Gov. candidate Dave White speaks in Cranberry
CRANBERRY TWP — Dave White, a Republican candidate for governor from Delaware County, visited Primanti Bros. Monday night to speak with voters about his qualifications and goals for the job.
During the meet-and-greet, which was attended by about 50 people, White said his business experience and blue-collar background make him a candidate who can garner votes from Democratic Pennsylvanians as well as Republicans.
“I think we need a business guy in Harrisburg,” he said. “We need enthusiasm, we need to be a cheerleader. We’ve got a great state. We need to be able to sell this state to get businesses into the state.”
White emphasized his education’s role in his career and life, saying he graduated high school as a product of a vocational-technical school and began work as a steamfitter soon after graduating.
White founded mechanical systems company DWD Mechanical Contractor Inc. in 2005 in Morton, Pa., according to his campaign website.
White was also on Delaware County Council from 2012 to 2017.
He said he wants to put more emphasis on vocational and technical education in the state, and advocates more parental involvement in schools.
“On day one I will sign an executive order (that) there will not be any (Critical-Race Theory taught) in our schools ever again,” White said. “I also want to expand vocational education to any child who wants it in Pennsylvania.”
White said after his speech that he also wants to reform property taxes in the state.
White said he wants to improve energy production in the state through drilling. He said he will promote Marcellus shale and other energy production methods that will keep jobs in-state.
“I am all about drilling and getting us energy independent again in Pennsylvania,” White said. “I want to put pipeline across the Turnpike, in the rights of ways, in the northeast extension, along the interstate, so we can transport that product in a pipeline.”
According to White, unions have endorsed him because of his background as a union steamfitter. He said he is the first Republican endorsed by Latrobe’s steamfitters union.
White also said he is pro-life, and promotes pro-life values because of his adult son. He said the birth of his son, who is “profoundly disabled,” taught him that every child needs to be cared for, which is what planted him firmly in the pro-life camp.
Additionally, he said he stands for “election integrity” and opposes the use of no-excuse mail-in ballots in future elections.
“We will not have no-excuse mail-in ballots; I think that has been a disaster,” White said. “In 2019, we had an election everybody had faith in, and in 2020 we didn’t. I want to get that confidence back.”
Brent and Cindy Hilderbrand of Chicora attended the event wearing shirts endorsing White. They said they met him about six months ago.
“We wanted to show our support,” Cindy Hilderbrand said. “We met him at an event and thought he was really good.”
Brent Hilderbrand also said White’s background as a trade worker and business owner gives him “common sense” that could make him a good governor.
“He has that blue-collar common sense we are missing right now,” he said. “He’s just a good guy, downright good class and successful.”
In his speech, White implored Democrats in attendance to go online and shift their voter registration to Republican in order to vote for him in the primary election. He said he has faith he would win the General Election if he wins the primary.
“We need the Democrats, we need the independents,” White said. “I’m the only one who can bring them in, and I’m doing it already — they are endorsing me.”
