Shapiro earns Obama endorsement for Attorney General

Montgomery County Board of Commissioners Chairman Josh Shapiro got a leg up in his race for attorney general when he earned an endorsement from the country’s commander-in-chief.

President Barack Obama said Wednesday that Shapiro represents “a new generation of progressive leadership.”

“As an official, Shapiro has worked with the Obama Administration on issues from health care and workforce training to criminal justice reform,” Obama is quoted as saying on Shapiro’s campaign website.

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“Josh Shapiro is a true progressive with a strong record of standing up for Pennsylvania families. As Attorney General, he’ll fight to reform the criminal justice system to make it fairer for all and protect seniors and consumers. I’m proud to endorse Josh Shapiro for Attorney General.”

Shapiro, who first served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives representing the 153^rd legislative district, has chaired the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners since 2012.

In the early days of Obama’s administration, Shapiro was appointed to a White House Task Force on health care reform. He’s most recently worked with the White House on criminal justice reform and nowserves as chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Speaking to the Metro Wednesday, Shapiro said he was honored to have met Obama when he stumped for Pennsylvania Democrats at the Keswick Theater in 2006. He said he then campaigned for the president in 2007 and 2008.

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“I’m incredibly honored and humbled by the President’s support and when the White House called to inform me, it was incredibly exhilarating and humbling,” he said.

“I’m proud to be backed by a person I admire so much, and by someone whose work I think is incredibly important.”

Just recently, Shapiro said the White House sent the Secretary of Labor to Montgomery County to recognize the county for its work in reducing the localrecidivism rate.