The former chief of staff for now-retired Pennsylvania State Senator Don White has launched a campaign to take the former senator’s job.
Republican Joe Pittman said Monday that working for Senator White was one of his greatest accomplishments and that he is running to continue a legacy of being a committed, problem-solving senator.
“One of the greatest honors of my life has been working for Senator Don White, and I congratulate him on a tremendous career in public service,” Pittman said. “He always put the needs of his constituents first. When residents came to his office with an issue, party affiliation never mattered. Serving the residents of the 41st District and attempting to solve issues of concern has been my greatest honor. I am proud of the effort we’ve made to improve the everyday lives of the hard-working men and women in the communities we represented. I am running to continue a legacy of being a committed, problem-solving Senator who will place the needs of constituents first. I believe the resolution to our state’s financial issues should be cemented in the belief that we must get government out of the way of job creators by eliminating needless regulations, reducing the tax burden and keeping money where it belongs… in the hands of hardworking Pennsylvanians.”
Pittman pointed to his experience as to why he is the best candidate to serve the people of the 41st District.
“Beyond my experience as Sen. White’s Chief of Staff, I have been active and engaged in our community in many ways,” Pittman said. “As a husband and father, I am invested in making western Pennsylvania a great place to live, work, and raise a family. We must continue to work to create an environment that promotes the responsible growth and production of our state’s God -given natural gas and coal resources. If elected, I will also focus on improving workforce development efforts to ensure our children have skills necessary to meet the demands of the new energy and manufacturing economy, providing rural communities with reliable access to broadband and natural gas service, and rehabilitating our existing infrastructure. These are all keys to making sure opportunities exist for families in the region.”
In Butler County, Pittman pointed to the proximity to Pittsburgh and the Allegheny County region as a plus when it comes to family-sustaining jobs. He also talked about the Route 356 and 228 corridors, and their need for transportation infrastructure improvements.
The state’s 41st District includes parts of Armstrong, Butler, Indiana and Westmoreland counties. Pittman was raised in Indiana County, and served as Senator White’s chief of staff beginning in 2000 and for his entire tenure.
Senator White announced his retirement in January. He last day was Thursday.
