Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Crowded field in 2018 race for 7th District
Even as this year’s elections have finished up, candidates for 2018 federal races are in full gear with websites, Facebook pages and scheduled events.
In the 7th Congressional District, U. S. Rep. Pat Meehan, R- 7, of Chadds Ford, faces a litany of Democratic challengers from state Sen. Daylin Leach, D- 17, of Lower Merion, IT professional Drew McGinty of Jenkintown, attorney and former legislative aide Dan Muroff of the Flourtown section of Montgomery County, realtor Elizabeth Moro of Kennett Township and scientist Molly Sheehan of Philadephia, moving back to Delco, who want the chance to run against him.
Meehan has held the 7th Congressional seat, which includes
Delaware County and parts of Chester, Montgomery, Berks and Lancaster counties, since 2011. In Washington, he’s on the House Ways and Means Committee as well as the House Ethics Committee and the Tax Policy, Oversight and Trade subcommittees.
Prior to that, he was George W. Bush’s U. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for seven years and served five years as Delaware County’s district attorney.
His spokesman John Elizandro explained why the representative is seeking re- election.
“Congressman Meehan wants to continue to be an independent, pragmatic voice for the hardworking families he represents,” he said. “He’s fighting to create middle- class jobs and cut taxes for working families. He’s fighting to bring middle-
class tax relief to working families. He’s speaking out on the issues facing Pennsylvania families like hazing on college campuses. He’s also never been afraid to stand up to his own party, and has been a leader among Republicans in the effort to combat climate change.”
He explained the dynamic facing Americans when they go to the voting booth for this election.
“Voters next year will have a choice: a Democrat who will parrot Nancy Pelosi’s high- tax, big- government agenda, or an independent fighter working for them,” Elizandro said.
Leach says the election is critical.
“I think this is the most important midterm of our lives,” he said. “( President) Donald Trump represents a basic threat to democracy ... I think there are a number of crises that we are dealing with as a country that are particularly acute right now.”
He identified those crises
as economic, climate and political.
On the economy, Leach said the approach of the majority of Congress, including the tax bill, is counterproductive.
“We have to imagine and invest in our economic future,” he said. “We have to invest in things that will enable our economy to move forward.”
On the climate, he said, “We have a situation where we are passing tipping points, where the environmental damage is not going to be easy to remedy. We are going in the exact wrong direction ... We need to put the protection back in the ( Department of) Environmental Protection.”
Politically, he said the political process is broken because of voter suppression and how campaigns are financed and the elections themselves are meaningless due to gerrymandering.
In addition, Leach said, “What I feel we need is someone who is going to be a loud, well- informed voice for these issues.”
He said he would never be known as “silent Daylin. Youmay not agree with me 100 percent of the time, but you will know I am there.”
Speaking to his work on poverty and marijuana initiatives and in introducing the first marriage equality bill in Pennsylvania, Leach said, “I’ve demonstrated courage, which is very important now ... You need a politician who’s willing to risk your job in order to make your life better. I don’t feel that our current congressman would do that.”
The state senator said Meehan should strongly oppose the president.
“Donald Trump says the free press is the enemy of the people, ... that independent judiciary is inappropriate,” Leach said. “He endorses police brutality. He praises dictators. Pat never, ever, ever, ever criticizes that ... If you’re not willing to stand up for the basics of America, I don’t know why you’re there.
“At the end of the day, there is real damage being done to this country,” he said. “If you’re only goal as a congressman is self- perpetuation, then you are not serving your constituents.”
McGinty also criticized the incumbent.
His spokesman CJ Warnke said, “Drew is running in the 7th District because Patrick Meehan no longer works for his constituents, but for the monied interests that contribute to his campaign. What’s at stake in this election is the future of our environment and our middle- class families in the 7th district.”
Warnke said the tax overhaul bill Meehan supported last week was an example.
“It does nothing to protect the hard- working, small business- owning Pennsylvanians in the district while giving massive tax cuts to corporations and the wealthiest Americans,” he said.
Another issue close to McGinty is the environment, as Warnke said he’s invested in his own solar panels and electric car because of his desire to be a leader in pro- environment causes.
“We need to create a better world for our children and grandchildren to live in,” Warnke said. “Patrick Meehan has not done this while in office but when Drew is elected, he’ll fight for a better tomorrow.”
Moro launched her own 7th District campaign just this week with an announcement at The Gables in Chadds Ford Monday even as she’s in between a move from Kennett Township to Pennsbury.
Ken Hemphill, Moro’s spokesman, talked about why the Realtor/ managing broker is seeking office.
“Elizabeth is running because themiddle and working classes are reeling under the effects of our rigged system which caters to big corporations, billionaires and special interests,” he said. “We see this in our health- care system which is the most expensive among developed countries, a tax code which allows many corporations to avoid income taxes altogether and a regulatory apparatus that puts foxes in charge of the chicken coop.”
Hemphill also identified other areas of concern.
“Our environmental, consumer and worker protections are relentlessly weakened by a Congress hypnotized by lobbyists and polluters which in many cases are writing the laws our legislators pass,” he said. “It’s become obvious that much of our current Congress has sold itself to the highest bidder while the average American has been excluded fromthe auction.”
Muroff now lives in Montgomery County but his roots are in Delaware County, having lived in Havertown until he was 25.
“I have in my life, I’ve been committed to public service one way or another,” he said. “That’s not just a short time, that’s been for decades. I have been very committed to public service in many ways.”
The attorney whose private practice represents not- for- profit, arts and cultural organizations said he sees this bid for Congress as an extension of that service. Muroff has also served as board president of CeaseFirePA and president of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania.
He was the policy director for Democrat Joe Hoeffel’s Senatorial run in 2004 and served in various legislative aide capacities for U. S. Reps. Tom Foglietta, D- 1, of Philadelphia, Kika de la Garza, D- 15, of Texas, Jim McGovern, D- 3, of Mass., and Michael Capuano, D- 8, of Mass.
“I have real experience in this space,” Muroff said. “I’m the only person who’s had any substantive experience on Capitol Hill.”
In addition, he said he understands Delaware County and Montgomery County.
“I think I have the right kind of background,” he said. “I understand the priorities of these communities. I think I have the right approach and the right
kind of temperament to be a challenger in the general election. Experience matters.”
On the issues, he identified health care, the tax bill, infrastructure and gun violence protection as priorities.
Related to health care, he shared his own family’s struggles with his sister who had a severe substance abuse problem and disappeared in 1997.
While emphasizing an imperative to care for the person with addictions, Muroff said, “We also need to focus on the families. People don’t know how much families struggle with this. It’s devastating on everybody.
“It’s important to be a voice for people who are struggling,” he said. “It’s something people in Delaware County, regrettably, can relate to.”
Regarding the recent tax bill, he said 37 percent of the benefit goes to the top 1 percent and in 10 years, that balloons up to 57 percent.
Muroff said he supports infrastructure, adding, “I’ve always believed that infrastructure investment not only creates good paying jobs, it also helps to facilitate commerce.”
He said hewas concerned about roads and bridges being shut down because of a lack of funds to maintain them.
Muroff also supports gun violence protection.
“I do believe that you can’t eradicate gun violence but you can reduce it,” he said.
The attorney explained that this moment in American history is critical.
“I think we need to have, we always do, some checks and balances,” Muroff said. “I’m excited about this opportunity and I really do believe that I amthe best and strongest among the candidates for the general election.”
Sheehan is a biophysicist who wants to use her problemsolving skills in Washington. She currently lives in Philadelphia but plans to return to Delaware County in Upper Darby when she is finished her fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.
A product of public schools, she helped pay her way through Haverford College by waiting tables and starting her own nanny business. Afterwards, she moved to Uganda, where she worked with locals on women’s cooperatives and soccer programs.
She spoke of her motivation to run for the 7th District seat.
“I am running for US Congress because I know we need a new brand of elected officials that represent the American people, not parties or corporations,” she said. “Our country is increasingly divided and in desperate need of healing. I am running to bring empathy and rationality back to the table.”
In her career, she said she’s learned to put aside her own ideologies to hear other people’s stories and evidence while working to solve problems.
“I am running because I am able to stay firm in my values of justice and equality while working with diverse groups to solve real problems,” she said.
She said health care, early childhood education and the integrity of the democracy were her top issues.
“People are terrified of the GOP plans to dismantle their health care and are looking for meaningful reforms that will lower the cost of health care and make it available and affordable to everybody,” Sheehan said.
Of early education, she said, “Parents and grandparents are confronted with an increasing disparity between the cost of childcare and what they can afford. Parents are looking for elected officials that understand the struggle of caring for infants and toddlers in a country whose policies have become increasingly hostile to growing strong, financially secure families.”
And, she said, people need candidates they can trust.
“People see that not cleaning our own house in the Democratic Party has led to ineffective leadership, stale ideas and the inability to keep the worst of our society, like Donald Trump, from elected office,” she said. “Not to be too dramatic, but congressional elections like the PA- 7 are a battle for the soul of the party and then the country.
“We have to prove that we can put forth candidates that will fight for the working class, have fresh ideas and speak with integrity,” Sheehan said, as she added that the incumbent puts his party first. “The 2017 elections proved that the people of the 7th are done with the cruel GOP agenda. We can win it with a candidate that can motivate boots on the ground and an impassioned base. We can take back the House and the 7th is a bellwether of that movement.”