Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate Jeff Bartos speaks to members of the Warren County Republican Century Club at a breakfast event held on Friday morning at Perkins.

“Every county matters. Every town matters.”

That was part of the message that Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate Jeff Bartos brought to a Friday Republican Century Club breakfast held at Perkins.

Bartos has been endorsed by the state committee and is running alongside Scott Wagner, who is seeking to challenge governor Tom Wolf in the fall.

Bartos was born and raised in Berks County, obtained a law degree from the University of Virginia and worked as corporate counsel and then as a small businessman and owner of several real estate and contracting businesses.

Though Wagner and Bartos both call south of I-80 and far east of here home, Bartos said that he and Wagner grew up in rural areas and understand the issues that rural communities face.

Bartos said that their roots are based in rural communities and understand the challenges of joys of small populations center.

He said that Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are critical to the economic health of the state but noted that “Every county matters. Every town matters.”

Bartos told those in attendance that as a first time candidate “to be asked to come and meet people, it’s a privilege. It’s fun. It never gets hold.”

He said he initially ran for US Senate after being angered by Sen. Bob Casey’s support of the Iran nuclear deal and vowed to fight against betrayal by the state’s senior senator.

As that race unfolded – and the President tweeted in support of Rep. Lou Barletta – Bartos said he had a “nightmare over a couple of weeks” that he would “wake up to a tweet about myself.”

He was then approached by Wagner and Bartos explained that Wagner saw ways they could complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. He said an alliance at this point in the race is a first in Pennsylvania politics.

He cited Wagner’s “tremendous heart” evidenced by his philanthropic work, often done anonymously, his willingness to “roll up his sleeves and get stuff done” and Wagner’s appeal across all walks of life, evidence by the traveling he’s done around the state in the last year.

“We are having a blast,” Bartos said. “A meeting like this gives energy for the whole day.”

Responding to questions from the Republicans in attendance, Bartos said he would support legislation – sponsored by State Rep. Kathy Rapp – to reduce to 20 weeks the state’s abortion limit and attacked Gov. Wolf, who, he alleged, would stop fracking in the state.

On economic development, Bartos said that Pennsylvania’s geography, access to higher education as well as bountiful oil and gas resources. He claimed that the state “can be the fastest growing state in the country.”

Citing the need for infrastructure improvements and the right leadership, “Scott and I look at that and say ‘Let’s get to work.'”

And the stakes of the election were raised significantly at the end of the event.

Should he be elected lieutenant governor, the idea of participating in the Polar Plunge at the Warren County Winterfest was presented to Bartos, in part because former Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley previously participated in the event.

He said he would.