PA-10: Dem To Challenge Rep. Marino

Rodriguez
Rodriguez campaign lit

Monroe County’s Adam Rodriguez has formally declared his intent to run in the Democratic primary to face Rep. Tom Marino for his seat in PA’s 10th District.

Rodriguez, an ex-Teamster and former member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, currently works as a graphic designer and artist in the clothing industry.

In his announcement, Rodriguez said that he plans on making a one percent tax on Wall Street transactions the centerpiece of his campaign. He believes it would be “an important first step in countering the GOP’s mean-spirited politics of austerity while strengthening the nation’s social safety net.

“The revenue generated from a relatively minuscule tax on qualified financial transactions would go a long way in shoring up Social Security and Medicare while protecting our most vulnerable citizens who are dependent on programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, LIHEAP and emergency extended unemployment benefits,” said Rodriguez, who describes himself as an “FDR New Deal Democrat.”

Along with the one percent tax, Rodriguez favors a moratorium on hydraulic fracking and an increase of the minimum wage to $15.

He also plans to focus on the nation’s crumbling infrastructure; Rodriguez also wants the Federal Reserve to issue interest-free “Century Bonds” to help government at the state and local levels finance the rebuilding of the country’s infrastructure while also giving millions of people the jobs they need.

“This is the jobs program everybody has been waiting for,” said Rodriguez.  “The Federal Reserve can provide the funding.”

Rodriguez is one of the two Democrats challenging Republican incumbent Marino. Businessman Scott Brion announced his candidacy just last week.

Marino has held his seat since 2011.

The 10th Congressional District of Pennsylvania encompasses Bradford, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Pike, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union and Wayne counties and parts of Lackawanna, Monroe, Northumberland, Perry and Tioga counties.

Rodriguez lives with his wife Beth and four of their five children in Middle Smithfield Township.

14 Responses

  1. I am also excited to have a progressive in the race, Mary in Monroe. Although, we still have a lot to hear from these candidates in terms of more concrete policy positions and I look forward to seeing their political prowess and which factions of voters they capture in their campaign. I think a challenging primary will strengthen the candidates as I feel that Marino’s support while large in scope in not particularly deep.

    -Chris Musti,
    If you truly are excited for a primary, then you need to STOP your arguments ad hominem about Rodriguez’s voting record and whatnot and stop your negative campaigning on the first day of this race. Let’s focus on real issues so this is substantive politics — not something you have been doing.

  2. Figures don’t lie. Why has Adam only voted 28% out of 100% of the time. I personally am a Registered Democrat, and have voted 100% of the time since I was 18 years old. People I like Adam as a person but we can do better as Democrats to send a real Democrat to Washington D.C. I have not recruited Scott Brion as previously indicated I meet him one week ago. I had a great talk with him did my homework, and have yes endorsed him. I feel as an Elected Public Official that I’m not afraid to support, and endorse him because I believe we will be sending the right Democrat to Washington D.C. Who has been a Democrat who has voted, and is from the district in which he would represent. I ask you why did Adam just become a Democrat? Why didn’t he run as an Independent or NP as he was registered. Why isn’t he running in his own Congressional District against my friend and a true Democrat US Congressman Matt Carwright. The simple answer is because he would soundly be defeated by US Congressman Cartwright. Now I’m not against someone for changing there party registration to Democrat but to do so to benefit themselves isn’t the answer. We should be supporting and electing life long Democrats to office. This is not to say that we should welcome Adam but we should educate him, groom him, and work to support him in causes that can benefit the Democrat party not only himself. I encourage Adam to get involved first as a Democrat then run for a position such as Congressman after he has been in the party a little while longer. Once again I think very highly of Adam, and wish him the best of luck. It’s great to have opposition running against Scott but Scott should be fundraising, and saving his resources to run against Congressman Tom Marino not Adam. If Adam had a shoot of winning against Marino I would think, and say otherwise but I personally don’t feel that Adam can even win in the primary. This can only hurt the Democrat Party, and our real & true shoot at taking back the PA – 10 Congressman seat that Congressman Chris Carney once held.

  3. How can you elect someone to office especially United States Congress that doesn’t even vote. Will he even show up to vote in Washington D.C. if he can’t show up to vote in his own Ward and District where he lives. There is no excuse for him not voting. Even if he was going to be out of town he could have always voted by absentee ballot which a lot of concerned voters, and taxpayers do. Why have you not voted. Also beware Democrats until recently he listed he was listed as NP, and just recently switched to Democrat compare him to Scott Brion. You can’t he is the complete opposite. I encourage Mr. Rdoriguez to become involved in the Democratic Party first, and start voting then run for US Congressman. I personally believe Mr. Rodriguez is putting the cart before the horse here with running for US Congressman.

  4. Adam Rodriguez–a progressive Democrat running in the primary against Scott Brion. Google Brion and you will find his qualifications, pasted here:
    “Owner
    Tioga Resources
    February 2008 – Present (6 years 1 month) Liberty, PA
    Manage company investing in undeveloped oil & gas assets in the Marcellus shale region. Leverage knowledge of gas markets, Northeast Pennsylvania gas targeted development and royalty ownership to advise OGM & royalty owners in development, leasing and lease management issues.
    Active in promoting the interests of Pennsylvania land, OGM and royalty owners through education, information sharing and grass roots organizing of concerned landowners.”
    Would anyone like to guess who recruited him to run? Or who is behind the solicitation, pasted here:
    ” I’m hiring Paid Campaign Workers in the following counties that cover the 10th Congressional District: LACKAWANNA, MONROE, PIKE, SNYDER, SUSQUEHANNA, and WAYNE Counties. If you know of anyone that needs extra money, and can work on a Congressional Campaign between February 18th to March 4th. Please immediately contact me. We need help obtaining signatures to get a Scott Brion a Candidate for PA – 10 Congressman on the ballot. Please contact me directly or email me at fastactionservicesinc2003@gmail.com.

    Thank You,
    Chris Musti,
    Democrat State Committeeman – Lackawanna County
    NEPA Regional Caucus Secretary Democrat State Party”

  5. Delighted to see another challenger to Tom Marino and happy to have a progressive Democrat to vote for in the primary!

  6. -They Took R Jobs,

    It is painfully obvious that that is what’s happening. We have extreme wealth inequality in our country where the top one percent controls 40% of the wealth. What big business is paying you to refute what is clearly visible to the people of the 10th who need good union jobs with healthcare? If you are truly ignorant of wealth inequality, you can read about it here: http://www.businessinsider.com/rich-getting-richer-2013-4 And yes, I WILL make it happen.

  7. How can someone possibly vote 28.57 times? You don’t need to live in the district to run. I’m excited there will be some competition. No need to start the negative campaigning on Day 1.

  8. @10th Dist Observer – A vote for Adam is a “vote for commonsense fairness and well-studied economic practices that we are trying to implement.” Great message. It’s the rich guy’s fault you’re poor. You’re well on your way to securing the support of ethnic anthracite miners from Lithuania and Slovakia, and slum dwellers in tenement houses. Make it happen!

  9. Precinct: MSMTH-000-00E (17-40-189) Party: NP Voter Score: 28.57 Voting Activity: __Y___Y___________
    Name: RODRIGUEZ, ADAM A Age: 50 Sex:M
    Registered Address: 213 Spyglass Ct City: EAST STROUDSBURG, PA 18302
    Driving Directions EditInfo VoterDetailSheet Others at Same Address
    Polling Location: MIDDLE SMITHFIELD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH(FELLOWSHIP HALL)
    5205 MILFORD RD

    Adam Rodriguez doesn’t vote very often matter of fact only 28.57 times, didn’t belong to any party until he switched to Democrat recently, and doesn’t live in the district. Mater of fact he lives in the 17th Congressional District represented by Congressman Matt Cartwright.

  10. -They Took R Jobs,

    People notice when the rich keep getting richer and the poor just keep getting poorer. This isn’t socialism, it is commonsense fairness and well studied economic practices that we are trying to implement. Take your vitriolic ignorance elsewhere and come back with a real argument. This economic populism should strike fear into 10th R hopes because one should never underestimate the power of a well-stated progressive message.

  11. Democrats should keep nominating tax-raising socialists because it really jives with the concerns of middle class Americans.

    Yo, Adam, listen up. We know you’re angry about having to work in a corporatist tee-shirt factory. Wall Street sucks. We get it. But just because you’re in love with the fetid Occupy “Movement” doesn’t mean Penn Security Bank should pay higher taxes. I’m weary of your cliche vengeance against capitalism and you’re not even on the ballot yet. Go away.

    And to the Democrat cheerleaders on this message board: puff, puff, and pass to me because if you think this guy’s got a shot or strikes fear in any Republican hearts, I’ll have whatever you’re smoking.

  12. His economic progressiveness could really resonate with the people of the 10th who are by and large very much still in the middle of the recession. Looking forward to seeing more from Adam and hoping he can quickly get the infrastructure together to get on the ballot.

  13. Looks like Democrats are willing to take on tea party incumbents all across PeeYay, even in the T. Bodes poorly for the GOP, even if the challengers lose.

Email:
  • Will tonight's U.S. Senate debate affect your decision?


    • No. I've already decided on how to cast my vote. (81%)
    • Yes. Anxious to hear from both candidates (19%)

    Total Voters: 27

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