THE DAILY COLLEGIAN
Sestak stresses accountability
Series note: This is the sec
ond installment in a three-part
series on candidates in
Pennsylvania's midterm elec
tions.
By Katrina Wehr
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Joe Sestak served 31 years in
the U.S. Navy before he returned
to serve the citizens of
Pennsylvania. Now, the three-star
admiral is taking those lessons to
Washington as Pennsylvania's
Democratic candidate for the
United States Senate.
Sestak graduated from the
United States Naval Academy,
Class of 1974, with a degree in
American political systems. His
father also an alumnus of the
academy inspired his initial
interest in politics, he said, but it
wasn't until after his daughter
Alex underwent brain cancer
treatment that he knew he wanted
to enter public service.
Their daughter's diagnosis was
Senate candidate Toomey motivated by experience
By Katrina Wehr
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
As a small business owner frustrat
ed by taxes on Pennsylvania's small
businesses, Pat Toomey entered poli
tics when he decided he had enough.
But his interest in politics really
began when Toomey was in college
and Ronald Reagan was president of
the United States.
"Ronald Reagan's optimism in
America and his belief in American
exceptionalism have greatly inspired
me," lbomey said.
In the 19905, Toomey volunteered
his time helping out with a congres
sional race in Lehigh Valley, and even
tually became the representative to
the U.S. Congress in the 15th district.
in which Lehigh Valley is located.
Toomey served in that position for
three terms, a limit he imposed on
himself, said former Pennsylvania
Governor Tom Ridge, who endorsed
Toomey in State College in
September. That self-imposed term
limit, and Toomey's follow-through
with it, were qualities Ridge said he
admired in the Republican Senate
candidate.
Before becoming the 15th congres
sional district representative, Toomey
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the candidates
something Sestak's wife, Susan
Clark-Sestak, spoke of when she
visited campus in September. At
four years old, their daughter was
given only three to nine months to
live. Alex underwent surgeries,
chemotherapy and radiation treat
ments.
Her husband's health care from
the Navy covered all of it, Clark-
Sestak said, and he wanted to
make sure other families had that
kind of security, too.
"I went down to Congress
because I felt it was very impor
tant that people had the same
health care opportunity that I did
with the Navy," Sestak said.
lbday, Sestak spends his spare
time cherishing every moment he
has with his daughter from
camping and seeing movies to rid
ing in wooden go-karts, he said.
And when it comes to his job, he
also served on the Allentown
Government Committee from 1994 to
1996.
Toomey said his motivation comes
from the people he represents.
Campaigning across the state and lis
tening to the concerns of the resi
dents of Pennsylvania keeps him
focused on his work, he said.
"Meeting people all across
Pennsylvania who work hard to make
a better life for themselves and their
children is a great motivator," Toomey
said.
And when he's not on the campaign
trail, Toomey likes to play soccer and
baseball with his children and read
with them. Landscaping is also a
hobby he enjoys.
Through the 2010 general election
season, Toomey has received numer
ous endorsements from a variety of
political figures. In addition to Ridge,
former Harrisburg mayor Stephen
Reed and former Navy Secretary
John Lehman have announced their
support for Toomey.
When Ridge announced his
endorsement for Toomey, Ridge
emphasized that Toomey's back
ground in small business ownership
would be a refreshing change for
Washington, and Toomey said he
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said he takes a practical approach.
Previously Pennsylvania's sev
enth congressional district repre
sentative, Sestak said investing in
a skilled workforce by putting
money into education and health
care will drive the nation forward.
He said he is willing to lose his job
to do what is necessary for work
ing families in Pennsylvania.
But it was during that time in
the Navy that Sestak gained
insight into what people really
need from those who represent
them.
"In the Navy you learn that
you're not just responsible, but
accountable for what occurs," he
said.
To demonstrate the level of
accountability he's talking about,
Sestak talked about the proce
dures men and women who serve
in the Navy follow when planes
are preparing for takeoff.
The plane is attached to a cata
pult that launches it into the air, he
said. But if for some reason the
pilots are called off, a specific
chain of events takes place. The
intends to put that experience to good
use.
"That's the perspective I'm going to
bring," he said. "That of a small
business owner looking to create
jobs."
Toomey said he thinks college stu
dents are concerned about the high
unemployment rate they face upon
graduation and entrance into the job
market.
In Pennsylvania, the unemploy
ment rate is currently 9.3 percent,
according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, and the national unemploy
ment rate is even higher, at 9.6 per
cent.
"We have to create jobs so that our
college graduates can find the oppor
tunities they deserve when they enter
the work force," Toomey said.
As he reflects on the prosperity he
experienced during the Reagan
administration. Toomey is optimistic
he can bring that success to the cur
rent generation of young people.
"I want to make sure that my chil
dren and all future generations will
have the same opportunities for suc
cess and happiness that I was fortu
nate to enjoy," Toomey said.
To e-mail reporter: kmws34o@psu.edu
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Senate hopeful Joe Sestak gives June Nevin, of Lock Haven, a kiss on
the cheek during a parade at the Grange Fair in Centre Hall on Sept. 2.
pilots do not turn off the engines of until those pilots are safely on the
the plane until they are given a deck, because if he or she made a
special signal that means they mistake and those pilots go flying,
have been disconnected from the the person responsible for
catapult. unhooking them is going down,
Once someone on the deck has too
unhooked the plane, that person "It's like that person is saying,
stands in front of it and gives the 'Trust me, lam responsible. lam
signal to let the pilots know they accountable,"' Sestak said.
can turn off the engines. "Imagine a Senate where sena-
But that person doesn't just tors feel that accountable."
walk away, Sestak said. That per
son stands in front of the plane
Ann Foster/Associated Press
U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey speaks on Oct. 12.
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FRIDAY, OCT. 15, 2010 I 3
To e-mail reporter: kmws34o@psu.edu
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