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President Trump to visit North Fayette Township

By Katie Anderson staff Writer kanderson@observer-Reporter.Com 3 min read
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President Donald Trump is coming to North Fayette Township to give a speech Jan. 18 about his tax overhaul plan and to likely show support for Republican state Rep. Rick Saccone in his Congressional run.

According to media advisories from the White House, Trump will be arriving in Air Force One at 2 p.m. at Pittsburgh International Airport and will be speaking at H&K Equipment Inc. 30 minutes later. H&K is a provider of heavy and material handling equipment to manufacturers.

Patrick Geho, Rick Saccone’s campaign manager, said while Saccone is invited to the event, Trump’s visit is not to show support for Saccone but for “official White House business to tout his tax plan and its benefits.” Geho said he’s not aware of any plans for Trump to publicly endorse Saccone.

“It’s an official event so we’re not assuming that or under any expectation of that happening,” Geho said. “We have the national spotlight because we’re the only national race going on right now.”

Saccone, a state legislator from Elizabeth, is running against Democrat Conor Lamb, a former federal prosecutor and U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Mt. Lebanon, in a special election March 13 to fill the seat of former Republican Rep. Tim Murphy, who resigned last year amid scandal involving an extramarital affair.

“We feel very comfortable about how we’re going to perform in this race and that we will be victorious on March 13,” Geho said.

Geho said the presidential visit will be a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for many people and Saccone is excited to be in attendance.

“Anytime a president comes to your area, your district, it’s a very exciting thing for many people,” he said. “Not only Rick but the district supports the President. I think he’s a very popular figure and people support not only him but what he ran on. We’re proud to have him here.”

According to an article published last week by Politico, top administration officials were expected to visit the area to assist in Saccone’s campaign as Republicans try to maintain their majority in Congress.

Dave Ball, a Peters Township councilman and vice chairman of the Washington County Republican Party, was invited to attend Trump’s speech and welcome him to the area. He also said the visit isn’t political.

“It’s an official visit to talk about his tax plan,” Ball said. “It’s not a campaign stop.”

But Ball said Trump will most likely show support for Saccone during his speech.

“I don’t know exactly how or what he’s planning to say,” Ball said. “He will support Rick and I’m sure have good things to say about him.”

Ball called Trump’s visit “wonderful” for the 18th District, which largely supported Trump’s election.

“Western Pennsylvania and this area very much supported him and we’re happy to see him,” Ball said. “I think it’s a great place for him to come.”

Republican Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan also said she was grateful for the president’s visit to the area and for the support he’s shown in the past to county commissioners across the state.

“I think it shows this is a critical seat for the president in hoping to garner enough Republican support to advance his agenda,” she said. “I think this is an area he has great interest in.”

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