Dem hopeful in 7th burnishes progressive credentials

A progressive candidate for the Democratic nomination for Congress in the 7th District held a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Tuesday to detail her campaign in a busy field of six Democrats — so far — slated for a matchup against incumbent Republican Rep. Pat Meehan.

“I am a 31-year-old bioengineer, wife, mother and proud progressive,” began Molly Sheehana. “I am a scientist by trade, not a lawyer, nor career politician.

“In an era of perpetual partisan gridlock I am very excited to add a common-sense perspective into our politics and policy making, largely based upon evidence and reason.”

Sheehan, 31, who lives in Philadelphia but plans to move to a permanent residence in Springfield, said her background in the scientific field will bring diversity to the House chambers in Washington.

“There is only one Ph.D. scientist in U.S. Congress despite many issues benefiting from scientific expertise,” Sheehan wrote. “It’s also becoming increasingly apparent that congresspeople are no longer listening to experts when crafting policy. Congress should be diverse, in background, gender and career so all views are represented and all ideas are championed.”

The Ph.D. she mentioned was Rep. Bill Foster, D-11 of Ill., a former physicist.

Among the discussions in the /r/Political_Revolution subreddit, a politically progressive thread on Reddit, Sheehan touches on big pharma, gerrymandering, medical marijuana federal descheduling, public transportation funding, advancement of green energy sources, pronet neutrality, bringing back Glass-Steagall and more.

Health care, was the most she wrote, important issue of election.

“We need to elect somebody who has experience and a real plan to implement single-payer health care,” Sheehan said. “I am the only candidate running with health care experience.”

“I’ve been doing constituent services on health care for years and bringing concerns back to nonprofit buyers, insurance companies, and health systems to negotiate the best plans for our constituent needs.”

She wrote of patent reform that would restrict pharmaceutical companies from provoking an “exploitation of American people” by overcharging for patented drugs. Additionally, she has called for the federal rescheduling and decriminalizing of medical marijuana and opening it to up for recreational use.

“We need to legalize medicinal marijuana federally and expand health care plans to cover alternative pain treatments, so the upcoming doctors and patients have more options than opioids, especially for chronic pain,” Sheehan said.

Sheehan joins the field of state Senator Daylin Leach, Drew McGinty, Elizabeth Moro, Dan Muroff and Paul Perry. She said her grassroots campaign, which is abstaining from corporate money or courting wealthy donors, separates her from establishment Democrats.

“I do not spend the majority of my time soliciting donations. I spend most of my time speaking with people in the district and working with them,” Sheehan said, who wrote that she wants to shorten the campaign cycles and reduce the influence of political action campaigns.

“For me to win I need as much grassroots support as possible,” Sheehan said. “My goal is to reach as many voters as possible with personal interactions and I’ll gladly accept assistance from any progressives no matter where they live to achieve this goal.”

“I am a 31-yearold bioengineer, wife, mother and proud progressive. I am a scientist by trade, not a lawyer, nor career politician.

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