62ND DISTRICT CAMPAIGN EXPLODES WITH ACCUSATIONS

What has been a very quiet Republican Party Primary campaign for the 62^nd District seat in the State House of Representatives erupted yesterday in a string of social media posts, with plenty of people weighing in with their opinions.

State House Majority Leader Dave Reed, who is not running for reelection, yesterday posted a lengthy statement calling attention to a political ad that he said is “flat out lying” about one of the candidates, Jim Struzzi. Reed said the ad, which was paid for by a group calling itself “Citizens Alliance Pennsylvania” attacks Struzzi because of social media posts made several years ago by Struzzi’s father in support of then-President Obama. He said the ad on behalf of Julie Anderson, another Primary candidate, is “negative politics at its worst”.

As many others added posts commenting about the ad, Anderson responded, saying she was not privy to the ad, nor aware that it was going out. Reed issued another statement saying that’s how negative politics is done, with third party groups issuing ads that the candidate they support can disavow, a charge which Anderson denied in a another post.

The social media debate raged on through the night, with over a hundred people chiming in.

HERE IS REPRESENTATIVE REED’S ORIGINAL POST (ANDERSON’S RESPONSE BELOW):

Through the Primary Election season, I have done my very best to stay on the sidelines as to who would be best suited to replace me as the legislator from the 62nd District in Indiana County, though many ask me on a daily basis. After receiving a very negative and completely false mail piece in the mail today, I cannot remain silent any longer.

This mail piece attacks Jim Struzzi for comments made on social media several years ago by HIS FATHER, who happens to have the same name, in support of President Obama. Last time I checked, in America, we are not required to hold the same political beliefs as our parents. To attack a candidate by flat out lying and say that the comments of the father are actually those of the son is outright disgusting and sinking to a low I have not seen in my years of time in the political arena.

This mail piece was paid for by Citizen Alliance of Pennsylvania, the same group that attacked me several years ago for being for Property Tax Elimination. This group is also often aligned with American’s for Prosperity, a group funded by billionaires with a rather extreme agenda. Both groups are adamantly opposed to Property Tax Elimination and only one candidate has been associated with both groups for many years – Julie Anderson.

In fact, Ms. Anderson on two separate occasions came to my office to lobby against HB/SB 76, the Property Tax Elimination proposal. The first time was at my Indiana Office and the second was with a group of citizens organized by American’s for Prosperity at my Harrisburg Office. At the meeting in Harrisburg, when asked about any Property Tax Reform or Elimination bills they supported their response was not a single one, they only supported cutting funding for public schools and removing school mandates.

In America, every one is entitled to change their opinion on any particular issue, but to give the impression you are the only candidate to support Property Tax Elimination when you have actually formally lobbied against it with mega special interest groups and then those groups begin funding attacks on your opponents is just plain wrong. And, it’s not true. In fact, every single Republican candidate has publically committed to supporting Property Tax Elimination.

I hope everyone in Indiana County sees this ridiculous, desperate attack for exactly what it is – negative politics at its worst. I can no longer stay silent and allow it to occur without the truth being heard, nor can I support the candidate associated with it. Instead, I will cast my ballot for a candidate committed to projecting a positive vision for the future of our community and our state; and, who, most importantly, does not feel the need to tear other people down in order to build themselves up. We need leaders we can believe in, leaders we can be proud to have as role models for our children. Unfortunately, one candidate no longer meets those standards.

Please feel free to share this post to our fellow voters in Indiana County.

JULIE ANDERSON (THIS IS A SECOND, LONGER STATEMENT AFTER AN INITIAL STATEMENT THAT DENIED INVOLVEMENT IN THE AD):

As I sit here in Oklahoma celebrating the birth of my grandaughter, I want to take the time to address a few things.

The recent mailer sent out by CAP was not something I was privy to, nor was I even aware it was going out. As mentioned above, I am in Oklahoma, and only heard of the mailer later this evening. I apologize that the mailer misidentified the elder Mr. Struzzi, and I’ve kept this campaign above salacious attacks like the ones going on in the Gubernatorial race right now. They’re counterproductive, and do not help us in a year that is already challenging for Republicans and conservative ideas.

I have supported, and always will support, repealing property taxes. The head of the Indiana Armstrong Patriots, Tom Smith, was not an early supporter of SB76, and as his paid assistant at the time, I came to a meeting between him and Dave Reed on that issue. I have NEVER wavered on my support of SB76, and will continue to fight to repeal property taxes that is killing our community.

This campaign is about the issues, and most importantly, its about repealing property tax, fixing our opioid crisis, and empowering our local economy to give us and our children more opportunity. That has been the focus of me and my candidacy from day one, and I intend to keep moving forward to election day with your support.

Thank you

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62ND DISTRICT CAMPAIGN EXPLODES WITH ACCUSATIONS

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