Op Ed: Former Governor Ed Rendell Endorses State Senate Candidate Jim Wertz

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Former Philadelphia Mayor and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell provided this Op Ed to the Erie Reader as an endorsement of State Senate Candidate Jim Wertz in his race against incumbent Dan Laughlin.

Over the course of my career, I've endorsed hundreds of candidates for office. As former mayor of Philadelphia, chair of the Democratic National Committee, and governor of Pennsylvania, I am often asked to lend my name to a candidate's quest for public office; it's a humbling experience – even after all these years. In this consequential election, I'm proud to endorse Jim Wertz for Pennsylvania State Senate. Jim Wertz is a smart, tough, committed leader who will fight for Erie in Harrisburg.

I've met a myriad of politicians over the years and, mostly, they're good people who care about their communities. Many incumbents cling to power by serving special interests and end up moving in lockstep with their leadership, rather than fighting for the policies that help places like Erie. It's a good thing when elected officials want to work on both sides of the aisle and maintain their standing among party leaders, but a community can only truly thrive when it sends a leader to Harrisburg – someone who is willing to say what they believe in and will fight hard for what their constituents really need, like Jim.

As you may already know from the ads pouring into Erie this election season, Jim was raised by a single mom, he owned a small business, he's been a union member for as long as he's been working, and he's an educator. What I know is that Jim is a humble leader who shows up and will be able to persuade Harrisburg that Erie is a good investment. Like most teachers, Jim is not afraid of hard work, and he is committed to making things better for the people he serves.

There are three easy public policy reasons to vote for Jim, if you care about freedom:

• Jim Wertz will protect your rights at the voting booth and anywhere freedom is challenged, including your freedom of speech.
• Jim Wertz will stand up for and protect access to abortion, IVF, and birth control for Pennsylvanians – that's right, access to abortion, IVF, and birth control are men's issues, too.
• And Jim Wertz will fight like hell to deliver on the constitutional right to a thorough and efficient public education for every child.

I call this election in Erie consequential, because it is – in many ways your vote for Vice President Kamala Harris is as consequential as your vote for Jim Wertz. Just like the presidential race, the entire state is watching the race for the 49th district of the Pennsylvania State Senate. When Jim is elected, the Pennsylvania State Senate will return to a Democratic majority for the first time in over two decades – that's more important now than ever.

This election is important because the Republican party has lost touch with what really matters to families in places like Erie. The senate Republicans have blocked real progress on public education, consistently tried to block reproductive freedoms, and frankly work against most policies, rather than fighting for them. They've fear mongered and advanced false narratives that are harming our communities.

I always loved coming to Erie because the people of Erie are good people – they're welcoming, hard-working, and genuinely care about the forward progress of generations. Erieites aren't racist, they don't fear immigrants, they don't judge families for their choices, and they love democracy. Erieites show up – and they won't be fooled.

I often say the media doesn't cover plane landings, so it's not surprising when a Republican who aligns with the party in Harrisburg is viewed as a moderate at home – especially in Erie, where the miles between the county and Capitol can be further in connection than in distance. So, it doesn't surprise me that a close race has now come down to the quintessential question when deciding who to support – what are the candidates willing to fight for?

As a local leader, Jim Wertz will take the time to listen and his candidacy is already moving Erie forward. Jim is a guy who will work as hard as you do and will fight for the people of Erie. I believe he will serve you well in the State Senate, and I encourage you to vote for him on November 5.

Ed Rendell was Governor of Pennsylvania from 2003-2011

More information on candidate Jim Wertz and his platform can be found at jimwertz.org