Snapshot: 10th Congressional District

Area: 6,557.85 square miles Population: (2000 Census) 646,534 Population distribution: 44.65% urban, 55.35% rural Median income: $35,996 Ethnic composition: 96.3% White, 1.9% Black, 0.5% Asian, 1.4% Hispanic, 0.0% Native American) Primary race brings challenges Northeastern PA — Winning the 10th Congressional District Republican primary isn’t an easy task, and shortcuts are hard to come by. In 2006, 207,295 votes were cast in the district. With the upcoming election falling on a contentious presidential primary, that number is bound to rise; turnout in Pike County alone tends to increase by about 10% from off-year elections. The district covers fourteen counties, the third largest geographically in the state, making it very challenging for aspiring candidates. This is especially true for those with little name recognition and who never held public office, ironically describing all of this election’s contestants. In addition to name recognition issues, the race itself is unusually crowded with what is expected to be at least five candidates. Should Democrat, Chris Carney win a second term, these disadvantages will grow even larger by 2010, making this a make-or-break election for Republicans in the 10th, as well as others nationally who seek to reclaim the 30 GOP seats lost in 2006. In the face of these obstacles, each campaign seems reasonably confident and equally determined to see Carney ousted. Candidate Don Ely described Carney as a “liberal masquerading as a moderate,” pointing to his support of increased taxes and the card check bill that dealt with process of union votes. GOP hopeful Candidate Chris Hackett commented, “Chris Carney promised to take the values of northeastern Pennsylvania to Washington…what he has done instead is bring Nancy Pelosi’s values back home.” Hackett said the Congressman has sided with the Democratic Speaker on 88% of votes. He also said most of his Carney’s money so far this cycle has been raised outside of the 10th. “That is reflective of his support within the district,” Hackett said. The candidates’ outspoken opposition of the Congressman is where most of the similarities end. Don Ely portrays himself as a political veteran and stalwart conservative, able to rattle off legislation and statistics like no other. Dan Meuser promotes his success as president of an enormous multi-million dollar company and as a champion of both senior citizens and ordinary taxpayers through his Medicare lobbying. Paul Swiderski paints himself as a man of the people, a self-proclaimed Jeffersonian, who aims to make this distinction an issue of the campaign. Chris Hackett is claiming ground right in the middle, not wanting the stigma of big business yet bolstering his credentials as a successful entrepreneur. Hackett and Meuser are seen by many to be the two front-runners of the campaign, no coincidence since both are able to self-finance their campaign. Meuser said, “our budget is enough to get the job done.” And Hackett seemingly echoed this in a few more words saying, “we will make sure we have the financial resources we need to effectively discharge the plan we have in place.” Bottom line n money is the least of their worries. Though not overtly speaking out against each other, both candidates were sure to draw the lines in the sand, as inconspicuously as possible; no surprise at this point in the game. Talking about his business experience, Meuser said he was proud that his company provides permanent jobs to hundreds of workers at $2 above the minimum wage, presumably stressing the word “permanent” as to reference Hackett’s own business, which is a “professional recruiting and temporary staffing business.” Hackett pointed out that he has lived in the district for 10 years, and that his house is in the district, perhaps important to point out because of the situation of his opponent. Meuser recently moved his family 225 yards down the road so that their new residence is now technically within the boundaries of the 10th district, saying that he did not want it to become a campaign issue. As far as the money race goes, Meuser said things are going well considering he did not start until after the November elections since he did “not want to take a dime away from any of the Republican candidates.” Translation? Hackett is leading in reported cash on hand, mainly due to his early jump in October, with about a quarter-million dollars in the bank. Paul Swiderski was much less hesitant about making the differences between the candidates clear especially when it comes to money, strikingly similar to Presidential Candidate Ron Paul who, interestingly enough, endorsed the candidate just this week. “Self-financed candidates don’t necessarily represent the interest of the people they are support…they only represent their own interests, and that will never solve any of the problems we have here in Pennsylvania and in our country,” he asserted. And like a diehard Republican, Don Ely only had good things to say. Ely apparently practices what is commonly known as Reagan’s 11th Commandment, “Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican.” That did not hold him back, however, from identifying what when wrong with the Republican Party last year, saying that Republican members of Congress had “forsaken their conservative values.” Former Congressman Don Sherwood caught much criticism for having an extra-marital affair, something that Ely said cost him the election. As for Rick Santorum, the PA Senator defeated by State Treasurer Bob Casey in the widest margin for an incumbent in Pennsylvania history, Ely said he, among other things, campaigned “too hard” for relatively liberal Senator Arlen Specter in 2004. Santorum went on to endorse Meuser, who, when asked if this would be a liability come the general elections, said, “Rick Santorum is my friend, he is a great American, but I am not, however, Rick Santorum.” Fourth quarter campaign finance reports may shed some more light as to who is where in the race, but until then, it is safe to assume that most of the candidates are going to be playing it safe and putting in many long days meeting as many people, kissing as many babies, and shaking as many hands as possible within of the 10th Congressional District. The battle for the 10th district is on.