MAYOR TIM KEARNEY CALLS ON REPUBLICAN TOM MCGARRIGLE TO RETURN ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS DONATIONS
Kearney, Democratic Nominee for 26th Senate District, Challenges Republican McGarrigle to Stand With Residents Against Mariner East 2 Following Western PA Explosion
Swarthmore, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018 — Citing the recent explosion of a newly operational gas pipeline in Pennsylvania, Swarthmore Mayor Tim Kearney on Thursday called on Republican Tom McGarrigle to return more than $11,000 in campaign donations he’s received from Energy Transfer Partners (ETP), the Texas-based conglomerate that is currently building the highly controversial Mariner East 2 pipeline through Delaware and Chester counties.
Mayor Kearney said McGarrigle’s recent statement calling for a halt to Mariner East 2 construction following the Revolution Pipeline explosion in Beaver County — also built and operated by Energy Transfer Partners — was not credible unless matched by real action, namely, returning the $11,000 McGarrigle has taken from ETP.
“It is a miracle that the Beaver County explosion occurred in a sparsely populated area and that no one was hurt or killed. But, it should not have to take the loss of life for Republican Tom McGarrigle to change his tune on Mariner East 2,” Mayor Kearney said. “Tom McGarrigle has been the biggest cheerleader for Mariner East 2 and Sunoco and its parent company, ETP, despite a well-documented history of spills, leaks, sinkholes, and secrecy in order to fast-track this project over residents’ well-founded fears and concerns.”
Outrage over the General Assembly’s irresponsible stewardship of Pennsylvania’s natural resources motivated Mayor Kearney to run to defeat McGarrigle in the 26th Senate District, which spans Delaware and Chester counties. If elected, Mayor Kearney will fight to empower the state Department of Environmental Protection with sufficient resources to keep the public safe, and will encourage investment and growth in clean energy to create jobs and reduce the Commonwealth’s dependency on fossil fuels.
“Pennsylvania taxpayers should not have to crowdfund their own risk assessment studies of Mariner East 2, but we have been forced to do so because of inaction by area Republicans like Tom McGarrigle. I don’t know what’s worse: Suddenly sharing our concerns because people could have been killed in the Beaver County explosion, or because campaign polls shows how deeply unpopular Mariner East 2 is with voters. The pipeline’s proximity to residential areas and an elementary school should never have been approved in the first place. Tom McGarrigle needs to put his money where his mouth is: Return the $11,000 you took from Energy Transfer Partners today.”
Mayor Kearney has taken the Sunrise Movement pledge to refuse donations from fossil fuel companies. An architect and small business owner, Mayor Kearney has been a proven and dedicated proponent of sustainability for more than 30 years — earning his Senate campaign the endorsement of Conservation Voters of PA, the largest environmental advocacy organization in the Commonwealth.
Mayor Tim Kearney lives in Swarthmore Borough with his wife, Claudia, who is also his boss and partner in their architecture business. They have two grown children who both attended public schools in Delaware County. The 26th District includes a large part of Delaware County (Aldan, Clifton Heights, East Lansdowne, Glenolden, Marple Township, Media, Millbourne, Morton, Newtown Township, Prospect Park, Ridley Park, Ridley Township, Rutledge, Springfield Township, Swarthmore, Tinicum Township, Upper Darby Township, Upper Providence Township) and a small part of Chester County (Easttown Township, Willistown Township).
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