Citing how Pennsylvania now ranks “38th economically, 39th in education…we’re the sixth highest state of people moving out of the state to look for other opportunities,” Stacy L. Garrity, the state’s treasurer and Republican candidate for governor, noted the fact that $5 billion more is being spent than what is being collected.

“It’s fiscally unsustainable and it’s frankly irresponsible,” she told Lycoming County Republicans at the annual Lincoln Day dinner at the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport recently.

She emphasized that she has a “totally different vision for the state.”

“We are so blessed in the Commonwealth. We have the best, hardest working people, we have world class industries. We have natural gas that is the envy of the world and I truly feel that we’re squandering our blessings,” Garrity said.

“We don’t have to be mediocre. We should be leading the nation. There is so much that we can do here if we just unleash natural gas, responsibly of course, we could create tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic opportunities that our communities desperately need,” she added.

In his opening remarks, Peters pointed to the accomplishments that the Republicans have made in the county.

He emphasized the need for the Republican Party to “stand in the gap for this nation.”

Peters noted that the LCRC had helped influence the vote for non-retention of a sitting judge in last year’s municipal election “in an effort to continue our conservative values in the county.”

Referring to the election, Peters said that the LCRC was “very pleased” about regaining the majority on all eight school boards in the county.

“Things are changing there,” he added.

According to Peters, over the last 10 years, the number of people registered as Republicans has increased 15 percent while the number of those identified as Democrats is down 19 percent over the last two years.

“That’s a huge shift…I would like to think that would be the work and the influence of the LCRC and groups like the county Patriots…and voter integrity groups that are led by and has been led by Karen DiSalvo, who was also president of the Election Research Institute of Pennsylvania,” he said.

in addition to all this, we’re talking about the shift we’re seeing in Lycoming County, and the question is why. It’s not about people being good or bad in either party…Republicans and the majority of Lycoming County citizens in general, regardless of their political party and affiliation… recognize the results of the progressive ideology that are taking our society off the rails. Skyrocket inflation during the Biden administration, opened borders, permitting many, as many as 20 million illegal immigrants into our country. The ultra-prioritization of transgender issues, to the point that males are in women’s sports, bathrooms and locker rooms; insisting upon the legalization of abortion… and the rampant Marxist indoctrination of our public school children, forced masking and vaccinations and so many other key issues have changed the political electoral landscape in this county. That’s why,” Peters stated.

“If there’s any question as to why we see a shift…The people are waking up and they realize this country was heading in the wrong direction, and it’s turning around,” he added.

Congressmen Dan Meuser and G.T. Thompson also delivered messages at the event as well as Sen. Dave McCormick who spoke virtually.