By Jessica Kenley, Monarch Media

COUDERSPORT, PA — A crowd of about thirty gathered in the heart of Potter County this week at the local Cream n’ Sugar–owned by Abigail and Commissioner Robert Rossman–as State Treasurer Stacy Garrity visited Coudersport, launching what supporters called the “kickoff” to her 2026 campaign for Governor of Pennsylvania.

The gathering, held in this staunchly Republican region known as God’s Country, was abuzz with anticipation for Garrity’s arrival—and her vision for both rural and statewide issues. Locals, party officials, and grassroots organizers mingled in the community-hall warmth, joined by the media.

“Stacy’s visit here is a really big deal,” remarked Don Kudrick, Potter County Republican Chair. “This is the start of the 2026 campaign for governor and we’re honored she’s doing it right here, in the county seat.” Kudrick captured the bullish local sentiment, noting, “It’s the heartbeat of rural Pennsylvania–people here feel left out of Harrisburg politics. So when a candidate shows up, it matters.”

Garrity soon made her entrance, welcoming applause. She began by offering thanks: “Thank you all so much for coming out to see me, especially on a rainy day. I really appreciate Don and Kim [Kudrick] for putting this together. The cookies—what a surprise! I absolutely love them, and that’s the only kind of cookie I like.”

Giving the crowd a glimpse into her biography, Garrity shared, “This is my first political office. Thirty years in the United States Army Reserve… Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom.” She added, “Serving was and is the honor of my lifetime, and I truly mean that. But now, every day that I get to wake up and serve hardworking Pennsylvanians is truly a blessing.”

Garrity spoke candidly about the uphill battle of her election as Treasurer. “When I ran in 2020, everybody said, ‘You have a great resume, but you can’t win.’ Somebody from a rural county hadn’t won a statewide in over 40 years.” She recalled, “We were outspent 11 to 1. But we won—not by a lot, but we won. It was fantastic.”

The crowd responded warmly to Garrity’s focus on economic and educational issues that resonate in rural counties. She emphasized, “We have the hardest-working people, world class industries, and abundant natural resources… If we just unleashed our energy responsibly, we’d create billions in jobs and opportunity.”

Touching on hot-button local topics, Garrity was direct: “The budget situation showed we really need a leader. We’re 38th in the economy, 39th in education, 41st overall. We rank 12th for highest regulation. We don’t have to be mediocre!”

Residents jumped in with pointed questions on property taxes, crime, and rural healthcare. On the subject of education taxes, Garrity responded, “Capping property tax at age 65 is a good starting point. I agree—everywhere I go, people talk about property tax. Seniors can’t afford to stay in their homes—that can’t be right.”

Healthcare and addiction also dominated the Q&A. One question from the media was: “We have a lot of drug abuse and poverty, they go hand in hand. When parents get incarcerated, how do families get by?” Garrity sympathized, “We have a mental health crisis… we have to address that. We have to make sure addicts get treatment that really works… The best way out is to bring opportunities into our rural communities.”

Business and infrastructure were not left out. A local business owner commented on energy needs: “Why are our electricity costs so high, and why aren’t data centers coming here?” Garrity agreed, “Pennsylvania has the sixth or seventh highest electricity increases in the nation. We need deregulation and to make it easier to do business here.”

Environmental concerns received attention, too. One resident asked about solar installations damaging local forests: “People come here for the beauty and the natural landscape. How do we protect it?” Garrity reflected, “We put so much money into alternative energy, but it only raised rates. I think the emphasis now is natural gas and nuclear. My favorite place to snowmobile is Potter County—I want to protect it, too.”

The gathering closed on a note of unity and gratitude, as Garrity promised to return and work for local interests. “With your help, we can turn Pennsylvania around. Thank you all for keeping rural voices loud and clear.”

As the meeting concluded, residents lingered to share stories, pass around cookies, and snap photos—a fitting end to a night of engagement and a hopeful start to Garrity’s campaign in God’s Country, Pennsyvania.