Local officials speak at Trump rally
Speaking at the rally for former President Donald Trump was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Butler Township Commissioner Sam Zurzolo.
Zurzolo, who went on stage a few hours before Trump on Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Butler Farm Show grounds, said he shared words of support for police, especially Butler Township officers, who were at Trump’s July 13 Butler County rally. Zurzolo said Butler Township police officers played an integral role at the July rally in preventing more lives from being lost from the shooting that took place there, killing one Butler County residents and injuring Trump and two others.
“I praised my police for their work,” Zurzolo said. “A lot more lives might have been lost if it hadn’t been for them.”
Zurzolo went on stage at Trump’s rally alongside fellow Butler Township Commissioner Ed Natali, as well as Butler County Commissioners Leslie Osche and Kim Geyer. Together, they addressed the crowd of people, which Ken Laughlin, president of the Butler Farm Show board, said was estimated to be about 25,000 by the Trump campaign.
The commissioners spoke about Corey Comperatore, the Buffalo Township man who died from a gunshot wound at the July 13 rally, with Osche saying at Saturday’s rally he represented the best aspects of Butler County.
“The theme of mine was around courage and bravery,” Osche said. “I talked about him being a veteran, how we honor our veterans here, and how he was a firefighter. You can't go 5 feet in Butler County without running into someone who was or is a firefighter.”
Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo also spoke about Comperatore at the rally, saying his actions also represent Butler County well.
“Corey’s actions were a testament to Butler County union made of courage, sacrifice and unwavering love,” Longo said. “Corey exemplified the spirit of courage being a shield for his loved ones.”
Osche said the opportunity for locals to speak at the rally helped give outsiders coming in a look at what Butler County is really like.
“I think it was an amazing tribute to Corey and his family,” Osche said. “I think it did a lot to pay tribute to our county and community.”
