Letter to the editor: Kim Ward fights for community

The Tribune-Review wrote two articles on Tay Waltenbaugh announcing his candidace for state Senate (“Retired human services executive Tay Waltenbaugh to challenge Kim Ward for state Senate,” June 12, TribLIVE; “Democrat Tay Waltenbaugh announces state Senate run in Jeannette,” June 12, TribLIVE). I felt a need to tell the other side of the story.

As a former councilman in the city of Jeannette, I worked with Sen. Kim Ward, who brought millions of dollars to our struggling city. The grants were used to clean up the Monsour site as well as have the former glass plant property remediated so the Elliot Group could expand to hire another 100 new employees. Ward also helped Elliot by widening the turnpike lane so that its trucks wouldn’t have to take an 80-mile detour because of their size. Ward played a key part in landing another $600,000 grant for flood control in our city.

Ward is a fighter for our community as well as all of the other communities in the Senate’s 39th District. The difference couldn’t be clearer: Waltenbaugh brings public housing, Ward brings jobs and economic development — jobs that will help sustain a community and let it thrive.

Mark Levander

Jeannette