In the 19th District, a primary challenge for Platts

York businessman Mike Smeltzer plans to challenge Congressman Todd Platts (R-19) for their party’s nomination.

In a statement Monday, Smeltzer announced the formation of a committee to explore his bid. He is the director of the Manufacturers’ Association of South Central Pennsylvania.

“Our community needs an independent, effective voice in Washington – someone who will provide leadership in addressing these challenging times,” Smeltzer says in the announcement. “We need a new direction that focuses on…

December 21, 2009 at 3:40 pm | Comments (3)

Platts endorses Gerlach

Congressman Todd Platts (R-19) threw his support behind Congressman Jim Gerlach’s (R-6) gubernatorial bid on Wednesday, giving Gerlach his first publicly announced endorsement as he seeks to build momentum in the uphill primary against state Attorney General Tom Corbett.

Gerlach only recently entered  GOP primary, in which Corbett has been seeking to lock up party support early and some party leaders have even been trying to clear the field for him. But Platts’ endorsement could…

August 5, 2009 at 3:09 pm | Comments (8)

Platts has ‘no intention’ of running for Senate

Congressman Todd Platts (R-19) is flattered to be pushed as a Senate candidate—but he’s not interested, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Bob Reilly made Platts’ intentions clear after The York Daily Record ran an editorial pushing him as a potential GOP Senate candidate.

“Congressman Platts is honored that The York Daily Record and numerous citizens have asked him to consider running for the United States Senate,” Reilly said, “but he is concentrating…

May 13, 2009 at 5:44 pm | Comments (1)

Paper pushes Platts for Senate

The York Daily Record has another name to add to the mix of possible GOP Senate candidates—their hometown Congressman Todd Platts (R-19).

“Think about it,” the newspaper writes in an editorial today. “He kind of fits into that Goldilocks zone himself. During his days in the state Legislature, he was a maverick in his own party—much like Sen. Specter. He was not afraid to annoy party leaders with his willingness to…

May 13, 2009 at 9:43 am | Comments (1)