Pittsburgh-area businessman Paul Mango Wednesday declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Governor.
On Monday, House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) sent a letter to the Republican Party State Committee announcing his intention to also seek the Republican nomination for Governor.
Mango joins Sen. Scott Wagner (R-York) on the campaign trail for the Republican nomination. Wagner announced his candidacy in January.
In his speech, Mango cited his experiences as a veteran from West Point and the legendary 82nd Airborne Division that make him ready to serve, and his preparation as a Harvard Business School graduate and successful Pittsburgh businessman that make him ready to lead Pennsylvania out of stagnancy and into prosperity.
Below are excerpts of Paul Mango's announcement speech (emphasis his).
... "Today, I announce my candidacy for GOVERNOR of Pennsylvania. I do so GRATEFUL for all of the blessings our nation has bestowed upon me; MINDFUL that I seek this responsibility for reasons far greater than myself; and DETERMINED to use every lesson I've learned through hard and valuable experience, and every inspiration I've drawn from the patriots I've known, to meet the challenges of our Commonwealth, and to STRENGTHEN this GOOD and GREAT state for the benefit of every Pennsylvanian. I AM READY TO SERVE!...
... If our Governor fails to recognize those who have served their country and our state with such distinction, think of how he must feel about everyday Pennsylvanians…
... Our veterans, those currently in uniform, their families, and those serving our veterans all deserve better leadership in this State. In fact, every Pennsylvanian does. AND AS YOUR GOVERNOR, I WILL INSURE THEY GET IT!...
... BUT, our Commonwealth is in trouble! The ability to pursue the American Dream here is VANISHING along with our jobs, our business start-ups, and even our children. Harrisburg's reach into our lives now far exceeds its grasp of the problems we face, and it MISTAKENLY believes some combination of more taxes, more spending, more redistribution, more dependence, and more debt are the answer. I DO NOT. Combining a couple departments and using a few catchy slogans is NOT my definition of reform. We need to fundamentally redefine the role Harrisburg plays in our lives, and the current leadership there is incapable of achieving this!...
... It's time to bring our JOBS and our CHILDREN back home to Pennsylvania!...
... We cannot have the LEAST attractive tax policy in the world and expect to be home to the MOST attractive corporations. In our globally competitive economy, we need the skilled labor necessary to enable growth and therefore it can no longer be management vs labor, rather management AND labor vs. India and China…
... But we must ALSO transform the overly intrusive role government plays in our lives. We need Harrisburg to do ITS job, and not ours. Harrisburg and its politicians are RELICS of the early 20th century model embracing large scale, standardization, control, spending, and bureaucracy. In our diverse and highly dynamic society, the one size of INTRUSIVE government it represents no longer fits all…
... I will not only create the POLICIES of reform, but the POLITICS of reform necessary to bring positive conservative change to the Commonwealth…
... This election MUST be about BIG issues, not petty ones. Greatness should be our state's destiny, yet our politicians in Harrisburg are complacent and squabbling over trivial issues. We can no longer be about big government as usual. If we are, then Pennsylvania will lose. I will NOT let this happen."
To read Paul Mango's announcement speech, as prepared for delivery, Click Here.
To read Paul Mango's announcement speech, as prepared for delivery, Click Here.
About Paul Mango (Campaign Bio)
Paul Mango's roots in Pennsylvania run deep. His grandfather immigrated here from Italy, and then worked on the railroad that crossed the state; the one that carried the steel and coal helping to build our factories and create countless jobs.
Paul's grandfather passed on to him the value and dignity of hard work. During high school, Paul was employed by a hotel as a dishwasher, by a farmer's market stocking produce and as a scorekeeper at a bowling alley.
Balancing his father's advice to get a college education along with his strong calling to serve his country, Paul applied, and was accepted, to West Point. One of his proudest moments was receiving his diploma on graduation day from President Ronald Reagan.
After completing Army Ranger training and jump school, Paul went on to serve America as a paratrooper in the storied 82nd Airborne Division.
While serving in the military, Paul and his wife saved every penny they could so that he could continue his education, and he earned a Master's Degree in Business at Harvard; an education that will be invaluable for someone whose main priorities as Governor will be growing Pennsylvania's economy, creating jobs, and finding innovative ways to do more with less.
Paul then joined one of the most respected business leadership and professional advisory firms in America, where he rolled up his sleeves and helped companies first anticipate, and then adapt to, change.
Paul's 25 years as a business leader have provided him with an unmatched skillset for helping Pennsylvania out-compete other states and countries for the jobs of the future.
Despite these remarkable achievements, Paul Mango would tell you that his greatest blessing in life has been his family.
Now Paul Mango wants to take his middle-class values, his military training, business education, and decades of experience solving some of the toughest business problems at America's most admired companies, to fix Pennsylvania's stalled economy, underperforming schools, out-of-control spending and taxation, heroin and opioid epidemic, and end the presence of sanctuary cities to make Pennsylvania work again... for all our families.
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