Andy Close
WARREN, Pa. – Calling broadband access a “fundamental” utility like electricity, U.S. Senate candidate and current Pennsylvania Lt. Governor John Fetterman said that would be one of his priorities if elected to Washington.
“(Good broadband access) is a fundamental utility no different than electricity as far as I’m concerned, especially in this day and age,” Fetterman, a Democratic candidate to replace retiring U.S. Senator Pat Toomey, a Republican, said during a campaign stop at the Hampton Inn in North Warren Saturday.
Fetterman said without good broadband in rural areas people don’t have access to things people in bigger cities have access to.
“It’s something I bring up everywhere I go,” Fetterman said during the event hosted by the Warren County Young Democrats. “Without good broadband, you don’t have the access to healthcare that you deserve in counties like Warren and McKean, and others. You can’t do telemedicine if your broadband is terrible. You don’t have the ability to work from home the way you would in an urban area.
“When I drive up to your beautiful community, my cell phone is much less functional, let’s put it that way. I would not be a senator that would vote against you getting better broadband, but then show up at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and say ‘hey, you’re welcome.’”
The Warren County Commissioners have also made it clear that broadband is a key concern, with Commissioner Ben Kafferlin saying ‘that’s the number one infrastructure issue in the county. It’s our top priority,’ in November of 2021.
Fetterman talked about other issues and about himself during an approximately 30-minute address including his time as Mayor of Braddock just outside Pittsburgh to voter issues such as income inequality, health care, LGBTQ rights and public education.
“I’m so grateful to spend a Saturday afternoon with you,” Fetterman said. “This isn’t an anti-Republican campaign, this is about what we’re about and the issues that are important to you.”
It was part of a five-town swing on Saturday for Fetterman, who also made stops in Clarion, Smethport, Franklin, and Harmony.
“The kind of campaign we built is powered by folks just like you,” Fetterman said. “I’m proud to say that we’re going to every county and meeting every voter that’s reachable in Pennsylvania. This is about fighting for every single vote.”
Fetterman detailed the story of how he won by one vote when he first ran for mayor of Braddock and how that involved a young man he had helped get a job at Lowe’s going to vote on his lunch break.
“If he hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t be your lieutenant governor right now,” Fetterman said. “The power of one vote really does matter. If you’ve seen our signs, it’s every county, every vote, and that’s my political philosophy.”
The race to replace Toomey is wide open with 12 Democratic candidates and 15 Republican candidates currently.
The primary election is May 17.
You can see Fetterman’s full address in Warren here:
