‘He is a coward:’ Stelson hits Perry for dodging constituents

Anticipating a general election run against GOP Rep. Scott Perry this fall, Janelle Stelson laid out an anti-corruption agenda.

Who said anything about primaries?

With broad support from the Democratic Party within Pennsylvania, and around the country, former WGAL anchor Janelle Stelson is looking forward to her general election rematch against US House Rep. Scott Perry (R-York) in this year’s midterm election. 

Stelson, flanked by dozens of supporters and union members, went on the offensive against Perry while rolling out her campaign’s anti-corruption agenda at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 229 union hall in York County on Tuesday. 

“Career politicians like Scott Perry have stopped listening. He shows what he thinks of us, the taxpayers, by refusing to hold an in-person town hall since 2019,” Stelson said. “An in-person town hall, he has not held since 2019 because he is a coward.”

During her rollout, Stelson called for a litany of reforms that include reigning in prediction market corruption; banning members of Congress and their family members from trading stocks; passing constitutional amendments to overturn Citizens United; curbing a president’s pardoning power; and establishing age limits for members in Congress. 

“Our campaign is not about a party. It’s not about a side,” Stelson said. “It is about ending the culture in Washington where politicians stay too long, get too comfortable, and begin serving the system instead of the constituents.”

Matthew Miller, a 20-year member with Operating Engineers Local 542, offered insight as to why he and other union members are looking to support Stelson in this year’s election.  

“ We need a strong union supporter that can unseat Scott Perry and just maintain the focus on labor and good working jobs,” Miller said in an interview. “ I think Janelle nailed it with him being a coward. [Perry] doesn’t address the people. He doesn’t listen to what the issues are.”

Stelson is running against Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas in the upcoming primary, but the former news anchor glossed over any notion of debating the first-term commissioner prior to the May Democratic primary. 

“ I left the job that I really enjoyed to take on Scott Perry, and I look forward to debating him,” Stelson told reporters. “We’re backed by Gov. Shapiro, all of the state lawmakers, both the House and Senate. We’re backed by the teachers, the machinists, the electrical workers, the folks that are here today, and that’s what matters to me.” 

Douglas fired back at Stelson’s snub, comparing it to Perry skipping town halls. 

“Suggesting the Democratic primary can just be ignored is pretty entitled,” Douglas said in a statement. “We’re both on the ballot now, and no amount of endorsements shields you from stepping on a stage and debating. That’s the same logic Scott Perry uses to duck town halls.”