Jo Ellen Litz
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Jo Ellen Litz
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People Above Politics Taking Action, Getting Results. 2501 Cumberland St., Lebanon PA 17042 274-1175 If you demand open government, drop me a note to receive email alerts informing you of meeting highlights that let you know how commissioners vote on issues. Litz@mbcomp.com Team Litz: Honorary Chair: Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll Chair: Jeff Werner Treasurer: Richelle Whitman
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Jo Ellen Litz announces her candidacy for the office of county commissioner 2007 Honorary Chairwoman Catherine Baker Knoll; Chairman Jeff Werner; Treasurer Richelle Whitman 2003 I chose this wheel and this location to announce my candidacy for the office of Lebanon county commissioner because they represent a vision I share with many who are in attendance today. To illustrate, let’s imagine the hub in the center represents the Union Canal Tunnel, which ironically is near the center of the County of Lebanon. The spokes in turn represent paths or links to other historical or recreational areas of the County—the Rail Trail and Governor Dick in the south, Swatara State Park and the Appalachian Trail in the north, east to the Tulpehocken trail, and west to the Swatara Water Trail, then Dauphin County Greenway and Horseshoe Trail where you'll probably smell the Hershey chocolate. With so many volunteers in each of these organizations working together, eventually this trail system may be cohesively interconnected with the hub, and the wheel can move forward—providing passive recreation for our citizens and a corridor for animals to travel--away from motorized vehicles. Likewise, the hub can represent county government, and the spokes can represent townships, boroughs, and the City of Lebanon; services found in departments like Cedar Haven, Emergency Management, Renova Center, and Planning; farmers; fire companies; volunteer groups like the Lebanon Valley Conservancy, Friends of the Rexmont Dam, Quittapahilla and Swatara Creek Watershed Associations; the Humane Society; or SARCC. You see, the County acts as a conduit for many of these groups to receive funds or grants from Pennsylvania and the federal government. Curb cuts, liquid fuels funds, farmland preservation, the fire school, a comprehensive plan, and restoration of the north portal here at the Union Canal Tunnel are examples. The point is that our sense of community, our quality of life, is the responsibility of us all. It takes a team effort. On the invitation for today’s announcement, did you notice the "T" that the human chain formed? T for Team--with volunteers and friends of the Union Canal working together with township supervisors, county commissioners and state legislators. We all want open space, recreation, good schools, secure jobs, fair taxes, and safe streets. Yes, the County is also the hub that has to work closely with the courts to help keep our streets safe. This includes judges, the district attorney, public defender, sheriff, detectives, and the county prison to oversee punishment of convicted offenders. Commissioners also have to work for the people of Lebanon County by working closely with state legislators, the governor, US congressman, and US senators who have the power to decide how our tax dollars are allocated. There is no room for worrying about who is in what party or who gets credit for what. We have to put people above politics. The fact that here today are people of both parties is proof that we can work together as a team. To digress for one minute, I was recycling my newspapers this past Saturday and a gentleman came over to me and asked what a man with little money can do to help in my campaign. I reminded him that once inside the voting booth, everyone is equal. It doesn’t matter who is rich or who is poor. His vote is the most important contribution he can make. Beyond that, if he can talk good about this effort, he can become a spoke from the hub and convince ten of his friends to vote for me too. He can tell his friends and neighbors that a vote for Jo Ellen Litz is a vote to put full-time leadership and experience into the driver’s seat. That experience includes both business experience and experience as a county commissioner. And here’s my blueprint for leadership for the next four years. This action plan will make Lebanon County the best place to live, work, raise our children, and enjoy retirement. With your help, I will be
We need the best executive partnership we can get in the County’s front offices. And anyone who is asking for the trust and confidence of the voters ought to believe that he or she has a real contribution to make and genuine leadership to offer. Again, there’s no room to play games or for partisan bickering. Our charge is to serve the people of Lebanon County. I look forward to the opportunity to find long-term solutions to the challenges facing Lebanon County. I will use the office of County Commissioner to bring together the best minds and the best experience in the County to work to find realistic solutions to any problems we may face. Make no mistake about it. I love Lebanon, and my loyalties are to the people of Lebanon County. It will be a team effort to move our wheel forward. Thank you and God bless each one of you who will carry forth the message of our Team approach to running county government. Let's roll!
Paid by Team Litz, Jeffrey Werner, Chairman . Richelle Whitman, Treasurer #### |
