With just over six weeks until the party’s confirmation meeting, three Democrats from different corners of the Commonwealth are looking to unseat Republican Treasurer Stacy Garrity.
At least two candidates have criticized Garrity’s ties to former President Donald Trump. But Garrity’s campaign says none of the Democrats running for election have so far shown they understand what the role entails.
“They will try to make this election about anything other than the Pennsylvania treasurer’s office because each of them knows they can’t compete on the facts,” Dennis Roddy, a spokesman for Garrity’s campaign, told the Capital-Star. “And none of them compares to the business, life and professional experience that Treasurer Stacy Garrity has.”
Garrity seemed to have a clear path to the GOP nomination for state treasurer, and he did endorsed by the Pennsylvania Republican Party at the last state commission meeting.
Her Democratic challengers include state Republican Ryan Bizzarro, former Philadelphia City Comptroller Alan Butkovitz and former compact business owner Erin McClelland.
Bizzarro, who is in his sixth term representing Erie’s 3rd House District, formally entered the race in tardy September. He said then that the election was about more than just the position of state treasurer. “This is a fight to stop the spread of extremism here in Pennsylvania.” Strange he said in his campaign announcement.
Bizzarro linked Garrity to former President Donald Trump, saying her views aligned with his views on the 2020 election. He noted that Garrity spoke at a rally on Jan. 5, 2021, in Harrisburg, telling the crowd on the steps of the Capitol to “question the integrity” of the election. Additionally, Bizzarro said, Garrity celebrated the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade her Facebook page.
Bizzarro said if elected treasurer, he would strengthen senior citizen protection programs, facilitate families save for college and provide low-interest loans to farms, nonprofits and local governments.
Bizzararo’s campaign declined to comment on the other candidates in the race, but pointed to the slate elected officials from across the Commonwealth supporting his campaign, including: House Speaker Joanna McClinton (Philadelphia), U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (D-8 District), Dwight Evans (D-3 District).
Over the past decade, McClelland has run unsuccessfully for public office several times, including a run for Congress in 2014 and 2016. campaign for Allegheny County Executive this year.
McClelland has a background in behavioral health and worked for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. She believes her experience as a compact business owner best qualifies her for the treasurer position.
“The fact that I did the payroll and I can tell you that nothing tests your mettle like getting to the 15th of the month and worrying about whether I’m going to pay people so they can pay their bills,” she said in an interview with Capital-Star. .
McClelland said preventing implementation Key savingsthe retirement savings program that Garrity touted would be the first issue she tackles if elected. She called the proposed plan a “dangerous financial product” highly susceptible to fraud.
“I also think she has very politicized her office,” McClelland said of Garrity. “We need an sincere broker who will take a sensible and pragmatic look at our public sector pensions and public sector money management. And I don’t think it’s appropriate to apply these boxes and weaponize them to declare an ideological political war on Joe Biden or any other politician.”
Butkovitz formally announced his candidacy for the statewide government director position on October 25.
“I have a lot of experience with these financial issues because I served as controller in Philadelphia for 12 years,” Butkovitz said in an interview with the Capital-Star. “I think we can have a big impact on politics. But this is not a job for a beginner.”
Butkovitz specifically pointed to his office’s work related to pensions, operational audits and more as evidence that his experience can transfer to the treasurer position. He believes there are many regulations today that are not responsive to changing conditions in the treasurer’s office, including Medicare and Medicaid rules and allowing retirees to work in Pennsylvania.
Butkovitz represented Philadelphia in Pennsylvania State House from 1991 to 2005, then served as Philadelphia City Comptroller from 2005 to 2017. In 2017, he lost the Democratic primary to Rebecca Rhynhart, who went on to win citywide office.
He last ran for public office in 2019, when he tried to unseat incumbent Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. Butkovitz took third place in the Democratic primary for mayor, behind Kenney and state Sen. Anthony Williams.
Like Bizzarro, Butkovitz accused Garrity of being a “Trumpster” and an “election denier” and stated that she would change state pension fund investments based on climate change denial.
He said he has support from many officials across the state — his campaign chairman is former U.S. Republican Bob Brady, chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee — and is confident in support within the party.
“We believe we are in good shape to seek the state commission’s endorsement,” Butkovitz said.
An endorsement meeting for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party is scheduled for December 16.
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