Aument’s shining moment

Jerry Policoff is the rare candidate who cares not a fig for conventional wisdom.

A never-say-die progressive, Policoff still advocates for a Canadian-style health system even though the rest of the nation has a case of buyer’s remorse over just the modest reforms achieved by the Obama administration.

And now, as the Democratic candidate trying to succeed Rep. Katie True in a state House district so reliably red no Democrat has run since 2004, Policoff thinks he has a chance.

“I truly feel I can win … ,” Policoff told me in an e-mail after his debate last week with Republican Ryan Aument. “This is not a slam dunk for Aument.”

Well, optimism has its place, and if Policoff could bottle his, he’d make a mint. But it became clear at the debate that Policoff doesn’t just have the challenge of overcoming the GOP’s 3-to-2 voter advantage in the suburbs west of Lancaster. He also is up against a very good candidate.

At the League of Women Voters’ event at Centerville Middle School, Policoff, a retired advertising executive, stood up admirably for the issues liberals care about. But it was Aument, 33, who showed he’s for real.

Maybe my assessment was tainted by low expectations. Having never met Aument, I pictured him either as a na誰f or a glad-handing egotist who gets by with a nice smile and a gift for making bromides sound original. Were my prejudices ever off base. Aument came across as an articulate, forthright advocate of pro-business, limited-government views. He showed a command of facts, an ability to think on his feet and an ease in front of an audience.

While green, Aument came prepared for the debate, and his skillful job throughout suggested to me that he’ll not only be ready for the Legislature on Day 1, but that he could become a player.

With his drive and talent, Aument’s going to be a thorn in the side of Democrats in Harrisburg. He’s also, I think, going to give other Lancaster County Republican office holders with big ambitions a reason to look over their shoulders.

Until now, Aument’s been a GOP insider content to fly under the radar. The highlight of his resume is combat in Iraq. It was a couple of years after returning home in 2003 that the sandy-haired, baby-faced Solanco grad threw himself into politics in a mostly behind-the-scenes, foot-soldier role.

But his earnest work on behalf of other Republicans led in 2007 to Aument being rewarded with a row office in the court house. Few elected offices are more lackluster than clerk of courts, but Aument latched onto it as a stepping stone. And when True announced she was retiring, he was ready.

To succeed True, Aument had to first convince two-thirds of the Republican committee that he was the right guy — no easy task given that he had only recently moved from Quarryville, where he was a borough council member until 2008.

For Aument, it was lose the committee’s endorsement and game over.

But Aument must have done his homework because the 41st District’s 60-plus GOP committee members needed only two rounds of balloting to endorse him over a two-term, 48-year-old East Hempfield Township supervisor.

The endorsement cleared the field of opposition in the primary and all but crowned Aument — Policoff’s kamikaze campaign notwithstanding — as True’s successor.

At the debate Aument made clear he would not term limit himself.

“From the time I get (to Harrisburg) to the time I leave,” he said, “I have no interest, on your behalf, of being a lame duck.”

I believe him.

jhawkes@lnpnews.com

Thank You,
The LancasterOnline.com Team

Aument Campaign Team Increases by One
State Representative candidate Ryan Aument announces birth of son, John David

LANCASTER COUNTY — Ryan Aument, the Republican candidate for State Representative in the 41st District, and his wife, Kate, today announced the birth of their first child, a son named John David. John David was named in honor of his grandfathers.

John David was born at Women and Babies Hospital, an affiliate of Lancaster General, on Thursday, September 23, at 12:40 p.m. He was 20 and ¼ inches long and weighed 8 pounds 4 ounces.

“Kate and I are exhilarated about being new parents and thankful for the healthy arrival of Jack,” said Aument. “We would especially like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Women and Babies for their extraordinary support and care.”

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HARRISBURG, PA – ChamberPAC, the political arm of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, announced its endorsement of Ryan Aument in Lancaster County’s 41st House District.

Aument is currently the Clerk of Courts for Lancaster County and served in the past as chief of staff for state Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, and in the private sector. Aument will face Democrat Gerald Policoff in the November general election.

“Businesses and residents of the 41st District will be well-served by Aument,” PA Chamber President Floyd Warner said. “Serving as State Representative would be would be a natural extension of his current service to the people of Lancaster County, and he has demonstrated that he understands what needs to be done to help create jobs and spark economic growth in our state. “

Warner said he was encouraged by Aument’s call for commonsense reform of the state’s Workers’ Compensation insurance system – one of the most expensive in the nation – in a manner that will balance the needs of employers and employees.

“With an economy still in crisis, it is essential to have someone in office who understands what it will take to move Pennsylvania forward,” Warner said.

“For these reasons, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry wholeheartedly supports Aument’s state House candidacy. Lancaster County residents will benefit from such a well-rounded candidate.”

CONTACT: Lesley Smith, communications executive, PA Chamber of Business and Industry, 717 720-5446.

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The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state’s largest broad-based business association. Its membership comprises businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of Business™. More information is available on the PA Chamber’s website at www.pachamber.org.

The 41st District came open upon the retirement of Representative Katie True, who also endorsed Aument as the best choice to carry on her proven record of standing up for the people of Lancaster County.

“I am honored to have the support and endorsement of the Lancaster County Republican Party and Katie True,” said Aument.  “This is an important step on the path to victory this fall so that I can go to Harrisburg and work to put Pennsylvania back on the right path.”

Aument has focused his campaign on a simple platform:
-  Bring fiscal sanity back to state government by cutting spending and
focusing on priorities such as education, public safety and infrastructure.
- Creating jobs and sparking economic growth by getting government out
of the way of job creators and small business people.
- Making certain that state government once again belongs to the people through
reforms that ensure transparency, limit the power of special interests, and end
the perks to legislators.

“From the U.S. Army to the Lancaster County Clerk of Courts office, I have tried to build my life around serving the public,” said Aument.  “Running for State Representative is just another way for me to build upon that record.”