2018 primary election: 7th Congressional District
The 7th Congressional District includes the townships of Eldred, Ross, and parts of the Lehigh Valley.
Democrats:
David Clark
Catasauqua
http://davidclarkforcongress.net
Education: Degree in psychology from Temple University. One year of medical training in the special forces.
Qualifications: Ran for congress in 1992 and studied national issues for 40 years. Published many editorials, wrote a book that contains my political beliefs. Studied national finance.
Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: 1. Balance the budget by going to a graduated income tax. Millionaires, billionaires and corporations need to begin paying their fair share of taxes. This will fund universal health care and all other needed programs. 2. Provide local manufacturers and farmers with federal opportunities to expand their businesses nationally and in the world. 3. Make the case to remove our dangerous incompetent president from presidential duties until the Mueller criminal investigation of him is complete for the preservation of this country and the world. I strongly support unions, Planned Parenthood, increasing the minimum wage, filling all vacant government positions for the government to operate effectively, support the separation of church and state, want to reinstall Fairness in Media, overturn Citizen United and put sanity in campaign reform, strongly believe in a woman’s right to choose and am against court decisions weakening Roe vs. Wade, support universal health care.
Rick Daugherty
Lowhill Township, Lehigh County
http://daughertyforcongress.com
Education: BA in Social Work from Moravian College
Qualifications: Former District Administrator for retired Congressman Paul McHale. Chairman of Lehigh County Democratic Committee from 2006 to 2014. Administrator at a local nonprofit organization for 22 years.
Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: Senior citizens need a champion for them to increase Social Security payments, lower drug costs, expand at-home care through Medicare, more senior housing and better transportation options. My focus in Congress will be to listen to senior citizens and help. Health care is too expensive with high deductibles. A Public Option insurance plan would lower rates and provide good coverage. Student debt is too high. Lower interest rates and more funding for community colleges.
Greg Edwards
Allentown
http://www.edwardsforpa.com
Education: BS, Urban Leadership; Masters of Divinity, Theology and Philosophy; doctorate, public policy
Qualifications: I’ve spent my entire career as a movement builder for civil rights, advocating for equity in health care and education, with a proven track record of creating educational and economic opportunities for underrepresented communities.
Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: A top concern of people in PA-7 is health care. We need to prioritize passing Medicare for All to ensure everyone has unfettered access to high quality health care that does not leave us job locked or bankrupt, or burden businesses with skyrocketing employer-provided benefit premiums and administrative costs. Pennsylvania ranks among the bottom in educational outcomes in the country and our college graduates endure some of the highest student loan debt in the nation. We need to prioritize investing in our children with universal pre-K that sets them up for success in public school and ensure everyone has the option of pursuing higher education with debt-free college. No person working full time should live in poverty. Allentown, our district’s largest city, has a per capita income of $16,000 and 30 percent poverty rate. We need to increase the minimum wage to $15 to increase consumer spending, stimulate our economy, strengthen the middle class, and allow economic dignity to all working people.
John Morganelli
Bethlehem
http://www.johnmorganelli.com
Education: Juris Doctor, Villanova School of Law; Moravian College, BA, political science, summa cum laude
Qualifications: Pennsylvania’s most senior elected district attorney with 26 years experience as a state prosecutor; experienced courtroom prosecutor who has personally tried to verdict 25 first-degree murder cases
Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: Standing up for affordable health care as a right. Fighting for tax relief for middle class families. Creating good-paying jobs for the middle class. Championing equal pay for women. Finally doing something to address student loan debt. Banning assault weapons and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. Leading the charge for federal criminal justice reform.
Roger Ruggles
Easton
http://ruggles4congress.com, twitter.com/rugglesforpa7, http://fb.me/Rugglesforcongress
Education: Ph.D. Engineering Science, (Civil Eng) Clarkson University; Masters of Science, (Civil Eng) Clarkson
Qualifications: Easton City Council 10 yrs.; Faculty-Lafayette College 33 yrs.; Fulbright Scholar-Uganda, Africa; Licensed Professional Civil Engineer; Veteran U.S. Air Force; Qualified Expert in federal court in hydraulics and hydrology; Community Volunteer
Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: My first priority when elected is communication. I believe a representative to congress is a conduit of communication between congress and people. I will attend local government meetings, attend town halls, use social media and walk my district to hear concerns. Some topics I’ve heard already are school funding, infrastructure, and health care. Second, I have a priority to restore trust and confidence in our government. This can be accomplished by listening to people and fairly addressing their concerns. Third priority is security and safety. Each citizen should be secure in their living and what is needed for basic needs like health, a clean environment and fair wages. Citizens have a right to be safe in where they live, go to school and go to work. I will listen, use my experience, expertise and professionalism and serve.
Susan Wild
Allentown
http://www.wildforcongress.com
Education: American University, B.A., 1978; George Washington University Law School, J.D., 1982
Qualifications: Pennsylvania Super Lawyer: 2010-2018 -Woman of Influence, Lehigh Valley Business: ‘16 -President, Bar Association of Lehigh County: ‘06 -First female Solicitor of Allentown: ‘15-17 -Board of Dir., Program for Women & Families; Jewish Fed. of LV
Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: My campaign is all about Families, and that’s why my top priorities in Congress will be: (1) establishing a Medicare for all system, so no family has to face bankruptcy due to medical bills or choose between receiving health care and putting food on the table; (2) protecting Social Security at all costs, so no seniors face financial uncertainty after a lifetime earning their benefits and playing by the rules; and implementing campaign finance reform to get dark money out of politics and shift influence from Big Oil, Big Pharma, and the billionaire class back to the working class.
Republican
Dean N Browning
Allentown
http://browningforcongress.com
Education: Master of Science in Industrial Management and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Qualifications: I have almost 40 years of experience as a successful private sector businessman. I’ve balanced budgets, met payrolls, analyzed problems, developed solutions and worked to get them implemented. I would bring that knowledge and skills to Washington.
Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: 1. Securing our borders and stopping illegal immigration. 2. Strengthening our military and keeping America safe. 3. Growing our economy and creating good-paying jobs for Americans.
Marty Nothstein
Lowhill Township
Candidate did not provide information by the printed deadline of April 18.
Courtesy Monroe League of Women Voters
