Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman was in McKean County Saturday.
As part of his campaign for the US Senate, Fetterman greeted a crowd of over 150 people at the Smethport Fire Hall, where he went through the crowd hearing individual concerns and discussing possible solutions.
Fetterman characterized himself as someone who understands rural issues, and can be an advocate for what he called “the forgotten Pennsylvania.”
“The fact that I was a four-term mayor of a community roughly the same size [as Smethport] has never left me and it’s always made me a strong advocate and champion for places like this, the forgotten and the marginalized and the left behind places.”
When the subject of the near-shutdown of Bradford Regional Medical Center was brought up, Fetterman called it part of a larger problem that needs a united front to solve.
“You know better than anyone in rural Pennsylvania how tough healthcare can be. ‘OK, Telemedicine. That’s the next revolution!’ Well, how can you do telemedicine if you don’t have broadband? You know you’re getting pinched on both sides. Your hospitals are closing or understaffed or they don’t have the kind of resources. But then you also don’t have the broadband to to make it happen! And that to me is an example of why we need to just put aside a lot of the partisanship and make these kind of critical and investments. And have these kind of conversations.”
Fetterman criticized the hypocrisy of some lawmakers who fight against answers to the region’s problems, but run to take credit for them when they pass anyhow.
“It frustrates me when members of the legislature, members of Congress show up at a ribbon cutting for something good, but they voted against it, you know? ‘I tried to stop it, but I’ll show up for the ribbon cutting.’ It seems kind of crazy.”
Fetterman also expressed frustration about the political divide in Pennsylvania and the nation, particularly when it comes to rural vs. urban divisions.
“Does anyone enjoy how divided we are politically right now? I haven’t seen a hand go up any time I’ve asked that question. I get tired of it. You know, I gotta tell, you the urban parts of Pennsylvania often will stereotype the rural parts of Pennsylvania, the rural parts of Pennsylvania will often stereotype the urban parts of Pennsylvania. When the truth of the matter is that In terms of basic fundamental needs that there’s a lot of overlap between the two.”
After his remarks, McKean County Democratic Chair Marty Wilder presented Fetterman with a custom Zippo lighter.
“I… I have to say… because you know, I… I’m not allowed to accept gifts.”
At that point Second Lady Giselle Barreto Fetterman reached over and snatched the lighter from his hand, saying “But I am allowed!”
After the laugher died down, Fetterman continued.
“That is as thoughtful of a gift that I can’t accept that I’ve ever gotten in my life. And the fact that it’s made right here in Pennsylvania right here in our backyard makes it even better. And that’s the way it needs to stay. And so thank you for that.”
Fetterman’s visit was part of a five-county swing through Northwestern Pennsylvania.