Perry Wood
Your Turn
When I look around Erie County, I see stories. I see families buying their first home, eager to put down roots. Small business owners who open their doors every morning with the hope that today brings more customers than yesterday. I see retirees who have lived in the same neighborhoods for decades, watching their grandchildren play in the same parks where they grew up.
This place is more than home; it's a community filled with possibility. It's a place where neighbors genuinely want to see each other succeed. A place where families invest in their future, not just for their own gain, but so their children and grandchildren can thrive. That's the Erie County I know and love.
But I also see the cracks. I see a county government that's too often mired in chaos and dysfunction. I hear from public servants who feel demoralized, from businesses tangled in red tape, and from residents who have lost faith in the people elected to lead. The headlines tell a story of lawsuits and missed opportunities. The story we deserve to be telling is one of collaboration and progress.
That's why I decided to run for Erie County executive. I believe it's time for leadership that prioritizes listening. I've spent my career bringing together diverse perspectives, finding common ground between people who might not always agree, and turning that collaboration into real results. It's not always easy, and it's rarely quick, but I've seen firsthand how powerful it can be when we move beyond our silos and work together.
I am deeply honored to have the support of two of Erie's most respected leaders — former County Executive Judy Lynch and Mayor Joyce Savocchio. Both of these trailblazing women transformed their offices through collaboration, accountability, and a focus on building a brighter future for Erie. Mayor Savocchio, Erie's first female mayor, brought the same collaborative spirit to City Hall. She focused on economic revitalization, infrastructure development and education — laying the groundwork for Erie's growth and stability. She showed how coalition-building, even among unlikely bedfellows, could lead to innovative solutions.
Dr. Lynch, Erie County's first female executive, took on the challenge of fiscal mismanagement, turning a $2.7 million debt into a success story of transparency and service excellence. She was instrumental in developing the library system and professionalizing the courthouse. Her approach was not just about solving problems but creating lasting systems of accountability, a legacy that I intend to build upon as your next county executive.
My journey to this moment began right after I graduated from what was then Mercyhurst College. I started my career in Governor Tom Ridge's office and went on to work with the city of Erie. Seeing how government works from the inside sparked my passion for public service and policy. When I moved on to lead the Technology Council of Northwest PA, I made collaboration the cornerstone of my approach. We launched the Keystone Innovation Zone, which brought millions in tax credits and private funding to Erie. It wasn't about what I thought was best — it was about bringing together business leaders, public officials, and community voices to create something that worked for everyone.
When I started at the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA), the organization was at a crossroads. Lawsuits and unclear guidelines for grant distribution threatened to derail the critical economic development work the organization was built to do. I didn't come in with a top-down approach. Instead, I worked with our board and community stakeholders to create clear, fair grant guidelines. We built a system where every dollar is accounted for and every decision is transparent — because trust isn't something you ask for, it's something you earn.
That same spirit of collaboration fueled the projects I'm most proud of. We built Mission Main Street as Erie's first rural economic development strategy, partnering with local communities to bring growth and opportunity to areas too often left behind. With Empower Erie, we brought together educators, business leaders and public officials to create the newest community college in the country which was an effort rooted in the idea that education is the foundation of opportunity.
And then there are the Beehives, where we helped universities become incubators for local businesses, giving entrepreneurs the support they needed to thrive. And then the Renaissance Block program which didn't just invest in houses, it built partnerships with homeowners, revitalizing neighborhoods block by block.
These aren't just initiatives on paper. They're living, breathing examples of what happens when we prioritize collaboration. They've led to over 1,000 jobs created and retained, and over $88 million invested all around the county. They are a testament to what can be achieved when leadership is focused on building up, not tearing down.
Erie County deserves a leader who not only understands our community's challenges but has the experience and vision to overcome them. I am incredibly proud of the work I've done with others to make Erie County a better place, but I know we can do even more if you trust me to be your next county executive. I believe in the power of county government to drive positive change.
I believe that with the right leadership, we can transform Erie County into a place where every family has the opportunity to succeed. I am ready to bring my experience and my passion for service to the county executive's office, and I am honored to have earned bipartisan support from dozens of elected and nonelected officials who believe in our shared vision.
On Election Day, Erie County voters will have the opportunity to choose a brighter future. By voting for me, you're voting for accountability, collaboration, and a government that works for all of us. You're voting for someone who will always put the needs of Erie first and who has the vision, experience, and integrity to lead our county forward.
Together, let's build the future Erie County deserves. Let's write the next chapter of our story, one where collaboration and progress lead the way.