Gubernatorial hopeful stops in city
The next election for governor is nearly a year and a half away, but Democratic candidate John Hanger is already campaigning. He made a stop in downtown Butler Wednesday morning.
Hanger, who is a former secretary for the state Department of Environmental Protection and a former commissioner for the Public Utility Commission, is among eight Democrats running in the primary next year.
He's traveling across the state in a white school bus. That's because his biggest campaign issue is public education.
“Our schools in Pennsylvania have been under attack,” Hanger said.
He said charter schools have not been held sufficiently accountable, with the majority of charter schools and the vast majority of cyber charter schools not meeting math and reading standards.
“The biggest waste of taxpayer money today is the $700 million per year that is going to failed charter schools,” he said. “I will end that waste.”
To put that money to use, he instead advocates for longer school days, stretching an hour longer each day, and a 200-day school year. Education is important, he said, because it also means investing in jobs.
“You can't create jobs on a sustained basis without good schools,” he said.
He walked down Butler's Main Street on an overcast morning, talking with passers-by about the issues they care about most: sustainable jobs. He also made stops in Kittanning, New Castle and Beaver on Wednesday.
Bob Mowry, who met Hanger on Main Street, described himself as an independent voter. He is more concerned about issues than political affiliations, and was pleased to hear about Hanger's stance on jobs and taxes.
“Jobs are an issue with everyone,” said Mowry, of Kittanning.
He had not known of the candidate previously, but said he'd “Google his name” when he got home.
Larry Nevel, on the other hand, was pleased to see a Democrat campaigning in downtown Butler.
“This Republican line of thought is just a disaster for middle America,” he said.
His daughter, Kaitlyn Nevel, 24, who lives in Pittsburgh but was at home visiting, said she holds similar opinions as her father. However, she said she probably isn't as passionate about them.
“The ideas (Hanger) had to create jobs ... could ease a lot of people struggling,” she said. “Changes need to be made in order for people to live comfortably.”
Hanger said his plan calls for creating nearly 400,000 jobs statewide by reinvesting in public education, transportation and health care. Unlike Corbett, he supports Medicaid expansion. He also supports hydraulic fracturing, but wants to ensure it is properly regulated and can be properly taxed.
“You hear amazing stories about the troubles people have” during tours like this one, Hanger said. “There are so many living from paycheck to paycheck.”
