Former Philadelphia City Controller and state representative Alan Butkovitz has announced his candidacy for state treasurer in the 2024 Democratic primary.

Butkovitz, 71, served as controller from 2006-17 after serving eight terms as a state representative.

He becomes the third Democrat in the field seeking to challenge incumbent Republican Stacy Garrity for the post. State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie) and Erin McClelland from Allegheny County have also announced for the position.

“I started this campaign because I believe that Pennsylvanians deserve a treasurer that will fight for the underdog and stand up for those who have been knocked down,” he said in a statement announcing his candidacy.

“The State Treasurer ought to be positioning the Commonwealth for financial success in the present, but more importantly, the Treasurer should be protecting the long-term interests of Pennsylvanians. Stacy Garrity wastes millions of taxpayer dollars each year pursuing an extremist, far-right agenda. It’s wrong and the citizens of Pennsylvania deserve a treasurer whose only agenda is fighting for the interests of the people.”

His plan as treasurer includes negotiating policies to help seniors on Medicare and Medicaid, promoting labor rights, protecting transparency in healthcare, prudently investing state dollars in investment funds that promote Pennsylvania values of inclusion and equity, and peventing taxpayer dollars from being abused or unconstitutionally spent.

Former U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, chair of the Democratic City Committee in Philadelphia, is chairing the campaign.

A graduate of Temple, Butkovitz lives in Northeast Philadelphia with his wife Theresa. They have two children and four grandchildren.

“A lot of folks don’t have a lot,” he said, “but they have a vote, and they should have a voice.”

Garrity ousted incumbent Joe Torsella by 52,000 votes out of 6.75 million cast in 2020.

The state treasurer manages more than $150 billion in state funds while receiving taxes, paying state bills, and managing investments.