Photo by Rick Hiduk
Lt. Governor candidate Mark Smith (left) and his wife, Jane Clements Smith.
TOWANDA – Bradford County Commissioner Mark Smith has raised more than $230,000 for his campaign for Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor. In the month of December alone, he raised over $80,000.
“In the final months of 2013, we saw a huge surge in support for our campaign from people who want to set Harrisburg on a new path that values progressive solutions for Pennsylvania families,” said Smith, a second term County Commissioner. “This campaign is about putting middle-class workers in Pennsylvania back to work, restoring public education funding for our children, rebuilding our transportation and infrastructure, and fighting for our progressive values.”
In the final months of 2013, Smith emerged as the clear choice for progressive Democrats who want to beat Tom Corbett in November. Smith’s record of job creation, building bipartisan coalitions, standing up for progressive values, and his record of winning in a Republican stronghold make him the clear choice for Democratic primary voters.
Smith’s campaign has received over 700 contributions and ended the year with over $100,000 on-hand. “I really have to thank all of my generous supporters from around the state for getting me this far,” Smith said.
Over the course of his campaign, Smith received the endorsements of 11 labor organizations including The Wilkes-Barre and Scranton Building Trades Councils, IBEW Local 126 of Montgomery County, IBEW Local 1319 and 163 of Wilkes-Barre, Boilermakers Local 13 of Philadelphia, IBEW 812 from Williamsport, Sheet Metal Workers Local 44 of Wilkes-Barre, and others.
Mark Smith served as Chairman of the Bradford County Commissioners for four years, overseeing enormous economic development and job growth, while leading important government modernization and reform initiatives. Under Smith’s watch, Bradford County’s private sector employment increased by 15%, while statewide and national employment decreased by 2% and 4%, respectively. During those years, Bradford County had the second-best employment growth in the state.