Harrisburg, PA (February 16, 2010) – The Pennsylvania Restaurant Association (PRA) today announced its endorsement of Tom Corbett as the Republican candidate for Governor. After hours of face to face interviews and subsequent discussion and evaluation, the Association’s Board of Directors voted to endorse Attorney General Tom Corbett in the Republican Primary.
Founded in 1937, the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association represents over 7,000 Pennsylvania restaurants and foodservice establishments across the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania’s restaurant industry plays an integral role in the state’s economy, employing more than 470,000 people and generating $16.2 billion in annual sales.
“The 2010 campaign for Governor is critically important, and the restaurant industry is playing a key role in the campaign with the Association’s endorsements of Tom Corbett in the Republican Primary” said Patrick Conway, PRA’s president & CEO. “There are restaurants in every community across the state, and we want to encourage them to step up and get directly involved in supporting the PRA-endorsed campaigns,” added Conway.
The Association’s board focused on the candidates’ positions on public policy issues, their interest in and knowledge of the restaurant industry’s legislative priorities, and an assessment of their ability to win the Republican and Democratic Primaries for Governor. “The PRA was very impressed with Tom Corbett” said Garth Weldon of The Prime Rib in Philadelphia, PRA Chairman of the Board. “Tom Corbett has an established record in public service and has what it takes to navigate our state through the difficult waters ahead,” said Weldon.
Tom Corbett was elected Pennsylvania Attorney General in 2004 and re-elected in 2008 in a decisive fashion, drawing strong bipartisan support. He received more votes than any Republican in Pennsylvania history. As Pennsylvania’s chief law enforcement officer, Corbett has created successful programs including the establishment of a Child Predator Unit to capture internet sex predators who prey on innocent children, an Elder Abuse Unit to protect our senior citizens from fraud and abuse, and a Public Corruption Unit to protect our citizens from government corruption. Before running successfully for statewide office, Corbett previously was appointed by President George H.W. Bush as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania and by Governor Tom Ridge to fill the vacancy in the Attorney General’s office in 1995. For more information, visit http://www.tomcorbettforgovernor.com/splash
