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Dahlkemper Rules Out Gov Bid

Kathy Dahlkemper
Kathy Dahlkemper

Former Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper will not run for Governor, but will seek the office of Erie County Executive instead.

She confirmed the switch to the Erie Reader, which has the scoop:

“I would like to confirm and clarify my plans. I intend to run for Erie County Executive this year,” Dahlkemper wrote. “I have spent recent months pursuing various options, including a run for [Pennsylvania] Governor. I have decided that serving the people of northwest Pennsylvania as county executive affords me the greatest opportunity to help advance the region I love so much.”

She said she’ll make an official announcement on March 4. Current Executive Barry Grossman (D) has also said he will seek another term. The office is up in 2013.

A businesswoman who operated a major landscaping firm, Dahlkemper served in Congress for one term from 2009 to 2011. She’d been floating her name for Gov since Pa. Society weekend in December.

Her departure from the Governor’s race doesn’t shorten the list of prospective candidates; more than 10 declared and prospective candidates remain. But she was the only woman running besides Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Montco). She was also one of just three possible candidates from western Pa., leaving a potential vacuum in the Democratic primary (the others are former Auditor General Jack Wagner and state Sen. Tim Solobay).

7 Responses

  1. LT is right on – “delusions of grandeur” is really what this amounts to. And until voters begin to seriously factor in experience as a crucial criteria for voting for a candidate (not name recognition or the fact that they seem like a “nice person”) – we will continue to have mediocre representation and marginal accomplishments in public office and in our region.

  2. I couldn’t have said it any better than Jaime. (“Laughable” was actually the word I used to describe the thought of her gubernatorial candidacy.) She went into Congress on a national wave and right back out on a national wave. She has only slightly more executive experience than she did legislative experience in 2008. I’m not opposed to a lot of her positions, but I’m not in the habit of humoring others’ delusions of grandeur.

  3. Just a couple of observations….

    The hallmark of someone who truly wants to serve the public interest is being able to recognize and accept your strengths and weaknesses. And then to run for a suitable office. I didn’t vote for Mrs. Dahlkemper in either Congessional election because I didn’t feel that she had the requisit skills to be successful – and she wasn’t. Her election ultimately was one of opportunity. Sadly – I think she got a hold of the brass ring for a while and now thinks that she is a highly desirable public figure. Time for her to step back and accept the fact that if she wants to be a successful (not just in her mind) politician that maybe she needs to pay her dues in a less lofty role. And contemplating a run for Governor was laughable.

  4. possibly although its more likely that the Erie Daily Times (or whatever it’s called now) is doing it wrong. I can’t believe they’re not a thrice-weekly yet.

  5. I love that an alt weekly broke this story before all other major media outlets. The Erier Reader must be doing something right.

  6. She should reconsider and run for governor. I don’t think there are enough liberal freaks running yet. It would be hilarious to have her debate Schwartz. Sestak and Joe Hoeffel should take a shot at it too. Let all the weirdos get a chance. Where’s Anthony Williams? I’m sure he wants to get his mug on tv, right?

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