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Stacy Garrity

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Stacy Garrity
Garrity in 2024
79th Treasurer of Pennsylvania
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 19, 2021
GovernorTom Wolf
Josh Shapiro
Preceded byJoe Torsella
Personal details
BornAthens, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseDaniel Gizzi
EducationBloomsburg University (BA)
Military service
Branch/service
Years of service1986–2016
RankColonel
Battles/wars
Awards

Stacy L. Garrity is an American politician, businesswoman, and soldier. She is currently serving as Pennsylvania Treasurer as a Republican, a position to which she was elected in 2020. She previously served in the United States Army Reserve for 30 years and through three deployments during the Gulf War and Iraq War, where she was called "The Angel of the Desert" by other US military officers.[1][2][3] She left the Army Reserve in 2016 at the rank of colonel. Garrity worked at Global Tungsten & Powders Corp. from 1987 to 2021, where she reached the level of Vice President. In 2019, Garrity entered politics and ran for the Republican nomination for a special election in Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, but lost to Fred Keller, who went on to win in the general election.[4]

In 2020, Garrity ran for Pennsylvania Treasurer against incumbent Democrat Joe Torsella, winning the Republican nomination unopposed. She defeated Torsella in the general election in an upset, having been outraised financially and consistently down in the polls.[5] Garrity went on to win reelection in 2024, defeating Democrat challenger Erin McClelland.

Early life and education

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Garrity is a native of Athens, Pennsylvania, in Bradford County.[6] She attended Sayre Area High School in Sayre, Pennsylvania and later graduated from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania with a degree in finance and economics, later earning a certificate from the Cornell University Business Management Institute.[7]

Military career

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Garrity while in the US Army.

Garrity served in the US Army Reserve from 1986 to 2016, reaching a final rank of colonel. While in the Army Reserve, Garrity acted as a Military Police officer.[8] Garrity was deployed three times during her military career: in 1991 for Operation Desert Storm, and in 2003–2004 as well as 2008–2009 for the Iraq War.[9]

Garrity was stationed at Camp Bucca in southern Iraq during the Iraq War. She worked to process detainees, manage family visitations, and act as a Red Cross liaison.[1][10] It was here Garrity obtained the nickname "The Angel of the Desert" or "The Angel of Camp Bucca" for her affection when dealing with the prisoners housed at the camp.[1][3] Garrity earned two Bronze Stars and the Legion of Merit before retiring in 2016.[2][6]

Business career

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Garrity worked at Global Tungsten & Powders Corp. (GTP) from 1987 to 2021.[11] GTP is a producer of tungsten and metallurgic products based in Pennsylvania. Before leaving GTP to become Pennsylvania Treasurer, Garrity's final position at the company was Vice President for Government Affairs and Industry Liaison.[11] In 2018, while Garrity managed government affairs for Global Tungsten & Powders, she successfully lobbied Congress to ban the US military from purchasing any tungsten from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.[12]

In 2017, Global Tungsten & Powders was sued in federal court by a competitor company, Tungsten Heavy Powder and Parts, for defamation.[13] Tungsten Heavy Powder and Parts alleged that Garrity spread defamatory statements about them at an industry event.[13] The claims made by Tungsten Heavy Powder and Parts were dismissed in a court of law, and Tungsten Heavy Powder and Parts was ordered to pay over $5 million in damages.[14]

Political career

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Congressional campaign

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In 2019, Garrity ran for the Republican nomination in a special election for Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional district after the resignation of incumbent Tom Marino.[15] Garrity lost the nomination to state Representative Fred Keller, who was supported by President Donald Trump and eventually won the seat.[3] After losing the Congressional nomination, Garrity pursued the 2020 race for Treasurer.[16]

Pennsylvania Treasurer

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Election

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Main article: 2020 Pennsylvania State Treasurer election

Garrity challenged incumbent Democrat Joe Torsella for Pennsylvania Treasurer in January 2020,[4] winning the Republican nomination unopposed in June. Garrity charged that Torsella was mainly interested in the office to boost his profile and run for higher office, such as the state's governorship. She criticized Torsella's management of the office and alleged a lack of transparency, citing a D− rating given by the Public Interest Research Group in 2019.[17]

On November 10, 2020, a week after election day, Torsella called Garrity to concede the race, with Garrity leading by 78,000 votes at the time of his concession. It was the first time a Republican had unseated an incumbent Democrat for a statewide office in Pennsylvania since 1994.[5]

Tenure

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Garrity (center) with Dan Meuser and Matt Cartwright in 2023.

In May 2021, Garrity joined a critical letter sent by several Republican state treasurers to the Biden administration, charging that the administration was inappropriately encouraging financial institutions to stop supporting fossil fuels.[18] The letter said that the government should not "bully corporations into curtailing legal activities," but it also threatened that the state governments represented by the signatory officials may divest their state funds from any banks that no longer support fossil fuel projects.[18] Garrity's participation in this letter was criticized by an editorial in the Hazelton Standard-Speaker.[19]

In honor of National College Savings Day in 2021, Garrity had the Pennsylvania Treasury offer $100 to families that opened 529 college savings plans.[20]

In 2021, in her ex-officio capacity on the board of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System, Garrity joined a group of "dissident" board members opposing the contemporary management of the pension fund's investments, arguing instead that the pension fund should invest in low-fee, public investments. After failing to dismiss the fund's managers, the dissident group of board members, including Garrity's predecessor Joe Torsella, successfully blocked an investment strategy proposed by the fund managers in September 2021.[21]

In 2022, Garrity opposed Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf's proposal to award state employees with five days vacation from work if they got vaccinated for COVID-19, claiming that it would cost the state government one-hundred million dollars.[22] The Wolf administration claimed that Garrity's cost estimate was seriously exaggerated. Pennsylvania Secretary of Administration Michael Newsome, whose position reports to the governor, estimated the cost of the vacation incentives to be $45 million.[22]

On May 6, 2022, Garrity appeared at a rally with former president Trump and 2022 U.S. Senate candidate Mehmet Oz in Greensburg, at which she endorsed Trump's false claim that he won the 2020 presidential election.[23]

On March 15, 2023, Garrity joined Pennsylvania Senator John DiSanto in introducing legislation that will automatically return unclaimed property to Pennsylvania residents.[24] Pennsylvania Money Match will authorize Treasury to automatically return single-owner property for living individuals valued up to $5,000 to the rightful owner after a thorough identification and verification process.[24]

In October 2023, Garrity announced that she had purchased $20 million in Israel Bonds for the state's investment portfolio, bringing Pennsylvania's investment in Israel Bonds to a total of $56 million.[25]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Shapiro, Ari (June 18, 2004). "The Angel of the Desert". NPR. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Iraq War Veteran Stacy Garrity announces candidacy for PA-12". Potter Leader-Enterprise. February 14, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c DiStefano, Joseph N. "'Desert Angel' Garrity: Pa.'s new treasurer pledges openness, close scrutiny of pension funds". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Republican seeks party nod to run for Pennsylvania treasurer". Associated Press. January 24, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Seidman, Andrew; Brennan, Chris (November 10, 2020). "Pa. Treasurer Joe Torsella has lost his reelection bid, in a big upset by Republican Stacy Garrity". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Stockburger, George (November 10, 2020). "Bradford County native Stacy Garrity wins PA State Treasurer race". WYOU. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  7. ^ Garcia, Isabel (November 10, 2020). "Bradford County native Stacy Garrity elected PA State Treasurer". WENY. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  8. ^ "Republican seeks party nod to run for Pennsylvania treasurer". Ellwood City Ledger. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  9. ^ "Meet Stacy". February 27, 2021. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  10. ^ Brinkley, Joel (May 6, 2003). "In Victory for Powell, Bush Names Civilian Overseer for Iraq". The New York Times. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  11. ^ a b Corp, Global Tungsten & Powders. "GTP's Vice-President Stacy Garrity elected as Pennsylvania State Treasurer". www.globaltungsten.com. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  12. ^ "Pa. state treasurer faces three challengers seeking his job". pennlive. October 30, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  13. ^ a b Malfitano, Nicholas. "Defamation lawsuit involving rival tungsten product manufacturers brought to Pennsylvania federal court". Pennsylvania Record. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  14. ^ "Southern District of California | Tungsten Heavy Powder of San Diego Agrees to Pay $5.6 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. April 29, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  15. ^ "PA12: Stacy Garrity Announces Bid for GOP Primary". Politics PA. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  16. ^ "Decorated Veteran, Businesswoman Stacy Garrity Announces State Treasurer Candidacy". January 23, 2021. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  17. ^ Maisel, Matt (October 29, 2020). "Pa. Treasury election candidates at odds over integrity, transparency of office". WPMT. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Pa. Treasurer Garrity warns banks against divesting from fossil fuel companies". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  19. ^ "Garrity banking on outdated energy sources". Hazleton Standard Speaker. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  20. ^ Walzak, Josh. "State Treasurer Encourages Families to Save for Education with PA 529 Accounts". The Courier Express. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  21. ^ DiStefano, Joseph N. "For the first time, rebels block PSERS management's investment advice at state's biggest pension fund". mcall.com. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Cost of Gov. Wolf's vaccine incentive still unclear". ABC27. February 17, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  23. ^ McGoldrick, Gillian (May 6, 2022). "Trump takes the stage in Greensburg, with a mixed review of Oz". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Harrisburg. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  24. ^ a b "Treasurer Stacy Garrity and Senator John DiSanto Announce Legislation to Automatically Return Unclaimed Property". patreasury.gov. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  25. ^ "Treasurer Stacy Garrity's decision to invest more Pa. money in Israel Bonds draws protest, Democratic opposition". WHYY. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
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Party political offices
Preceded by
Otto Voit III
 Republican nominee for Treasurer of Pennsylvania
2020, 2024 		Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by Treasurer of Pennsylvania
2021–present 		Incumbent
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