The voters paid attention!
The stunning defeat of Lt. Gov. Mike Stack — a fourth-place finish in a field of five in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor — is the shot heard round the world in Pennsylvania politics (May 16, “Braddock Mayor Makes History in Lt. Gov. Race: Fetterman Deals Decisive Defeat to Incumbent Stack”).
Mr. Stack demonstrated himself unfit for office after he was reported to have subjected his state police security detail and employees at the lieutenant governor’s mansion to a hostile work environment: berating them and subjecting them to the use of profanity.
After Mr. Stack refused to heed warnings from Gov. Tom Wolf, he was sanctioned by being stripped of his security detail. The governor also scaled back staffing at the lieutenant governor’s mansion. If Mr. Stack had been an ordinary state employee, he could have been disciplined up to and including termination for his conduct.
Also, Mr. Stack accepted a $25,000 campaign contribution from the political action committee affiliated with disgraced multiple felon, former state Senate kingpin Vincent Fumo.
Mr. Stack and the governor were said to have such a chilly relationship that they do not speak. Relations between the two were so strained that Mr. Wolf declined to endorse his “partner” of more than three years.
The Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, Braddock Mayor John Fetterman, does not wear flashy suits like Mr. Stack and he is tattooed, which is not one’s image of a Harrisburg high-rolling politician, but he is an honorable, decent, good-hearted, intelligent, knowledgeable man who will serve the people. Bravo!
OREN SPIEGLER
South Strabane
First Published: May 18, 2018, 4:10 p.m.