Voting in Pennsylvania

Tuesday June 9, 2015 12:01 AM
By Liam Migdail-Smith

A Muhlenberg Township man with a background in business and statewide advocacy for school districts is hoping to be the state's next fiscal watchdog.
Otto W. Voit III announced his candidacy for state treasurer in an interview with the Reading Eagle on Monday. He's seeking the GOP nomination for the seat.
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He said he's tired of seeing hard-working Pennsylvanians getting the short end of the state's financial troubles and hopes to draw on his business and finance background to right the ship.

"I said: Enough," Voit, 58, said. "Time for me to stop complaining and get into the game."

And he's putting everything on the line. He left his job as divisional president of a multinational dental products manufacturer and distributor in March to concentrate on campaigning full time.

Voters will choose the next state treasurer in the 2016 election.

Former Treasurer Rob McCord, a Montgomery County Democrat, resigned earlier this year and pleaded guilty in federal court to trying to strong-arm donations to his 2014 gubernatorial campaign from officials at two firms. Gov. Tom Wolf has nominated Montgomery County businessman Timothy A. Reese to fill in the remainder of McCord's term.

Voit said his focus now is on winning the Republican nomination. That will be decided in next April's primary election. But he said winning a statewide primary would be an uphill battle without picking up the state party's endorsement, which will be made in January.

He plans to boost his statewide profile by visiting every county before January to meet with local GOP chairs and the 342 committee people who will vote on the party's endorsement.

Voit's been a Muhlenberg School Board member for 16 years and serves as a governing board member and treasurer of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. He's also a trustee of the association's insurance trust and the investment fund that serves school districts and local government.

As treasurer, Voit said he would use his experience in public education and as a business financial chief to responsibly manage the state's money and work to reverse the state's unfavorable bond rating.

"Without fixing that, Pennsylvania can't grow," he said. "And if we can't grow, we can't create jobs."

And he said he'd take a leadership role in addressing the public pension debt by bringing both side of the debate together to brainstorm solutions. He said the key to resolving the financial crisis will be to focus on tackling the problem rather than pointing fingers or assigning blame.

Voit said his inspiration to seek public office was from his mother, Jeannine Fowler Voit, who died in 2013. He said he often turned to her for support and advice when facing challenges as a school board member.

"She believed in giving back and in public service and that's where I get it from," Voit said.

Contact Liam Migdail-Smith: 610-371-5022 or lsmith@readingeagle.com.

Read more at: http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/otto-w-voit-iii-says-hes-running-for-state-treasurer