EDITORIAL BOARD PITTSBURH POST GAZETTE

By Dennis Morrison-Wesley, Sr

EDITORIAL BOARD PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

Mr. Morrison-Wesley, another visitor to the editorial board today, said he would use the office as a bully pulpit to support or oppose issues that impact the state's investments and wouldn't hesitate to take money away from companies that leave Pennsylvania or mistreat workers.

Mr. Morrison-Wesley, 58, of Philadelphia, is among four Democrats seeking the party's nod for state treasurer. The others are: Rob McCord, a financial professional from Montgomery County; John Cordisco, Democratic chairman in Bucks County; and state Rep. Jennifer Mann of Lehigh County.

As an example of the type of activism he would be involved in as treasurer, Mr. Morrison-Wesley said if Bank of New York Mellon were to move most of its employees out of Pennsylvania to New York, he'd be inclined to remove all investments from the bank. Similarly, he would try to use the possibility of removing state funds from a major employer such as a car manufacturer is the business wasn't treating employees fairly in contract negotiations.

Mr. Morrison-Wesley said he's the most qualified candidate for treasurer because he has an investment background with Merrill Lynch and Metropolitan Life. He would push for changing state law to require the treasurer to be a certified public accountant or other financial professional.

This blog was written by Post-Gazette Staff Writer Ed Blazina.</

First published on March 4, 2008 at 6:07 pm