- (Provided Photo)
Small businessman Tommy Sankey announced today that he will be a candidate for the State House of Representatives to represent the 74th District.
“The ways of Harrisburg just aren’t working,” Sankey said. “I want to take my experience creating jobs and investing in our community to Harrisburg. As your State Representative, I’ll worry more about protecting your job than protecting mine.”
Sankey pointed to his experience operating his family’s third generation business, R & G Fabrication and Crane Service, as evidence that he is the candidate that can bring real world experience to Harrisburg.
“Our capitol needs more people who have experience in the real world serving,” Sankey said. “I’ve balanced budgets, made payroll, and created jobs right here in our community. That is the type of experience I will take to Harrisburg so we can focus on creating an economic climate for job creation.”
Sankey also believes that his status as someone from outside the political class will help him take concerns of everyday people to Harrisburg.
“I’m not a politician and I never planned to run for public office,” Sankey said. “I’m running now because I truly believe that now is the time for every day citizens to engage in public service. The professional politicians are the ones who are failing us – they’ve gotten us into this mess. There is no way they can get us out of it.”
Sankey said that he would fight to make government officials more accountable to the people that they serve.
“We need to send leaders to Harrisburg that never forget who they work for – the taxpayers,” Sankey said. “Everyday we work with people in this community who are working hard to provide for their families. The least we can expect from our elected officials in Harrisburg is to work just as hard for those same families.”
Sankey said that it is time for Harrisburg to get their fiscal house in order and begin to grow this economy through a combination of smart investments and a leaner more competitive state government.
“ In the last eight years before this new administration, spending increased by 45 percent and debt has skyrocketed,” Sankey said. “Enough is enough. We need to cut wasteful spending and get our fiscal house in order while protecting investments in education and infrastructure. Then we need to make Pennsylvania a competitive state to create jobs in, so that our policies result in good paying jobs for people right here in our community.”
Sankey pointed to Clearfield County’s high unemployment rate as evidence the old policies are failing our community.
“Now is the time for us to vote for a new direction,” Sankey said. “We need to stop the spending and stop the debt and get our state government focused back on creating jobs in our communities. I’ll fight every day to protect your job, and I won’t spend time worrying about mine.”
Tommy is a member of the Clearfield Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the National Rifle Association, The Loyal Order of the Moose, and the Slovakian Hall. Tommy graduated from Clearfield High School in 1999 and from Saint Francis University with a degree in accounting.
