State Representative Candidate Visits Messiah
Timothy Mackie
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News
A Mechanicsburg attorney making his political debut in a bid for State Representative visited Messiah College last week. Republican Lowell Gates, a resident of Upper Allen Township, spoke at a Messiah College Republicans meeting on Tuesday night. He is running for the Republican nomination in Pennsylvania's 88th legislative district. If elected, Gates would represent 66,000 people in Mechanicsburg, Upper Allen, Shiremanstown and other local townships including Grantham and Messiah College.
Gates spoke informatively and extemporaneously, seeming comfortable in front of a student audience. He dressed in a disarming navy pinstripe suit without a tie. Gates arrived early to the meeting to interact with students and distribute campaign literature, which he sarcastically referred to as "propaganda."
Gates is campaigning primarily on a platform of economic reform, promising to cut taxation and clean up unnecessary government spending. He identified his five guiding political principles which he said are the central doctrines of Conservatism: lower taxes, controlled spending, smaller government, economic freedom and personal responsibility. He said that Pennsylvania has the nation's second highest property tax and fourth highest gasoline tax and that although the state's population has only grown by 3% in the last 20 years, government spending has increased by almost 80%. "How can our government honestly take half of someone's income?" he said.
Gates portrayed himself as an outsider idealist on a mission to cut down on insider corruption among the Harrisburg political elite. He described his bid for office as an effort to serve the community by giving up his time to work in legislation. He expressed dislike for "career politicians" which he views as manifestations of people being too lazy to get involved in politics. He noted that career politicians tend to increase pork-barrel spending in order to stay in office. He also said that he disapproves of national Republican leaders such as President Bush who lower taxes but increase spending and bureaucracy, causing massive budget deficits. "I'm what Republicans have always stood for" he said. "We need to position Pennsylvania to create jobs for you [students] in the future."
Gates spoke informatively and extemporaneously, seeming comfortable in front of a student audience. He dressed in a disarming navy pinstripe suit without a tie. Gates arrived early to the meeting to interact with students and distribute campaign literature, which he sarcastically referred to as "propaganda."
Gates is campaigning primarily on a platform of economic reform, promising to cut taxation and clean up unnecessary government spending. He identified his five guiding political principles which he said are the central doctrines of Conservatism: lower taxes, controlled spending, smaller government, economic freedom and personal responsibility. He said that Pennsylvania has the nation's second highest property tax and fourth highest gasoline tax and that although the state's population has only grown by 3% in the last 20 years, government spending has increased by almost 80%. "How can our government honestly take half of someone's income?" he said.
Gates portrayed himself as an outsider idealist on a mission to cut down on insider corruption among the Harrisburg political elite. He described his bid for office as an effort to serve the community by giving up his time to work in legislation. He expressed dislike for "career politicians" which he views as manifestations of people being too lazy to get involved in politics. He noted that career politicians tend to increase pork-barrel spending in order to stay in office. He also said that he disapproves of national Republican leaders such as President Bush who lower taxes but increase spending and bureaucracy, causing massive budget deficits. "I'm what Republicans have always stood for" he said. "We need to position Pennsylvania to create jobs for you [students] in the future."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Lowell Gates
posted 3/02/08 @ 3:24 PM EST
Many thanks to the students at Messiah College for allowing me to share my ideas about Pennsylvania and the 88th District. It is inspiring to see such enthusiasm coming from Messiah College. (Continued…)
Stephen conklin, jr.
posted 3/06/09 @ 7:53 AM EST
Lowell Gates is one of the biggest crooks I have ever had the displeasure of meeting. This guy embezzled 1000's of dollars from my family and when he came to represent them at the trial, he had no clue what to do. (Continued…)
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