Mary Jo White Endorses Stroup

Senator Mary Jo White (R 21st) today announced that she is supporting Clarion mayor, John Stroup, for the Congressional vacancy created by the retirement of Congressman John Peterson. White said "While I do not normally endorse candidates in a primary, the large field of candidates and the short time available for them to get out their message makes this a difficult primary for candidates and voters." She noted that it is particularly difficult for candidates without private resources. "John Stroup has the maturity, the background and the passion to be an excellent congressman," said White. "He has an MBA and his experience in defense contracting, and in health care policy through his position on the Clarion Hospital Foundation, means that he will have a short learning curve on issues important to the district." White noted that Stroup organized a multi-county coalition to defeat the plan to toll I-80 long before there was any indication that there would be a congressional vacancy. "John Stroup is running for all the right reasons", she said, "and I hope the voters will give him a close look."