Democratic Party of York County

HARRISBURG (October 25, 2012) — The York Daily Record and The Paxton Herald have both endorsed Rob Teplitz, the Democratic candidate for the open State Senate seat in the 15th district.

The York Daily Record cited Teplitz’s “attention to detail and his specificity - as well as for a strong record in the Auditor General's Office of exposing malfeasance in our state government…. He's done his homework, issuing a blizzard of detailed position papers. He understands exactly how state government works and what should be done to make it operate better. There will be no freshman learning curve for him.” The newspaper also said “he has a strong track record of ferreting out the ever-unpopular government ‘waste, fraud and abuse.’”

The Paxton Herald, Central Pennsylvania’s largest weekly newspaper, called Teplitz “a bright man who will serve the people of Dauphin County much better than his opponent.”

The York Daily Record endorsement, published in the October 25, 2012 issue, is reprinted below:

Our take: Rob Teplitz best candidate in 15th state Senate district

We're not certain at this point how much money has been spent on the race for the 15th state Senate District, but it's got to be way too much.

Add up all the mudslinging TV commercials, and the spending to win the seat being vacated by Sen. Jeff Piccola must be some sizable multiple of a state senator's salary.

The race pits an inside GOP party guy, John McNally, against an inside bureaucracy guy, Rob Teplitz, a Democrat.

Mr. McNally has served as leader of the Dauphin County Republican Party.

Mr. Teplitz is a high-ranking official in the state Auditor General's Office.

Both are lawyers.

Both are pretty sharp individuals.

Both have a firm grasp on the main issues facing this state.

Both could, without question, handle the job of a state senator.

The question - and it's a tough one - is who has the slight edge in this evenly matched race?

As a Republican in a district that has long sent a Republican to the Senate, Mr. McNally probably would get the ideological edge.

But Mr. Teplitz gets the nod here for his attention to detail and his specificity - as well as for a strong record in the Auditor General's Office ofexposing malfeasance in our state government.

When we interview candidates for state office, we ask what they plan to do when they get to Harrisburg, or what specifically they would seek to cut to balance the budget. Too often, the answer is, "I'll figure that out when I get there."

That's not good enough - and that's not the approach Mr. Teplitz takes. He's done his homework, issuing a blizzard of detailed position papers. He understands exactly how state government works and what should be done to make it operate better. There will be no freshman learning curve for him.

More importantly, he has a strong track record of ferreting out the ever-unpopular government "waste, fraud and abuse."

That was part of his job as chief counsel and policy director for the AG's office.

And his efforts have helped bring to light waste in our very own community. Remember stories about items the York city school district bought with federal grant money but couldn't find a way to put to use - Hersheypark tickets, hula hoops, Wii game systems that were just put in storage?

Mr. Teplitz was involved in uncovering that waste.

And it's just one example of the work he's done to bring to light - and put an end to - wasteful spending in this state.

Actually, he would make an excellent auditor general to succeed the departing Jack Wagner.

But he's running for state Senate, and his record in the AG's office, combined with his impressive, detailed positions on issues, should earn him what will, unfortunately, turn out to be a very expensive state Senate seat.

P.S.: Alvin Q. Taylor is running a write-in campaign for this seat, but he is just not a credible alternative to the two excellent candidates on the ballot.

The Paxton Herald endorsement, published in the October 24, 2012 issue, is reprinted below:

These Candidates Deserve Your Vote! They Will Best Represent You!

Rob Teplitz for State Senator

Rob Teplitz has worked for several years as a Consumer Advocate in the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General.

Rob knows what he’s doing, and has all the right motives!

It is time that we take POLITICS OUT of the office of State Senator in Dauphin County!

Teplitz is a bright man who will serve the people of Dauphin County much better than his opponent. (Teplitz’s opponent is a politician and former Chairman of the Dauphin County Republican Party.)

Rob Teplitz is the Chief Counsel and Policy Director at the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General. He has spent most of his career working with Bob Casey and Jack Wagner to protect Pennsylvanians’ hard-earned tax dollars and make government programs work better. In the state Senate, Teplitz will focus on creating jobs, strengthening our schools, keeping taxes as low as possible, and bringing fundamental reforms to state government.

Teplitz, age 41, is a lifelong Central Pennsylvanian and an honors graduate of Central Dauphin High School, Franklin & Marshall College, and Cornell Law School. He grew up in Dauphin County’s Lower Paxton Township and currently lives in Susquehanna Township with his wife Randi and their two sons.

Teplitz has built the broadest base of support of any candidate in the race. Announced endorsements include the following organizations and/or their affiliated political action committees: Pennsylvania AFL-CIO; Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters; Pennsylvania State Legislative Board of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen; Education Voters Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania State Education Association; American Federation of Teachers-Pennsylvania; Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties; Temple Association of University Professionals; Service Employees International Union; Central Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council; Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association; Progressive Majority; Democracy for America; Equality Pennsylvania; Capital Region Stonewall Democrats; Humane PA; Planned Parenthood; Pennsylvania National Organization for Women; Sierra Club; Clean Water Action; Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania; and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

The 15th senatorial district includes most of Dauphin County (from Halifax south) and the following municipalities in northern York County: Conewago, Newberry, Goldsboro, Lewisberry, and York Haven.