Wollyung Defends City Workers, Makes Case for Mayor in Campaign Speech

Pottsville’s Democratic mayoral candidate is pushing back against what he says are unfair social media attacks on city employees, telling supporters he “just can’t stand for” them anymore.

Speaking Friday at the City Democrats’ Annual Summer Picnic at Barefield Outdoor Recreation Complex, Councilman Andy Wollyung said that when critics target him online, they’re really attacking the people who keep the city running.

“These people work for us for the city. So when these other people are out there blaming us as councilmen that only oversee the city once a month and say it’s our fault, really they’re blaming these hard-working people and that’s what I can’t stand for. That’s what I can’t stand about this. It’s not just that they’re picking on me. It’s that they’re picking on the people that pick up every day and work hard for us,” Wollyung told the crowd.

The Canary obtained a video of Wollyung’s speech from the event. He is running for mayor alongside council candidates Tom Wood, also a current councilman, and Mike Weres, the city controller. The Democrats face a challenge in November from Republican mayoral candidate Tom Smith and council candidates Jonathan Marsh and Scott Price.

Wollyung urged Democrats to turn out for the general election, outlining why he believes he is the “right person for the job” and why running is “the right thing to do.”

He recalled moving to Pottsville from New York to help with the family business, then starting a teaching career before health issues hospitalized him for six months. While in the hospital, he said, “the one thing” he held on to was being a city councilman.

“It was time to run for Mayor. I truly felt it was the right thing to do because I am the right person for the job,” Wollyung said.

He acknowledged the harsh political climate, saying, “We look at where we’re at politically and it’s terrible. I could cry up here and say we need to be nicer to each other and it’s not fair and how horribly everybody has treated us on social media but really nobody out there really cares anymore. They don’t want to hear that. But I can tell you, what does matter is, I am the right man for this job at this time because it is the right thing to do.”

Wollyung closed by stressing the importance of electing him, Wood, and Weres so they can “continue working hard for Pottsville.”

“We’ve got to turn this thing around and tell them I’m the right guy to see this through. Mike and Tom are the right guys to be there with me,” he said. “I know what it’s like to be at the bottom. I know what it’s like to be at the top. I know what it’s like to work with people. But more importantly, I know what it’s like to work hard for Pottsville.”

Returning to the criticism he believes is coming from his opposition, Wollyung added: “So we can finally say to these people, look, we respect you but we’re hard-working people of Pottsville and we’re going to continue this. Hard work is what built the city and we’re going to continue it that way and we’re going to stop disrespecting each other.”

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