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Sad day

11/5/2022

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.

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Candidate Comparison: Oz vs. Fetterman

11/3/2022

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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

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Candidate Comparison: Shapiro vs. Mastriano

11/2/2022

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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.

Mastriano kicks off his plan attacking the current Governor’s policies during the pandemic and questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 election. He makes no bones about wanting to eliminate the “no excuses” mail in ballots and drop boxes and requiring voter ID.

On the second amendment he plans to “make Pennsylvania a ‘2nd Amendment Sanctuary,’ where our rights will be protected against misguided federal bureaucrats that want to disarm law-abiding citizens.”

He is a proponent of the heartbeat bill and will take funding away from Planned Parenthood and expand adoption counseling.

Under the bullet-point of “Safe and Secure Communities” is perhaps his most in-depth section. He believes it is the “government's top job is to provide for the safety of its citizens… hold(ing) elected officials accountable for enforcing the law and prosecuting crime.” He said as governor if he didn’t think they were doing their job he’d remove them. “Mastriano will support law enforcement by ensuring they have adequate funding. He'll keep violent criminals behind bars where they belong and he'll strengthen penalties for repeat offenders and those convicted of violent crime. He'll also support funding for additional prosecutors in high-crime areas. Mastriano will clean up Pennsylvania's worst neighborhoods and he won't hesitate to assist local law enforcement with State Police and National Guard to protect law-abiding citizens and businesses during periods of mass unrest and riots.”

Mastriano then bashed President Biden’s immigration policies and vowed “Pennsylvania will never be a sanctuary state for Biden's illegal immigrants, and he'll hold Pennsylvania's elected officials accountable for cracking down on the fentanyl being snuck across our southern border, which is taking the lives of 15 Pennsylvanians each and every day. He'll send immediate notice to the Federal Government informing that Pennsylvania will no longer receive chartered flights or buses with illegal immigrant passengers. He'll ban the use of public benefits for illegal immigrants and sign legislation that strengthens and expands the "E-Verify" law to ensure employers cannot hire illegal immigrants. Mastriano will also place a fee on the millions of dollars in remittances that are sent out of state by non-citizens and use the revenue to provide tax relief for legal citizens.”

On schools he immediately questioned teacher’s ability to teach and “believes parents have a fundamental right to know and control what their children are learning in school.” He will push for transparency of the classroom “and work with the legislature to establish a universal "Parental Rights" statute in the law.” He said he’ll also “ban Critical Race and Gender Theory Studies in Pennsylvania schools. On day one, Mastriano will place an immediate ban on biological males in girls' locker rooms and restrooms. On the same day, Mastriano will ban biological males from competing in girls' sports.”

On the idea of public and private school’s he “believes every Pennsylvania child is entitled to a top-notch education and that, when schools compete, it promotes excellence. While he'll make sure public schools are well-funded, he'll also fight like hell to provide them with the competition that will make them great.” He said he wants school choice “so that no child is trapped in a failing school ever again.”

On energy he compares regulation as shackles and blames democratic leadership bluntly. “On day one, Mastriano will pull Pennsylvania out of Tom Wolf's disastrous "Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative." He'll encourage investments in the natural gas and coal industries, and he'll lift Tom Wolf's unreasonable regulations, taxes, and fees on these industries. Under Mastriano, Pennsylvania will drill and mine like it should, and Pennsylvania will prosper.”

Mastriano is calling for lowering and, in some cases, elimination of taxes “Mastriano believes the property tax on homeowners is an unfair burden and he'll immediately establish a Property Tax Elimination Taskforce to find a way to get this burden off of hardworking Pennsylvania homeowners. Mastriano will work with the legislature to slash the gas tax and lower the corporate net income tax rate to attract business to the commonwealth.”

He also hopes to eliminate over 50,000 regulations from the books and speed up permitting in hopes to attract business and industry. He also plans to attack the previous administrations spending demanding they “audit the previous five year's budgets to identify areas of waste and abuse. He'll propose a 2023 budget that keeps reckless spending in check,” he says.

He caps off his plan page with a familiar "swamp" reference vowing to clean up Harrisburg supposed corruption. “Mastriano's administration will prohibit public officials from accepting gifts from lobbyists and special interest groups. He'll work with the legislature to create law that will eliminate the "revolving door" of lobbyists who lobby from the inside, and prevent political consultants from registering as lobbyists.”

Josh Shapiro’s “Policy” page he has broken down topics starting off with: Abortion Rights, Black Economic Equity, Creating Good Jobs and Expanding Job Training, Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Cutting Costs, Disability Rights, Education, Energy and the environment, Healthcare, Housing, Infrastructure, LGBTQ+ Rights, Rural Communities, Senior and Eldercare, Spurring Inovation, Supporting Small Business, Voting Rights and Worker’s Rights.

In stark contrast to Mastriano, Shapiro believes in making voting more accessible and the election integrity has been upheld. “Josh would know. Because as the Attorney General who stopped Donald Trump’s attempts to undermine and overthrow Pennsylvania’s election, Josh went to court dozens of times to defend Pennsylvanians’ right to vote and ensure every legal vote was counted — and he won. More than a year after votes were cast in the 2020 election and two legal, bipartisan audits confirmed Pennsylvania’s results, Josh continues to defend our election as Pennsylvania Republicans bring a sham “audit” to the Commonwealth.”

Shapiro is also on the exact opposite side gender identity as his opponent noting “Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast without comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This means that LGBTQ+ individuals can be discriminated against across the Commonwealth in many sectors, including employment, housing, credit issuance, education, and various public accommodations.”

Shapiro’s website emphasizes the need to increase infrastructure through fixing roads, bridges and expanding high speed internet in order to push for more business growth for both small and large industries. “Currently, over 800,000 Pennsylvanians lack access to high-speed internet and approximately 36 percent of Commonwealth farms reported not having any internet access in 2021.” He also looks at affordable housing as a priority to a stronger commonwealth.

Also in stark contrast to Mastriano, Shapiro believes that a woman’s right to choose is hers to make. He warns that his winning the governor seat may be the only way to preserve a woman’s right to her own health decision.“Our Democratic Governor’s veto pen is the only thing standing in the way of Harrisburg Republicans’ attempts to ban abortion, pass dangerous Texas-style laws, and put women’s health at risk”

Shapiro spends a lot of real estate on his website on individual human rights and equality. He sees infrastructure advancements are also elevating the poor and under-served communities. In his section “Black Economic Equity” it is stated “Josh knows that when Black Pennsylvanians do better, our entire economy grows. As Governor, Josh will lift families out of poverty, build economic opportunities and wealth, increase housing stability and homeownership, and address health inequities in Black communities.”

On crime and law enforcement, Shapiro holds up his record as Attorney General. He wants to expand law enforcement's ability to properly handle their role in the communities, giving them tools to handle crime and reform. "Josh will continue to keep our communities safe by working with law enforcement and spearheading smart, data-driven criminal justice reform that will make our Commonwealth safer and more just.
He will work to improve public safety and reduce recidivism by reforming probation and parole, funding indigent defense, and keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals.
He will also invest in addiction prevention programs and expand treatment options so that non-violent offenders can access the support they need. As Governor, Josh will reform the cash bail system for non-violent offenses while maintaining strict standards of accountability for violent crimes, continue to oppose mandatory minimum sentences and the death penalty, and reform Pennsylvania’s costly and broken probation and parole system."

Shapiro got specific when discussing taxes and cost on his website. "Josh will issue gas tax refunds of $250 for every personal passenger vehicle registered in the Commonwealth, up to four per household (or $1,000). He’ll eliminate the state cell phone tax – specifically, the gross receipt and sales tax on cell phone service.
By eliminating this 11% state tax, we can reduce Pennsylvanians’tax burden by $317 million and save folks money on their monthly cell phone bill. Lastly, Josh will lower household costs by expanding the Property Tax and Rent Rebate program, increasing the maximum rebate to $1,000 and making the program available to over 275,000 more eligible people."
day one as Governor.
Shapiro is a proponent of renewable energy, in time "Josh will invest in clean energy while creating thousands of good paying jobs for Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth. He’ll promote solar projects and adopt measures to increase access to renewable energy sources. Shapiro will invest to plug abandoned wells across the state to curb emissions and create jobs, and invest in zero-carbon technology and provide financial incentives to help bring zero-carbon technologies to commercial readiness."

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

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Candidate comparison: Mike Kelly and Dan Pastore

11/1/2022

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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

Dan Pastore is a businessman, attorney, and lifelong Erie County resident who is running for the United States Congress.
Hard work is nothing new to Dan. Growing up and through law school, he worked at his family's construction company, and he became a skilled carpenter by the time he completed college.

After graduating from high school, Dan earned a degree in economics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1980, and a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1985. As a partner at an Erie law firm, Dan's practice focused on real estate and commercial and complex litigation in federal and state trial and appellate courts. Dan handled cases throughout Western Pennsylvania and represented a wide range of clients.

In 1994, while still working as an attorney, Dan co-founded Erie.Net, the first public internet service provider in Northwest Pennsylvania. Erie.Net created some of the first internet-related jobs and provided the first internet connection to thousands of homes and businesses in the region. While working at Erie.Net, Dan launched FishErie.com, the first website providing fishing information for Northwest Pennsylvania.

In 2000 Dan went on to co-found FishUSA, one of the first online tackle stores. Today FishUSA is a leading e-commerce retailer serving anglers across the nation and beyond. FishUSA provides a wide range of good-paying jobs at their offices, warehouse and Pro Shop in Erie County.

Personal Life: Dan is an avid angler, hunter and outdoorsman. He is active in local sportsmen's groups, including the Pennsylvania Steelhead Association, and the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie.

Since 2019 Dan has served as Commissioner with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission where he represents nine counties in Western Pennsylvania.

An active member of the community, Dan was the recipient of the Perry Hi-Way Hose Company "Citizen of the Year" award for legal work on the resolution of issues arising from the distribution of gaming funds generated by Presque Isle Downs and Casino. He is also the recipient of the Erie County Bar Association's Pro Bono award.

For over 20 years he served on the Board of Directors of Perseus House Inc. and he was a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the Perseus House Charter School of Excellence.
Dan resides in Fairview, Erie County with his wife of 35 years, Melissa. In addition to fishing and hunting, Dan and Melissa enjoy hiking, camping and enjoying the outdoors with their dog Dexter. They are proud parents of three adult children, and were recently blessed with their first grandchild.

Mike Kelly was born in Pittsburgh and raised in Butler, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Butler High School in 1966, Mike attended the University of Notre Dame on an academic and football scholarship. After graduating from Notre Dame, Mike returned home to work at the family business, Kelly Chevrolet-Cadillac, Inc.

Mike purchased ownership of the dealership in the mid-1990s and expanded its operations to include both a Hyundai and Kia franchise. The dealership currently employs over 100 people and is respected as a leader in both the local and national automotive industries.

Prior to being elected to Congress in 2010, Mike served on Butler City Council, the Butler Area School Board and the boards of other local civic organizations including the Housing Authority of Butler County, the Redevelopment Authority of Butler County, Catholic Charities and the Moraine Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Mike and his wife Vicki live in Butler where they raised their four children. They are also the proud grandparents of ten grandchildren.

Mike believes in fiscal responsibility and smaller government. As a small business owner, he knows first-hand that businesses create jobs – not the government. Thanks to his seat on the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee, Mike is in a position to promote pro-growth tax reform to simplify the tax code and lower tax rates which would leave more money in the pockets of American families and workers.

Mike sits on the following subcommittees of the Ways & Means Committee: the Subcommittee on Oversight, where is the ranking member; the Health Subcommittee; and the Oversight Subcommittee.

Mike is an appointed member of the President’s Export Council and serves on many caucuses including the Pro-Life Caucus, the Steel Caucus, the Manufacturing Caucus, the Coal Caucus, and the Job Creators Caucus.

Additionally, Mike serves on the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition, a bipartisan group of members of Congress from the eighteen northeastern and midwestern states. The Coalition works together on issues related to the economic well-being and environmental health of the region.

Election Day
is
Nov. 8, 2022

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Opinion and Editorial page

The thoughts expressed on this page are items for consideration. They may at times be controversial, but hopefully they are always insightful and spur thought and debate.

Sad day

Candidate Comparison: Oz vs. Fetterman

Candidate Comparison: Shapiro vs. Mastriano

Candidate comparison: Mike Kelly and Dan Pastore

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