanding its benefits to include vision, hearing, and dental care.” Fetterman calls the cost of healthcare for Americans “inhumane and inexcusable.” We have finally passed a law to allow Medicare to negotiate certain drug prices and cap annual prescription drug costs, but we cannot stop there – we must allow for the importation of lower priced prescription drugs from other countries and limit drug costs for all Americans.” Economy, spending and inflation Oz immediately jumps on Biden while Fetterman doesn’t point fingers at the President or even the legislature. OZ: “President Biden’s reckless spending has led to inflation – increasing the price of everything from gas to groceries… his reluctance to fully confront China and support energy independence has left us in a weak position… restoring America’s economy begins by focusing on the problems we face here at home – and reversing Biden’s failed agenda.” FETTERMAN: “We’re paying more at the grocery store, more at the pump, and more almost everywhere else. Inflation is a tax on working people, and we must do more to stop it… First and foremost, we have to tackle the corporate greed that’s been contributing to the sky high prices… I will fight for a fair tax code that ensures the wealthiest Americans and corporations don’t get away with scamming the system, and finally pay their fair share… to bring down costs, we also need to make our supply chains more resilient and ensure that they start and end here at home – because supply chains get a lot less complicated when we make stuff here, not overseas. Making more stuff here in America would mean prices wouldn’t spike every time there’s a problem overseas. We don’t need to be outsourcing any more jobs and production to China, while exacerbating inflation…we should suspend the federal gas tax to provide immediate relief for people at the pump. We should also continue to use American oil, produce and invest in more American energy, and invest in programs that help low-income Pennsylvanians pay their energy bills.” Law enforcement and protection OZ: “One of the core responsibilities of the federal government is to protect you. In order to do that, we need to have a secure border with a barrier – whether that is a physical wall or one patrolled by technological advances… (he wants to) give (law enforcement) a powerful voice in Washington… law enforcement has a hard enough job on the streets and that they shouldn’t have to fend off calls to “defund” them from radicals and the extreme left. He will support efforts to ensure they always have the resources they need to do their job and keep our communities safe, and he opposes “anti-law” proposals like “cashless bail” that make it tougher for police to do their jobs.” FETTERMAN: “I fundamentally believe immigration is what makes America, America… It is no secret our immigration system is broken. We need a system that is strong, secure, and humane. I would support investments that go towards keeping our borders strong and preventing the flow of illegal drugs into our country…I support commonsense immigration reforms that will restore our country’s legacy as a nation built by immigrants… I will work to modernize our visa system and asylum programs so that they can’t be exploited by bad actors. I will also fight for a pathway to citizenship for frontline workers, small business owners, and young people who have only known this country as their home… Everyone has the right to feel safe in their communities… I’ve worked hand-in-hand with the police and I understand the challenges our police forces face and how to support them to make communities more safe… I will make sure law enforcement has the resources necessary to do their job, but I will also prioritize oversight, accountability, and violence prevention.” Second Amendment Both candidates are gun owners. FETTERMAN: “I’m a gun owner, and I’ve been around guns my whole life. I want what an overwhelming majority of Americans, including the majority of gun owners, want – which is common sense gun safety measures. We need universal background checks, red flag laws, and more proactive efforts to get illegal guns off our streets.” OZ: “As a proud gun-owner, Dr. Oz is a firm believer in the Second Amendment and our constitutional right to bear arms for protection. He opposes anti-gun measures like red flag laws and liberal gun grabs… Oz believes every law-abiding American citizen should be allowed to buy the gun of their desire. His father taught him to hunt when he was 12-13 years old and he taught his son how to shoot before he was in school. However, Dr. Oz knows the Second Amendment isn’t about hunting, it’s about protecting ourselves.” Education OZ: “A good education is fundamental to a better future. But he believes we need to fundamentally change the way we approach education in this country – by incorporating financial literacy from an early age, focusing on empowering students to make their own career choices, and stopping wealthy universities from raising tuition every year while sitting on millions of dollars in tax-protected endowments. Dr. Oz also believes that the extreme left wants to use our schools to indoctrinate our children with an anti-American ideology –and as Senator he’ll fight to block that from happening.” FETTERMAN: “Far too many families struggle to find good public schools for their kids, and the price of college has become outrageous. And there are too few opportunities for the many young people who don’t think college is the right option for them. If we want to prepare the next generation for a highly competitive world, we need to get serious about what education in the 21st century looks like… I’ll fight for universal pre-k and childcare…make sure our public schools have the funding they need so our teachers aren’t shouldering so much of a burden…work to increase investments in career and technical programs… for students who do opt to attend college, …I’ll support efforts to make community colleges tuition-free and reduce the burden of student loan debt that too many borrowers are experiencing right now.” On Elections OZ: “..supports voter ID laws that ensure safe and secure elections. He will reject efforts by liberals to have the federal government take control of our elections away from the states.” FETTERMAN: “… expand voting rights and push for reforms that get big money out of politics and prevent politicians from picking their voters through partisan gerrymandering… ban Members of Congress from holding or trading stocks, because lawmakers should not be making profits off of the same companies they are supposed to be regulating…” There are many other issues each candidate addresses. On Abortion OZ said he is “100 percent pro-life, in a very short post” while Fetterman “A woman’s right to make her own health care decisions is sacred and non-negotiable. Period.” They both have strong feelings for the rights of veterans, a strong economy, they both see China as a concern and bringing manufacturing home. To read more on the candidates visit their websites. Mehmet OZ at doctoroz.com/issues/ or John Fetterman at johnfetterman.com/issues/ There are three other candidates on the ballot for this US Senate seat. You can read about their ideas for the position on their websites. Libertarian Party Erik Gerhardt at erik4pa.com Green Party Richard Weiss at greenslate2022.com/us_senator Keystone Party Daniel Wassmer at wassmer4pa.com When you click into the website’s for the two top candidates running for Governor of Pennsylvania the stark differences immediately jump off the screen. Sen. Doug Mastriano's page titled “The Plan” has 14 star-shaped bullet-points with most having only a sentence or two of explanation. His Democratic opponent, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro's page titled “Policy” contains 18 button links to full pages with three to four paragraphs or more expounding on his ideas.
To learn more about what Josh Shapiro is thinking visit: joshshapiro.org/policy.
To learn more about Doug Mastriano visit: doug4gov.com/the_plan. This article focussed on the two front runners in the race for Governor. There are three other candidates vying to be the next leader of Pennsylvania. Matt Hackenburg is the Libertarian Candidate. You can learn about their campaign at matthackenburg.com. The Green Party candidate is Christina DiGiulio. Information on their campaign can be found greenslate2022.com/governor. The final candidate from the Keystone Party is Joe Soloski. Their website is joesoloski.com Editor’s note: This story was inadvertently published with Mike Kelly listed as" pro-choice." We regret the error and know full well Kelly's stance. We apologize for the error. With Election Day just a few days away, we aregoing to compare and contrast the candidates running for office this election season starting with the race for Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district. Congressman Mike Kelly, a businessman from Butler, was sworn into office 2011. Erie area businessman Dan Pastore decided to challenge Kelly in this election. In the recent candidate’s debate Dan Pastore said he decided to run against Congressman Mike Kelly after Kelly publicly spoke out against the legitimacy of the 2020 election results. Kelly remained adamant that the election process in this country currently is in need of reform. Though the candidates don’t agree on much, Pastore said he is an avid outdoorsman and doesn’t believe in taking away anyone’s guns and Kelly is a firm second amendment trumpeter. They also agree that jobs and energy concerns are a top priority for Pennsylvanians and the United States. Kelly is unabashedly “pro-life” while Pastore believes it is a private matter between a woman and her doctor. Below compares what each candidate is publicly standing for on the candidate websites. Jobs, economy and making things at home KELLY: “We need common sense, pro-growth policies that remove barriers to economic growth. We need to remove onerous regulations that stifle private sector investment and hamper job creation. I support legislation to fix the tax code with common sense changes that ensure everyone pays their fair share and families have less of a tax burden. We need a tax code that will generate domestic economic growth while we also enact legislation to open new markets around the world for American made products.“ PASTORE: “(He supports) adequate funding for research and development to ensure that (the) economy grows without endangering workers… and reforming our trade laws to level the playing field for American manufacturers. He will support trade agreements if they are fair, but will oppose any trade deal that results in American jobs being shipped overseas. He will work to grow manufacturing jobs focused on clean energy, high tech, and other emerging sectors. To accomplish this, Dan will work for increased funding in workforce development and job training to ensure that workers here have the skills needed to attract new manufacturers to the region.” Pastore also points out his strong support of unions. Education KELLY: “As a former school board member, I know first-hand that spending massive amounts of money on education does not always lead to positive results. We need to make sure that local communities have both adequate funding and the flexibility to address their particular needs. We also need to focus on accountability, funding only what works, and expanding parental choice. We need to make sure that our higher education options include not only traditional colleges, but also provides career and technical education programs. Supporting a range of educational options will provide our workforce with the skills we need to compete and succeed in today’s global economy.” PASTORE: ”One thing the pandemic showed us is that too many American families do not have access to affordable childcare. Dan will work to expand pre-K access so every child can develop educationally regardless of where they live or their family's financial situation. (He) will fight to increase funding to public schools and increase access to the technology that students and schools need while reducing the reliance on property taxes in school funding, which disproportionately affects poorer and more rural school districts. Making college and trade schools more affordable is a top priority. Too many young adults enter the workforce burdened by student loans, which is why (he) supports efforts to make higher education more affordable by holding institutions accountable, reducing interest rates for federally guaranteed students, and increasing funding to reduce the debt burden on students.” On ethics and oversight KELLY: “Oversight of the government has many meanings. We need to reduce the size of government and limit our spending. We need to make sure the government is accountable to its citizens whose taxes are funding government programs. Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent and if that spending is having a positive impact. The U.S. Constitution clearly states what the responsibilities, obligations and limits are on the three branches of government. We need to make sure that each branch stays within these limits.” PASTORE: “People are losing faith in Congress because there is too much money in politics. Dan supports reforming campaign finance laws that create strict limits on campaign contributions and remove unlimited dark money from corporations and other powerful interests. Dan also supports tightening congressional ethics laws and will vote to prohibit the owning and trading of individual stocks by Members of Congress and their staff to ensure they are not enriching themselves by making investment decisions based on non-public information. In addition, Dan supports stricter reporting requirements for elected officials' financial disclosure reports so citizens can easily access the information.” Tax reform and social security On their website’s - Kelly concentrates on tax reform while Pastore concentrates on saving social security. KELLY: “Congress must find ways to reduce the taxes that individuals pay while ensuring that the government is fiscally accountable for how we spend tax revenue. Tax revenue is generated by working people and we need to make sure that we generate more taxes because more people have jobs – not by raising tax rates,” said Kelly. PASTORE: “(Social Security) has substantially reduced senior poverty. Although highly popular among Americans, there are those who work continuously to privatize this program and put it into the hands of Wall Street. Dan will protect the retirement of our seniors and our citizens by fighting to keep dangerous hands off this program.” Protecting the Environment and energy security Here the candidates agree on many of the same things, just, perhaps, a different means of achieving the goal. KELLY: “Our energy policy should include an “all of the above” and “everything below” approach to addressing our current and future energy needs. We need a policy that encourages the development and responsible usage of all forms of American energy – coal and natural gas to biofuels and everything in between. There is not one single solution to solving America’s energy challenges, but by using hydropower, clean coal, natural gas, nuclear power, biofuels and oil, along with the growing capacity of solar and wind power, we can take environmentally responsible steps towards American energy independence.” PASTORE: “As an avid outdoorsman, Dan is committed to protecting the environment. Dan knows that we must address climate change while maintaining a strong economy. That is why he supports transitioning to clean energy in a manner that is swift, but not so fast that it disrupts our energy supply or slows economic growth. Like all sportsmen who spend time outdoors, (he) wants to ensure that our air and water are protected. He supports protecting and strengthening the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.” There are more issues on each website. When it comes to healthcare, women’s rights and the rights of the LGBTQ+ communities, Pastore lists these as priorities. Kelly called the discussion over abortion rights a "distraction from the real issues" facing America. On his website he emphasizes Veterans rights as a priority. Learn More about each candidate by visiting their websites: Mike Kelly at mikekellyforcongress.com/issues And Dan Pastore at danpastore.com/issues Bios from their website
Democrats and Republicans these days have trouble seeing eye to eye on just about everything. But for two local leaders they joining forces in agreement on one thing - leave yard signs alone. Venango County Republican chair Keith Klinger and his counterpart on the Democrat side, John Kluck, have issued a letter urging residents to respect the opinion of others even if they happen to disagree. And they give a friendly public service announcement warning that some actions are actually against the law. “The right of a property owner to post signs representing their political beliefs is established in the First Amendment…,” the letter states. “...Some might view defacing or taking down yard signs as an act of civil discourse or political activism, but the law is clear on the issue: Trespassing on private property to commit vandalism to, or theft of political signs are all criminal offenses.” Kluck and Klinger composed and signed a joint letter this week that they want everyone to read. It is important to them, as leaders, to make sure everyone knows that vandalism is not OK with them. Below is the letter in its entirety. It was released on a combined Republican and Democrat masthead. Title: Message from Venango County Republican and Democratic party chairs: “Driving through Venango County, one can’t help but notice that it is political yard sign season. Leaders from local Republican and Democratic parties would like to remind residents that political signs are an expression of individual choices and should be respected. The right of a property owner to post signs representing their political beliefs is established in the First Amendment which protects every citizen’s right to freedom of expression. No one should be leery to display signs in fear of vandalism. Some might view defacing or taking down yard signs as an act of civil discourse or political activism, but the law is clear on the issue: Trespassing on private property to commit vandalism to, or theft of political signs are all criminal offenses. Please be respectful of others’ rights even when they differ from yours and do not alter signs or trespass on private property.” Signed, Keith Klinger, Republican Chair Venango County and John Kluck, Venango County Democratic Chair Unsure if this sign was vandalized after it was put in place along Route 322 outside Franklin, or if it was a purposeful political statement done before placement. The latter seems more likely given the location and neatness of the letters and X on a plastic sheet-style sign.
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