This is the first in our series highlighting the statewide row offices, looking at the contest for State Treasurer.

The state treasurer is one of three elected row officers in the commonwealth, and plays a crucial role in managing state dollars. They can serve a maximum of two four-year terms.

State revenue is deposited into the Treasury, and the office uses the money to pay bills for things like contracts and workers. The treasurer also invests state savings, and sits on the boards of Pennsylvania’s two massive public sector pension funds.

The position is commonly seen as a stepping stone for higher office; U.S. Sen Bob Casey is a former treasurer.

Republican Stacy Garrity is the incumbent and faces Democratic challenger Erin McClelland, Forward Party candidate Chris Foster, Libertarian Party candidate Nick Ciesielski and Constitution Party candidate Troy Bowman.

Stacy Garrity* (R)
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Endorsements

Pennsylvania State Treasurer since 2021
BS: Bloomsburg University; certificate from Cornell University Business Management Institute.
Residence: Athens Township, Bradford County

Issues

• Has prioritized increasing government transparency. Revamped Treasury’s transparency portal, a website where any Pennsylvanian can go online and see how their taxpayer dollars are being spent.
• Advocates for legislation to make it easier for Treasury to return property and intends to aim for another record year returning to Pennsylvanians the wealth they earned.
• Eliminate waste and hidden fees.
• Make education more affordable. Efforts earned Pennsylvania’s 529 Plan its first-ever Gold Rating from Morningstar, one of the world’s premier financial ratings firms.
• Goal-oriented and people-focused when it comes to handling the tax dollars of Pennsylvanians.
• In a second term, Stacy plans to continue her fight for a tax-deductible 401k-style retirement savings program for Pennsylvanians not currently covered by pensions or other retirement savings vehicles. Likewise, she will continue to advocate for PA Money Match, legislation designed to allow Treasury to automatically return unclaimed property to its rightful owners. And she will continue her work to expand PA Able, a savings program that allows persons with disabilities to save money without risking the loss of benefits.

Erin McClelland (D)
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Facebook | Endorsements

Substance abuse and mental health counselor; Project manager
BA: University of Pittsburgh ’97
MS: Chatham ’02
Resides: Harrison Township, Allegheny County

Issues

• Infusing labor and environmental standards while preventing human rights violations
• Strengthening contract oversight and correcting the Pennsylvana Legislature’s failure to adjust
• Ending pension privatization

Chris Foster (Forward)
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Entrepreneur, Real Estate sales associate
BA: Marist ’11
Resides: Highland Park, Pittsburgh

Issues

• Provide a transparent and efficient accounting of state financial assets and obligations.
• Implement innovative solutions to streamline processes, maximize returns on investments, and ensure that taxpayer dollars are utilized responsibly and effectively.
• Committed to enhancing financial literacy among Pennsylvanians

Nick Ciesielski (Green)
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Chair, Westmoreland County Libertarian Party
Design Engineer, L.B. Foster Company
BS: Carnegie Mellon ’14
Resides: Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County

Issues

• Privatize. Advocate for the privatization of as many government-run services as possible.
• Energize. Unlock natural resources as well as promote develop other methods of energy production, such as nuclear.
• Monetize. Promote the use of alternative assets such as gold and bitcoin, and ensure the treasury can receive and hold these assets.
• Ensure all state financial transactions and accounts are easily accessible and transparent to the public.
• I will refuse to issue new bonds.
• Advocate for the privatization of education.

Troy Bowman (Constitution)
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Information Technology
Resides: Manheim Township, Lancaster County

Issues

• The national party lists 12 policy objectives on its website, including privatizing Medicare and Social Security, eliminating “entanglement in foreign alliances” and strengthening state authority over many issues, like drug regulation and education funding.

Debates

• none scheduled

In The News

• McClelland Challenges Garrity for Pennsylvania Treasurer. (Penn Capital-Star, Oct. 18)
• Election Guide 2024: Treasurer. (Pittsburgh City Paper, Oct. 16)
• Voter Guide to Pennsylvania Treasurer Election. (WESA, Oct. 7)
• Sharp contrasts mark race between Stacy Garrity, Erin McClelland in race for PA treasurer. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Oct. 7)
• Who is Stacy Garrity, a Republican running for Pa. treasurer? (Spotlight PA, Oct. 4)
• Who is Erin McClelland, a Democrat running for Pa. treasurer? (Spotlight PA, Oct. 4)
• PA treasurer race pits pro-Trump incumbent against Democratic upstart. (Philadelphia Inquirer, Sept. 30)
• Money management quarrels take over treasurer’s race. (The Center Square, Sept. 27)
• Race to watch: Contested race for Pa. treasurer. (WHYY, Sept. 20)
• Previewing the Garrity-McClelland race for Pa. treasurer. (Erie Times-News, Sept. 17)

By The Numbers