GOP candidate for Penn. Governor opposes American Rescue Plan program that he tapped for $1.4 million in business loans

Dave White, a businessman and candidate in Pennsylvania’s Republican gubernatorial primary, has spoken out against the American Rescue Plan, even after his own businesses received up to $1.4 million in federal loans from a similar program, the CARES Act.

White, President and CEO of DWD Mechanical Contractor, disclosed in 2021 a 50% financial interest in Stingers Waterfront LLC, a restaurant at the Ridley Township Marina. The disclosure showed the former Delaware County Council member received direct or indirect sources of income from the business.

DWD Mechanical Contractor received a $758,063 loan under the Paycheck Protection Program in April 2020, and the loan was forgiven in full, according to ProPublica’s PPP Loan Database. The database also shows that Stingers Waterfront LLC received a $270,432 PPP loan in April 2020, which was also forgiven in full.

Congress established the Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act in March 2020 to provide small businesses with funds to pay up to eight weeks of payroll costs. Although former President Donald Trump signed the CARES Act into law, President Joe Biden extended the Paycheck Protection Program program through his American Rescue Plan, giving it $7.25 billion in new funds to help small businesses survive and recover from the pandemic. 

While White clearly saw the utility of the ARP, he opposed the continuation of the program after he got his federal loans. He called the American Rescue Plan “terrible” and “ridiculous” at a Gettysburg meet and greet last month.

“It’s not a rescue plan. It’s sinking us,” White said in audio from the event provided by an anonymous Democratic source.

This isn’t the only issue where White’s views seem inconsistent with his actions. In one of White’s new campaign ads released this month, he promises to “introduce [Harrisburg career politicians] to two new words: term limits.” The ad specifically calls out Gov. Tom Wolf, who has currently served for six years. 

White also served for six years as Delaware County councilman, according to his campaign biography, and attempted to serve for longer — he ran for another term as councilman in 2017 but was defeated by his Democratic challengers. He also served as Ridley Township commissioner for 18 years, giving him more combined years in office than any other GOP gubernatorial candidate in the state.  

Despite over 20 years in office, White repeatedly calls himself an “outsider” to politics, telling WGAL that he can “bring an outsider’s perspective” to the governor’s office. Other GOP gubernatorial candidates called him out for this; attorney Bill McSwain, who referred to White as a “career politician” in one of his TV ads.

As of last week, White ranks third in the Republican gubernatorial race, according to a poll conducted by Emerson College. He was also the biggest spender last reporting period of all the candidates for governor, Democrat or Republican, according to his campaign finance report.