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Killion: ‘I want to be the voice of the people’

Promising fiscal responsibility and government transparency, state Representative Tom Killion (R-Delaware) formally joined the crowded GOP field for Lieutenant Governor Thursday night.

Speaking at the Springfield Country Club, Killion became the latest of many southeast Republicans hitching their wagons to the party front-runner’s gubernatorial aspirations.

“I want to work with Attorney General Tom Corbett to put Pennsylvania back on the path to success,” Killion said in a statement later.

“As Lieutenant Governor, one of my top priorities will be job creation and the need to make Pennsylvania more business friendly,” Killion added. “We need to put in place Pennsylvania tax and regulatory policies that enables Pennsylvania small businesses to compete nationally and globally. In talking with many small business owners, it is evident that we have many state policies that are hindering rather than spurring job creation.  We need to address this problem and find new ways to encourage companies to create jobs.”

See the Killion campaign’s full announcement below:

Tom Killion Formally Announces Run for Lieutenant Governor

Running on a platform of job creation, fiscal responsibility and transparency in government

SPRINGFIELD, PA – Joined by family, friends, and supporters, Representative Tom Killion tonight formally announced his intention to seek the Republican Party’s endorsement for Lieutenant Governor in 2010.  Following introductions by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, Senator Ted Erickson and Delaware County Republican Chair Andy Reilly, Killion said his background in state, county, and federal government, and as a small business owner, provides him with a level of experience and knowledge on the issues that is needed in the current economic crisis and will enable him to best support Attorney General Tom Corbett’s campaign for Governor.

“Over the past few weeks, I have traveled across the state and met with individuals, business leaders, and party officials from every walk of life,” said Killion.  “Many are deeply concerned about the current economic climate, but they also have a tremendous amount of optimism about the potential for Pennsylvania.  Yet they feel that their voice is not being heard by the current governor and his administration – particularly on issues such as improving the business climate in Pennsylvania, keeping taxes low on working families, holding the line on government spending, and countless other issues.”

“I understand those frustrations,” said Killion.  “Many of us have a vision of what can be done to make Pennsylvania a thriving and prosperous state – but the current administration has served as more of a roadblock than a leader.  I want to be the voice of the people who recognize that we need to fundamentally alter the current path of state government.  I want to serve as the voice of the people on issues such as job creation, returning fiscal responsibility to state government, and making state government more transparent and user friendly.  That is I am formally announcing my intention to seek the Republican Party’s endorsement for the post of Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania.  I want to work with Attorney General Tom Corbett to put Pennsylvania back on the path to success.”

“As Lieutenant Governor, one of my top priorities will be job creation and the need to make Pennsylvania more business friendly,” said Killion, who was instrumental in helping to convince SAP America to locate its corporate headquarters in Delaware County.  “We need to put in place Pennsylvania tax and regulatory policies that enables Pennsylvania small businesses to compete nationally and globally.  In talking with many small business owners, it is evident that we have many state policies that are hindering rather than spurring job creation.  We need to address this problem and find new ways to encourage companies to create jobs.”

“The current governor and his administration have never passed a budget by the June 30 deadline – seven straight years,” noted Killion.  “That is unacceptable.  We need an administration that will be fiscally responsible stewards of the taxpayers’ money, prioritize spending to meet the needs of Pennsylvanians, and recognize that there is an obligation to get the budget done on time.  At the same time, we need to focus on reducing our debt so we do not burden our children and grandchildren and place the state on an unsustainable fiscal path.”

“We must also work to make state government more transparent and user friendly,” said Killion.  “We have had some success in reforming Pennsylvania government, such as open records legislation.  But there is much more that remains to be done.”

Since the formation of his exploratory committee, Tom has been traveling across the state to meet with local Republican leaders and has already visited over 20 counties to discuss his potential campaign, his background and experience, and how he will use his candidacy to help elect Tom Corbett as Governor of Pennsylvania.  Counties where Killion has met or talked with party leadership include: Allegheny, Beaver, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Chester, Clinton, Crawford, Dauphin, Delaware, Forrest, Indiana, Lancaster, Lebanon, McKean, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Potter, Venango, and Warren.  During his cross-state tour, Killion has visited and met with local residents of many additional counties.

Killion has government experience at the local, county, state, and federal levels, including service on his local township planning commission, as chairman of Delaware County Council, as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and as the former District Director for Congressman Curt Weldon.  His background as a small business owner – he founded InR Advisory Services LLC., a pension advisory firm – provides him with a strong financial background and an understanding of many of the issues small business in Pennsylvania face.

Killion is also well known throughout Delaware County and southeastern Pennsylvania for his years of volunteer service on behalf of local non-profits and organization, including the Board of Directors of SEPTA, the regional public transit and transportation authority in southeastern Pennsylvania, and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Commission (GPTMC).  Killion also served on the Advisory Board for Penn State University’s Brandywine Campus, providing him with extensive knowledge and understanding of higher education issues and needs.

Killion also volunteered extensively for a variety of organization that help meet the basic health, human, and social services of Pennsylvania residents.  He helped raise over $200,000 for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as a member of the board and by competing in a half-Iron Man and three marathons, as well as organizing numerous golf outings for the organization.

Killion also helped raise private dollars and was instrumental in the construction of the new Rocky Run YMCA branch serving the needs of Delaware County residents.  He has worked to improve the lives of battered women and their children through the Domestic Abuse Project.  Tom also served as a board member of Elwyn, Inc. and previously served on the board of the Cerebral Palsy Association, both of which support residents with mental and physical disabilities. Tom is a long time supporter of improving the states’ library system, serving as President of his community’s library board.

Representative Killion has represented the residents of the 168th legislative district, which includes portions of Delaware and Chester Counties, in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2003 following a special election to fill the seat of former Speaker of the House Matt Ryan.  He serves in the House as Deputy Republican Whip and is a member of the Appropriations Committee, Urban Affairs Committee and Insurance Committee.

December 3, 2009 at 8:32 pm

--pa2010.com Staff

Tags: Lt. Gov., Tom Killion

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