Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro makes campaign stop in Pottsville

Nov. 4—POTTSVILLE — Democrat Josh Shapiro stopped Thursday at the Humane Fire Company in Pottsville and told voters he needed their help to beat state Sen. Doug Mastriano in the race for Pennsylvania governor.

"He needs to be defeated," Shapiro said of his opponent, a Franklin County Republican. "This guy is dangerous and extreme."

The bus carrying Shapiro pulled into view at 3:53 p.m. in front of the fire company on Humane Avenue.

Moments later, the candidate emerged to applause from the crowd of about 75 people.

"We love you, Josh," members of the crowd said after he got off the bus.

"We love you back," Shapiro said as he stood near his running mate, Austin Davis, who is a state representative from Allegheny County.

Todd Zimmerman, Schuylkill County Democratic Party leader, said the Shapiro campaign reached out to him about three weeks ago and said they would like to visit.

"We're honored that you both came to Schuylkill County twice," Zimmerman said at the event.

Joe Spotts, president of Humane Fire Company, said the campaign had contacted him and asked about the location.

The campaign wanted a place that was centrally located and included space where Shapiro and Davis could talk inside in case of inclement weather.

Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael A. O'Pake introduced Davis to the crowd.

"This is a historic election for lieutenant governor, because it is an opportunity to elect the first Black lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania," O'Pake said.

O'Pake said that Shapiro and Davis should be elected "so we have a safer, fairer and stronger Pennsylvania."

Davis said Tuesday's election is "literally the most important election of our lifetime."

He said Mastriano is the wrong choice for the state.

"If you are about our basic, fundamental rights and our basic, fundamental freedoms, all of it is on the line on Tuesday," Davis said. "If you care about creating a brighter future for our young people for here in Pennsylvania, that is on the line here on Tuesday."

"We are running against the most extreme and dangerous Republican ticket in the country," he said of Mastriano and his running mate, Carrie DelRosso, also a state representative from Allegheny County.

Davis said voters have a decision to make: whether to value diversity or "continue down the path of fear, extremism and division."

Davis introduced Shapiro, who is the state attorney general and from Montgomery County, as the next governor of Pennsylvania.

Top of ticket

"It is good to be back in historic Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania," Shapiro said.

He said when he is elected governor, public education will be fully funded in the state and more money will be invested in law enforcement.

Shapiro said that drug addiction is "a disease not a crime, and we got to treat it that way."

He said he has taken on big fights and won.

"I'm not done with the big fights," he said. "The next one comes in five days when we defeat Doug Mastriano in this governors race."

He said Mastriano is the wrong choice for governor.

"He doesn't respect women," said Shapiro, who is pro-choice. "In fact, he doesn't respect a whole lot of people — because unless you think like Doug Mastriano, and look like him and vote like him and worship like him and marry like him, then you don't count in his Pennsylvania.

"And you know how I know that? because I know where he was on January 6 (during the insurrection). He was at our nation's Capitol, and he was there that day not just to protest or hear a speech. He was there that day to deny you your vote.

"That was the day your votes (for president) were being counted in the U.S. House of Representatives."

Shapiro said that people need to use their voice Tuesday by voting.

He asked people to "turn away the darkness and the division Doug Mastriano's trying to bring about, and look forward to a future of light and opportunity, a future where we value real freedom, a future where we bring about the protections of our democracy for all, no matter what you look like or where you come from, who you love or who you pray to.

"It is all on the line right now, Schuylkill County, and we need you to have our back," he said.

Marian Ernst, 67, of Minersville, was there with her husband, Warren Ernst, 69.

She said that Shapiro's speech "hit all the right notes" and believes he will be elected.

Warren Ernst said he came out to "help save the country, democracy and everything else."

Also speaking at the rally were the four Democratic candidates for state representative seats in Schuylkill County: Kathy Laughlin Benyak, 123rd District; Tina Burns, 124th; Ryan Mock, 107th; and Yesenia Rodriguez, 116.

Amanda Waldman, who is running against incumbent Dan Meuser for the 9th Congressional District seat, also spoke.

A spokesperson with the Mastriano campaign declined to speak with the Republican Herald for this story.

Contact the writer: amarchiano@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023