Another day, another prospective candidate for PA-6. This time it’s 2010 candidate Doug Pike.
Pike lost to Manan Trivedi in the Democratic primary of 2010 by just 714 votes. Trivedi went on to lose the general election to Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-Chester) later that year and again in 2012.
Berks County Democratic Chairman Tom Herman told the Reading Eagle that he is supporting Pike at this point, even though Pike lives in Montgomery County.
“I believe he has one of the best chances of winning,” Herman said.
PoliticsPA is seeking comment from Pike.
The hypothetical Democratic primary is filling up quickly as State Senator Judy Schwank (Berks), Montgomery County Commissioner Leslie Richards, Manan Trivedi and New Democratic Coalition spokesman Phil Larue have all expressed varying degrees of interest in the race.
Before Gerlach announced his retirement a newly registered Democrat, Mike Parrish, had already declared his candidacy for the seat. According to Dave Wasserman of Cook Political Report, Democratic House Whip Steny Hoyer (Maryland) will host a fundraiser in Philadelphia for Parrish.
In Gerlach’s open #PA06, nat’l Dems getting behind candidate: @WhipHoyer to hold Philly funder for Michael Parrish (D) in Feb, per source.
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) January 9, 2014
Gerlach’s seat is only R+2, which makes it exceptionally competitive as an open seat, so Republicans are lining up too. State Senator John Rafferty, Former US Senate candidate Sam Rohrer, who lives just outside the district, as well as Chester County Commissioner Ryan Costello and Chester County Republican Chairman Val DiGiorgio would be likely candidates.
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9 Responses
The Reading Eagle probably figured that schmuck Tom Herman knows what he is talking about. Of course he favors Doug Pike, who has not stopped campaigning since his loss to Trivedi in the OLD 6th Dist. He could then take the credit for a win. Doug comes around and spends his money in Berks. Maybe I should give it a go, but through the miracle of redistricting I now live one city block outside the 6th, but I should not let that stop me, it did not stop Trivedi. This time the Dems need someone different.
Barb, I strongly prefer a Chester County candidate as well. But I’d like to wait and see if Doug Pike runs before anointing Mike Parrish.
Mike Parrish is the best candidate for this seat: hard-working, focused, successful. And he’s from Chester County from where 60% of the votes needed to win…
It’s likely that Reading Eagle made the mistake themselves.
Panza and Guest-
The article in the Reading Eagle made the mistake of claiming Pike was from Montco.
“He [Tom Herman] said he personally at this point favors Doug Pike of Montgomery County…”
Now, it’s not clear if the Reading Eagle made the mistake of claiming Doug was from Montco, or if Tom referred to Doug being from Montco and the Reading Eagle failed to fact check it.
Pay-to-play seems to the course of business as usual in the Chester County courthouse. The Republican and Democratic Commissioners get their funds from the same law firms who benefit financially from business in the courthouse. It is no wonder that the Democrat, Kathy Cozzone, is mute in challenging the Republicans. Corruption is abundant in the Chester County Courthouse especially where the Democrat is concerned. Democrats should find better elected officials and not ones in the pockets of the Chester County Republican Party.
Guest:
Doug Pike lives in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County. I don’t see anyone from Montco running for this seat yet.
Not one viable candidate has been proposed by the weak and beleaguered Chester County Democrat Chair Michele Vaughn.
After her ‘pay-to-play’ removal of Phoenixville Solicitor for a Montgomery County-based attorney who donated thousands to Vaughn, it appears Vaughan is willing to outsource a Chester County seat to the Montco Dems. Vaughan sucks off fundraising to a personal secret PAC where she hoards money that if used would have put Julia Malloy-Good in the victory column for Judge. The Republicans ran an embarassing slate for the row offices. See http://www.unionvilletimes.com/?p=19134
Vaughan had to look hard to find a weaker slate but she found one. Having outsourced competitive Chesco Democrat races to the Republicans Vaughan now wants to outsource an overwhelmingly Chesco congressional seat to Montco. The hits keep on coming with Vaughan but the songs are wrong and off key
Mike Parrish
http://mp2014.com/prelaunch/internal/