Statewide Democratic candidates swing through Sharon

Feb. 4—SHARON — The hydraulic fracture natural industry will continue to operate in Pennsylvania, one of the nation's largest producers of natural gas through the process, also popularly called "fracking."

But Pennsylvania officials must serve as effective watchdogs over companies drilling in the state, former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said Saturday at a Democratic petition-signing event at the Maennerchor Club in Sharon.

"I'm just speaking here as a Pennsylvanian-American: That should be illegal. It cannot be kicked down the road. I don't think we need 60 Love Canals," he said of the legal practice of dumping hydraulic fracture waste water into the state's streams and other waterways as he referenced the 1970s economic disaster in Niagara Falls, N.Y., that caused cancer clusters and birth defects, and a 21-year Environmental Protection Agency Superfund cleanup.

DePasquale, who is running for state attorney general, was among several Democratic state row officer candidates to participate in Saturday's event. Fellow attorney general candidate Keir Bradford-Grey also spoke Saturday.

Treasurer candidate state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro of Erie, and state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, who is running for the auditor general nomination, participated in person.

Preston Nouri, who is running for the Democratic nomination in the U.S. House 16th District race, was unable to attend, but sent a representative. Nouri, of Erie, is seeking the seat held by seven-term Republican incumbent Mike Kelly of Butler.

The 16th District covers Mercer, Butler, Crawford, Erie and Lawrence counties.

About 100 people turned out throughout the four-hour event, said Kim Powell, treasurer of the Mercer County Democratic Committee, who said she was encouraged by the participation.

"I didn't realize I would need so many blank petition sheets," she said.

Jim McLusky, who ran unsuccessfully last year for Mercer County commissioner, said his experience as a candidate gave him greater appreciation for the candidates who swung through the county Saturday.

"I was really impressed with how he gave straightforward answers," he said of DePasquale. "He's a guy who can talk to anybody."

Bradford-Grey, of the Philadelphia area, said she has been impressed with the enthusiasm she has seen among rural Pennsylvania Democrats.

"I've seen a lot of forward energy," she said. "I'm getting so much support out in rural Pennsylvania, in the cities."

An attorney, she works for the firm of Montgomery McCracken as a litigator and adviser on diversity, equity and inclusion issues.

Gov. Josh Shapiro appointed Bradford-Grey as Montgomery County's head public defender when the then-future governor was a county commissioner.

Bradford-Gray said she understands the stakes of the 2024 election, not just for the presidency, but down ticket to congressional and state races.

"We've seen what's at stake for the rights of women to control their own bodies," she said.

Andy Harkulich, chair of the Mercer County Democratic Committee, said Saturday's event served the purpose not only of collecting signatures but rallying the party loyalists. In addition to his party activism, Harkulich also is a local officer in the Steelworkers' union.

He's aware that while union leadership has supported Democrats on the national level, many rank-and-file workers have crossed party affiliation to the Republican side. Harkulich said local Democrats have to highlight the party's historical support of organized labor and more recent successes — including the Friday economic report that unemployment remained at 3.7% and the creation of more than 350,000 new jobs.

"We have to talk about the issues," Harkulich said. "It's about sustainable jobs."

For many of those at Saturday's event, especially for residents of eastern Mercer County, environmental concerns were significant. Some of the attendees are active in the effort to prevent Tri-County Industries from reopening a landfill in Pine and Liberty townships near Grove City.

Consequently, DePasquale fielded several questions from residents about environmental regulation and enforcement.

"Our number one environmental issue is the prospect of a radioactive landfill opening near Grove City," said Brenda Eperthener, of Grove City, a county Democratic Committee member. "That's a non-partisan issue."

Her friend, Beverly Graham, also a committee member, said she was pleased with the event and the candidates who participated.

"I thought they all did a great job," she said.