Wolf Plays Political Games With Office Of PA Fire Commissioner

HARRISBURG — Republican Party of Pennsylvania Communications Director Megan Sweeney released the following statement regarding Tom Wolf’s decision to fire longtime Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner Ed Mann in favor of recently ousted State Senator Tim Solobay.

“If Governor Wolf is as interested in rooting out questionable government appointments as he claims he is, maybe he should start with his own choice for Fire Commissioner,” Sweeney said. “Governor Wolf spent his first week in office attacking qualified Republican government officials under the guise of good government, but he has yet to explain why he chose to get rid of decorated Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner Ed Mann in favor of a newly unemployed former State Senator.

“Why hasn’t Governor Wolf been more open and transparent about his decision to replace Fire Commissioner Ed Mann with a recently ousted Democrat State Senator in need of a job? Can Governor Tom Wolf outline the reasons why he chose to remove a veteran PA Fire Commissioner, who served under both Republican and Democrat Governors, in favor of a top political ally?

“It’s time for Governor Wolf to stop hiding his decision-making in the shadows and start coming clean with the people of Pennsylvania.”

On January 15, Governor Tom Wolf named newly ousted State Senator Tim Solobay to the position of Pennsylvania Fire Chief, replacing 11-year PA Fire Commissioner veteran Ed Mann. Solobay’s re-election to the 46th Senate District was a targeted race for Wolf’s Fresh Start campaign committee.

Governor Tom Wolf chose to suspend a number of appointments made by Governor Tom Corbett in the final days of his Administration. (Kevin Zwick, “Wolf, Senate GOP spar over recall of Corbett’s lame-duck executive nominations,” Capitolwire.com, 1/22/2014)

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