GOP hopefuls scramble to oppose Carney

Northeast Pa — With about four months remaining on the calendar to the lone April primary in Pennsylvania, the 10th Congressional District race is heating up within the GOP. Four Republican candidates have officially announced their candidacy, aiming to unseat incumbent Christopher Carney, who defeated four-term Congressman Don Sherwood in the Democratic resurgence during the 2006 midterm elections. The Courier had the opportunity to talk with the four candidates: Dan Meuser, Chris Hackett, Don Ely, and Paul Swiderski. Though all seemed to agree on “lowering taxes, cutting wasteful spending, and restoring traditional conservative values,” each brings an interesting dynamic to the race. Dan Meuser is president of Pride Mobility Products, a wheelchair manufacturing company his family has grown to be a 1,200-person employer in Exeter. Meuser said he feels he has the right “experience, skills, abilities and conservative values that match well with the people of the district.” Having become involved in his industry’s government affairs over the past five years, Mesuer said he got acquainted with how things didn’t work for the people, and now he wants to change it. He said during his work lobbying for Medicare reform he garnered much success, saying it “showed me I can get things done down [in Washington].” Meuser, recently endorsed by former Senator Rick Santorum, contends that creating good family-sustaining jobs is a top priority in northeast Pennsylvania. Chris Hackett, owner of SHS TechStaffing, is also relying upon his business background to propel him in the race. Other important issues for him include health care reform, making the ’01 and ’03 tax cuts permanent, and elimination of the earmarking process. He also made mention of the eminent domain issue in Pike County regarding the power lines. Hackett says his willingness to articulate his positions, even if they are unpopular, is what distinguishes him from the unusually crowded pack of candidates. “What voters can be sure of,” he said, “ is that what I say is what I mean.” Having the earliest start on his campaign back in October has paid off for the candidate who has over $250,000 cash on hand. Hackett commented, “I think you get very lucky when you work very hard.” Don Ely of Northumberland threw his hat in the race because he has been interested in politics all of his life. Ely said, “I just thought with my experience I would be able to make a difference … we need more people in Congress who will not forsake their conservative principles.” His Web site describes him as a “no-no-nonsense conservative since his teenage years.” Ely has served on the Republican State Committee since 1992. Illegal immigration and stopping the I-80 tolling are at the top of his list of issues. Of his opponents, he said that he has been around longer and studies politics more, but said that “each and every one of them is a solid conservative and I would be happy and determined to support whoever gets the nomination.” Paul Swiderski is a self-proclaimed Jeffersonian, stating that a normal everyday person should be representing normal everyday people. “I’m not a millionaire, I’m not a corporate executive, I am not an experienced politician - I’m just a small business owner here in northeast Pa., who has the same concerns as the people of the district,” Swiderski said. Health insurance, heating costs, and the local economy need attention, he said. Swiderski said he recently received endorsements from presidential candidates Ron Paul, Alan Keyes, and Jim Mitchell. In regard to his campaign, he said he is going about it the traditional way, getting support from one voter at a time. There is also speculation that optometrist Davis Haire will enter the race soon. That will make five candidates aiming for the nomination on April 22; State Auditor Joe Peters gave up his bid earlier this year. The 10th district, which favored Republican George Bush in the ’04 elections 60-40, elected current Congressman Carney with 53% of the vote. Thought to be a safe district after the redistricting following the 2000 elections, the 10th, the third largest in the state, has become one of the most contentious. Aside from the parties’ national committees, the internet and blogosphere has also been keeping close tabs on the race, with sites likes grassrootspa.com and blogs such as gort42.blogspot.com sometimes picking up more hits than the candidate’s own Web sites. For more on the primary race, please visit www.pikecountycourier.com .