Endorsement Photos

THANK YOU to Betty Brodmerkel for these pictures she took October 20 at our press conference in Burgettstown where I was endorsed by Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett:

THANKS AGAIN to Attorney General Corbett for expressing his confidence and trust in me as a candidate and public official. I am proud to have his support!

Two More Events

As we near the finish-line, we would like to invite you to two more campaign events:

Tomorrow, Monday, October 30, we will have one last informal "Meet the Candidate" gathering -- this time at Jackson's Restaurant at the Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe in Cecil Township (1000 Corporate Drive, Canonsburg). We'll be gathered there in the seating area next to the bar from approximately 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Our special guest will be former Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Bill Scranton. We're honored to have Bill join us -- and grateful for his support of our campaign!

There is no set cost to attend the event -- but, of course, any contributions will help us to spread the word about our positive agenda for the 46th District. Appetizers to be served. To RSVP or for more details, please call Tom Baker at (412) 608-8842.

Also, mark your calendars:

Sunday, November 5, we will have an OPEN HOUSE & RALLY at our campaign headquarters at 106 West Lincoln Avenue in McDonald. The open house will run from Noon to 4 p.m. for poll workers and others to pick up their materials for Election Day. I will give some remarks at approximately 2:30 p.m. Food and drinks to be served! Come hungry!

Please join us in this final push to Election Day, November 7!

Getting Inside the Polls

Barbara Miller has an article in today's O-R about some Washington County polling places that are not sufficiently accessible for people with disabilities. The article is based on a study of the county's polling places done by Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living (TRIPIL).

Some of the polling places in the 46th District that were identified as being problematic are:

Chartiers Township 6th Precinct: Chartiers-Houston Library, 730 W. Grant St.

Smith Township 4th Precinct: Cherry Valley Sportsmen's Association, 423 Joffre-Cherry Valley Road

Hanover Township (Washington Co.) 2nd Precinct: Hanover Township Volunteer Fire Department, 9 Starck Drive

Hopewell Township: Hopewell Township Building, 20 Park View Road

Canton Township 2nd Precinct: Holy Trinity National Catholic Church Social Hall, 605 Hewitt Ave.

Cecil Township 1st Precinct: Iceoplex at Southpointe, 114 Southpointe Boulevard

Canton Township 1st Precinct: Polish Club, 64 Griffith Ave.

If anyone in these or any precincts needs assistance on Election Day going to vote, they should call our campaign at (412) 608-8842 or (724) 350-1540 and we will put you in touch with a volunteer who will help.

Also, the article sites as one example the "cumbersome" doors at the Chartiers-Houston Library that are difficult for people with disabilities to open. The librarian noted these doors are also energy inefficient and they are looking into grant funding to replace them.

If I am elected on November 7, I would seek to be a partner in securing grant monies for such initiatives that make life more livable for people with disabilities -- not to mention ensuring their ability to vote!

One of the Top 22

Reporter Pete DeCoursey of Capitolwire & the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal today named the 46th District race as one of the 22 closest for the 203 seats up for grabs in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Here's his take on this race:

Rep. Vic Lescovitz, D-Washington, is retiring, and Democrat Jesse White is having trouble uniting his party. Republican Paul Snatchko has run a strong campaign and put this race into the margin of error.

Today's O-R also carries a story on the race by Amanda Gillooly.

Endorsed In Print

I am proud this morning to have received the endorsement of the Observer-Reporter:

Come January, the 46th Legislative District will have a new representative in Harrisburg for the first time in 26 years because of the retirement of Rep. Victor Lescovitz. Fortunately, the voters have two excellent, young candidates to choose between. Of the two, we recommend the election of Republican Paul Snatchko.

In Today's Mail

In today's mail, I received this certificate (scan below):

Earlier this year, I took the National Incident Management System (NIMS) class with other members of McDonald Borough Council and some members of the McDonald Volunteer Fire Department. Municipal officials are required to take the class for their communities to receive funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) when disasters strike.

If I am elected to the State House on November 7, I would grateful to be going to Harrisburg equipped with this training and experience from the ranks of local government.

An Editorial

Today's O-R has an editorial about the recent mailing sent to voters in the 46th District from the Democratic State Committee.

There also was a letter in Sunday's O-R about the mailing.

Press Release: AG Corbett Endorses Snatchko

Snatchko 2006
Paul Snatchko for the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives

302 West Lincoln Ave., #4, McDonald, PA 15057 * (412) 608-8842

psnatchk@cobweb.net * www.snatchko.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2006

Contact: Tom Baker
(412) 608-8842

Attorney General Corbett Endorses Snatchko
in 46th District State House Race

BURGETTSTOWN --- Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement official, Attorney General Tom Corbett, today formally endorsed the candidacy of McDonald Borough Councilman Paul Snatchko for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 46th Legislative District.

“I am proud to endorse Paul Snatchko’s candidacy for the State House. He has the knowledge, experience and drive to well represent the people of Southwestern Pennsylvania in their legislature,” said Corbett. “Paul is a fine example of the kind of public servant we need in our government today.”

Corbett’s announcement took place in front of the Petrucci’s IGA Market, a grocery store on the main street in Burgettstown, one of the boroughs of the 46th District. The Petrucci’s Market recently reopened in a new building following extensive damage to the former store on the site caused by the flood waters of the remnant of Hurricane Ivan in September, 2004.

Snatchko said he was extremely gratified to receive Corbett’s support. “If elected on November 7, I will seek to work with the Attorney General and others in our state government to ensure that Pennsylvania is a safe place to live and work,” said Snatchko. “I will support legislation that guarantees all of our state’s law enforcement personnel have the tools they need to do their jobs well and efficiently.”

Corbett pointed to Snatchko’s four years of service on McDonald Borough Council for evidence of his existing knowledge of police procedures and law enforcement matters. “Paul has knowledge of the organizational dynamics and costs associated with running a local police department. This municipal background would be an asset for him while serving as a member of the House,” said Corbett.

Snatchko, 30, is a political and media consultant whose clients have included the Washington County Republican Party and judicial candidates in Allegheny and Washington counties. A 1998 graduate of New York University with a degree in journalism, he also has worked as a newspaper reporter and as case investigator for the Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.

Snatchko also has been endorsed by Chamber PAC (political action committee of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry), PA REALTOR PAC (political action committee of the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS), the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation PAC, LIFE-PAC and Firearms Owners Against Crime. He also was “recommended” for election by PA CleanSweep. He has received an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund.

Snatchko’s 2006 candidacy is his third for the 46th District seat. He ran strong grassroots campaigns against the district’s incumbent in both 2002 and 2004, gaining 45.5 percent and 47.1 percent of the vote respectively, despite facing a nearly 2-to-1 party registration disadvantage.

The 46th Legislative District includes the small towns and rural areas of northwestern and part of central Washington County, as well as parts of southern Allegheny and Beaver counties. In Washington County, the district includes Buffalo Township, Burgettstown Borough, Canton Township, Cecil Township, Chartiers Township, Cross Creek Township, Green Hills Borough, Hanover Township, Hopewell Township, Independence Township, Jefferson Township, McDonald Borough, Midway Borough, Mount Pleasant Township, Robinson Township, Smith Township, South Franklin Township and West Middletown Borough. The Allegheny County portion of the district includes McDonald Borough, Oakdale Borough and the 5th precinct of South Fayette Township. In Beaver County, the district includes Frankfort Springs Borough and Hanover Township.

For more information, or to interview the candidate, please call (412) 608-8842. A photo of Paul Snatchko in .jpg format is available for use by media outlets.

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Real World Experience

Yesterday, the Democratic State Committee sent a mailing to voters in the 46th District attacking me. The mailing pointed out that I am single; that I am a renter; that I have sought this office twice before; and, referring to my career, stated that I "lack any real world experience" and "haven't done much of anything."

I hesitate to justify the mailing with a response. It distracts us from addressing the important issues of this campaign -- property tax reform, government reform, health care, job creation and several others.

But, as the mailing may have prompted some voters to seek out more information on the Internet -- and those folks may have found their way to this blog -- here are some of my thoughts:

First, I am proud of my professional career. In May 1998, I received a B.A. in journalism from New York University. After that, I moved home to Southwestern Pennsylvania to pursue my career:

-- From June 1998 to February 2000, I was a staff writer for the Observer-Reporter, the daily newspaper that serves Washington and Greene counties and parts of the South Hills of Pittsburgh. As is the case at most county-seat dailies in the United States, the staff writers at the O-R are both beat reporters and generalists -- so you provide news coverage of many different things. As a reporter, the communities in my beat included Peters Township, Canonsburg Borough, Cecil Township, North Strabane Township and North Franklin Township. I covered municipal meetings, school board meetings, community events, crime stories and human-interest stories. I also regularly contributed feature stories to the paper's Sunday "Region" section. If you look back through my clips, you will find several stories on the happenings of local veterans groups.

Some might find it notable that I was nominated by the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania for the "Best Spot News" article written in 1999 in a medium-sized daily newspaper in our region.

During my time at the O-R, I also was extremely proud to represent the newspaper for two weeks during a journalist exchange program in the Siberian Steel City of Novokuznetsk, Russia (located about 200 miles from the Chinese and Mongolian borders). While there, I interviewed a serial murderer at the city prision and spent a weekend in a forgotten fishing village on the Tom River. That village could only be reached by boat and had few modern conveniences. Seems to me that's "real world" experience.

-- In February 2000, I left the O-R and went to work for the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. I worked there as a "case investigator" (a researcher and technical writer) until June 2003. That's more than three years. The Hero Fund, founded in 1904 by Andrew Carnegie, is the Pittsburgh-based foundation that awards the Carnegie Medal to civilians all over the United States and Canada who risk their lives while saving the lives of others -- often from burning buildings, burning vehicles, drownings and during assaults. In all, I conducted investigations and wrote in-depth reports on approximately 100 such acts of heroism.

-- In 2000 and 2001, I worked a second job as a freelance writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. I was their correspondent for Peters Township, Cecil Township and Canonsburg Borough -- writing news briefs for the daily Local section and full articles for the P-G's Sunday Washington section and SOUTH edition.

-- In June 2003, I left the Hero Fund to pursue a full-time career as an independent political and media consultant. In this role, I have been paid to work on political campaigns for judicial candidates in both Washington and Allegheny counties and for the Washington County Republican Party. While many denigrate work in politics, I believe my efforts have helped to strengthen the democratic process in our area. I've registered countless numbers of new voters, spread positive messages about many good candidates and have been a small part of the functioning of the electoral process in our democratic republic.

Second, I am proud of my campaigns for public office.

In 2002, I was the only person in the entire 46th District who had the tenacity to take on our district's longtime incumbent. With a budget of only about $10,000 and after a strong grassroots campaign, I received 45.5 percent of the vote -- a historic number for a Republican in this 2-1 Democratic district. I'm proud of that campaign and I'm proud of the trust so many voters placed in me. I'm thankful for my loyal supporters who helped me in that year.

In 2004, after another hard-fought grassroots campaign, we also came up a bit short -- receiving 47.1 percent of the vote. It wasn't the win we had hoped for -- but it was the closest State House race in Pennsylvania in which an incumbent was reelected (and the third closest statewide). I'm proud of this race, too, even if I was not elected. I'm proud of the efforts of all of the family members and friends who supported me. I'm proud of the important issues we raised. I'm proud our longtime incumbent began to do more voter outreach. And, again, I was thankful to have the support of an overwhelming number of voters from both major political parties.

But, regardless of the historic vote totals in these races, it was still simply important that we had actual competitive races in which issues were debated and voters were energized. We need more candidates to participate in the system -- especially young candidates! We need more incumbents to be challenged. We need more interest in our electoral process. Shame on the Democratic State Committee for attacking anyone for exercising their right to run for office.

Also, I need to note, part of my public service has included more than four years of service on McDonald Borough Council. In this role, I have helped to develop the borough's budgets, helped to direct our community's approach to public safety and promoted the borough as a good place for businesses to operate and families to live. Perhaps my proudest achievement thus far on borough council was spearheading the creation by ordinance of our Park & Recreation Board -- which has been doing an excellent job securing state grant funds for improvements in our town's parks.

All of this is REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE.

Third, I object to the implication by the Democratic State Committee that there is something notable about being a single person or renting one's home. Obviously, the Democratic State Committee doesn't place value on all human beings -- regardless of their marital status and economic status. My hunch is that many single people and renters were offended by their attack -- as well as the loved ones of single people and renters.

Fourth, I want all of the voters of the 46th District to know that despite of this negative attack on me and my candidacy, neither I nor anyone associated with my campaign will respond in a similar fashion. I know these sorts of misleading negative attack mailings do nothing but hurt our democratic process -- they coarsen our public dialogue and keep people away from the polls.

I have heard it loud and clear from the voters all year long -- the people want an end to this politics as usual. It's time for NEW LEADERS to take their place in the halls of Pennsylvania's government -- leaders who will seek good and effective government and seek to bring integrity back into our political process. If I am elected to the State House on November 7, I hope I can help do just that.

Coverage on WTAE-TV

WTAE-TV ran stories yesterday and today on our race for the 46th District seat -- the first TV news coverage of the campaign. You can watch some of the video here.

Some Great New Photos

Some great new photos from the campaign trail:

On Burgettstown's Main Street: speaking with Pat McGraw of Langeloth. Some 20 years ago, Pat also was a candidate for the 46th District seat. He's remained active in politics and community service activities ever since. Pat is especially known for the homemade soups he makes for events sponsored by the Burgettstown Knights of Columbus.

With Pat McGraw and my Aunt Kay Snatchko. Both are educators. Pat was a teacher and coach for many years in the Burgettstown schools. Aunt Kay was a science and math teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School before it closed earlier this year.

With Florence, Aunt Kay and Pat. I'm proud to have their support!

Public Radio: "Toss-Up"

Damon Boughamer of Public Radio Capitol News had a report today on the closest State House races in Pennsylvania. The 46th District race was identified as one five statewide in which a seat currently held by a Democrat incumbent is a "Toss-Up" for a win on Election Day. One of Damon's reasons for his rating was my 2004 showing against incubment Rep. Victor Lescovitz in which I gained 47.1 percent of the vote.

Also...THANK YOU to everyone who joined us this evening for our "Meet the Candidate" event at the home of Ann & Jim Dugan on Wedgewood Lane in Cecil Township. Thank You, especially, to Ann & Jim and to Tom & Lynn Uram for co-hosting this event! We appreciate your support!

Endorsements On-Line

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry recently published on their Website a list of the candidates that have been endorsed by their political action committee. The county and local chambers of commerce (such as the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chambr of Commerce) are members of the PA Chamber.

I'm proud to have received this recognition from an organization dedicated to making our state a good place for businesses to create and retain jobs. I know that, if elected, being an active part of the team of leaders working on economic development projects and job creation initiatives must be a top priority.

I am also honored to have received the endorsement of the political action committee of the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS. These professionals also are working to make the Keystone State a place where people want to live and raise their families. This organization also has published a list of their endorsed candidates.

Also new on the Web: The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund has published their candidate ratings for the 2006 General Election on November 7. The NRA-PVF gave me an "A" rating. Here is a link to their Pennsylvania page.

A Good Debate

THANK YOU to everyone who attended our debate yesterday evening at the Chartiers Township Building. I thought it was an excellent opportunity to hear from my opponent and I on the the important issues of the campaign. Thanks, too, to Jim Jefferson of WJPA for serving as our moderator -- Jim did an excellent job!

Amanda Gillooly, a new staff writer for the Observer-Reporter, had a very balanced article in today's paper about the many topics that were raised in the debate. WJPA Radio also reported on the event.

Also on debates: the new edition of the PA Focus carries a story by Craig Howell on the candidates forum last week at Burgettstown High School.

I would be remiss if I also did not note that the Post-Gazette today issued their endorsement in my race. Some may be surprised that I am linking to the endorsement despite not receiving their nod. However, I was pleased that the P-G editorial board so thoroughly discussed my background and positions on the issues. It certainly says something that it deemed both of the candidates as "promising" and "knowledgeable and energetic" and that their endorsement was "a close call."

It appears the primary reason I lost the P-G endorsement was my pro-life stand on abortion. This position is certainly not something for which I would apologize. While I recognize that we as a society need to do more for women facing unplanned pregnancies, I strongly believe that human life is sacred. I believe that human life must be protected by law from conception until natural death. If I am elected on November 7, I would be an advocate for this consistent-life ethic -- while at the same time working to improve both government and private programs that help women in difficult situations.

Meet the Candidate at Southpointe

We are pleased to announce that our next "Meet the Candidate" event will be held Monday evening (October 16) at the home of Jim and Ann Dugan at 508 Wedgewood Lane (Southpointe, 10th Fairway), Canonsburg, PA. The reception, which is being co-hosted by Thomas & Lynn Uram, is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The suggested contribution for this event is $50. To RSVP, please call Thomas Uram at (412) 418-0783.

Starpointe Heating Up

Today's O-R has a report on the sale of a parcel at the Starpointe light-industrial development in Hanover Township to the holding company of Olson Industries, a Carnegie-based manufacturer of high-temperature furnaces. According to the report, this is the fifth parcel to be sold at Starpointe.

Craig Howell of the PA Focus also wrote a story about the new company.

In my opinion, one of the under-reported stories about Starpointe is that it is not yet served by public sewers. If I am elected on November 7, I would seek to work with other local leaders to ensure that the development has the infrastructure it needs to be successful.

Welcome P-G Readers!

Janice Crompton's overview of our race appeared in the Washington section of yesterday's Post-Gazette. It included a reference and link to this blog.

Press Release: A Clean Campaign

Snatchko 2006
Paul Snatchko for the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives

302 West Lincoln Ave., #4, McDonald, PA 15057 * (412) 608-8842
psnatchk@cobweb.net * www.snatchko.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2006

Contact: Tom Baker
(412) 608-8842


Snatchko Issues Clean Campaign Pledge in 46th District Race

McDONALD --- McDonald Borough Councilman Paul Snatchko, candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 46th Legislative District, has issued a pledge that in the run up to Election Day on November 7 he will run a positive, issue-oriented, clean campaign. In his pledge, he stated that his campaign committee will not issue or authorize any mailings or print or broadcast advertising that in any way attacks his opponent.

“The people of the 46th District have been telling me for months that they want to hear about the issues that affect their daily lives and the lives of their children and grandchildren. In the wake of the legislative pay raise fiasco of 2005, the people have zero tolerance for negative attacks in political campaigns,” said Snatchko. “For the next five weeks, I pledge to run a campaign that focuses on property tax reform, state government reform, health care initiatives and job creation. Neither I nor anyone authorized to act on behalf of my campaign will attack my opponent in any way.”

Snatchko issued his pledge tonight at a candidates forum held at Burgettstown High School, located outside of Burgettstown, PA. The forum was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Washington County.

“Throughout my campaign, I have talked about how I want to change the culture of Harrisburg and bring integrity back to our state government. I hope I am beginning this work now by demonstrating that I will behave as a candidate as I would behave as a member of the legislature,” said Snatchko. “The past year has shown us that the people of Pennsylvania are yearning for statesmen to govern their public affairs.”

Snatchko, 30, has served on McDonald Borough Council for more than four years. His candidacy has been endorsed by Chamber PAC (political action committee of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry), PA REALTOR PAC (political action committee of the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS), the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, LIFE-PAC (political action committee of People Concerned for the Unborn Child) and Firearms Owners Against Crime. He also was “recommended” for election by PA CleanSweep. He has received an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund.

Snatchko is a political and media consultant whose clients have included the Washington County Republican Party and judicial candidates in Allegheny and Washington counties. A 1998 graduate of New York University with a degree in journalism, he also has worked as a newspaper reporter and as case investigator for the Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.

Snatchko’s 2006 candidacy is his third for the 46th District seat. He ran strong grassroots campaigns against the district’s incumbent in both 2002 and 2004, gaining 45.5 percent and 47.1 percent of the vote respectively, despite facing a nearly 2-to-1 party registration disadvantage.

The 46th Legislative District includes the small towns and rural areas of northwestern and central Washington County, as well as parts of southern Allegheny and Beaver counties. In Washington County, the district includes Buffalo Township, Burgettstown Borough, Canton Township, Cecil Township, Chartiers Township, Cross Creek Township, Green Hills Borough, Hanover Township, Hopewell Township, Independence Township, Jefferson Township, McDonald Borough, Midway Borough, Mount Pleasant Township, Robinson Township, Smith Township, South Franklin Township and West Middletown Borough. The Allegheny County portion of the district includes McDonald Borough, Oakdale Borough and the 5th precinct of South Fayette Township. In Beaver County, the district includes Frankfort Springs Borough and Hanover Township.

For more information, or to interview the candidate, please call (412) 608-8842. A photo of Paul Snatchko in .jpg format is available for use by media outlets.

-- 30 --

Burgettstown Fashion Show benefits Teen Center

On Sunday evening, Paul, Marcy, Andy, and I attended the 1st Annual Burgettstown Fashion Show. The Fashion Show was organized to benefit the Burgettstown Teen Center. One of our friends, Jen Bertha, helped organize the event and did a nice job preparing the models for the show. The Post-Gazette ran a terrific article by Lynda Guydon Taylor about the Teen Center on Sunday and included some great pictures by Robert J. Pavuchak, of the P-G. Paul and I visited the Teen Center a few months ago and saw all of the tremendous potential that the center has. It will definitely make a positive difference for the teens in Burgettstown -- if it continues to stay open. If you are interested in helping the Burgettstown Teen Center, please call Bill Richey at 724-263-0505 or write him at P.O. Box 348, Burgettstown, PA 15021.

In Today's O-R

The O-R has a write-up in Saturday's paper about the upcoming candidates forums sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Washington County.

Reporter Barbara Miller also has a story on a refresher training for Election Day workers.