By Alex Roarty
PoliticsPA Staff Writer
roarty@politicspa.com
UPDATED: Mike Kelly officially declared his candidacy in the 3rd District Wednesday morning, saying the country’s “leftward tilt” is “hurting real American families.”
“I don’t believe that the solution to our country’s challenges will be found in Washington,” Kelly said in a statement. “I am convinced now more than ever that private citizens must enter public service, and bring with them solutions that originate in the hearts and minds of the American people, not the Washington specials interests that give us failed policies.”
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Multiple GOP sources tell PoliticsPA that Butler County businessman Mike Kelly is expected to formally declare as a Republican candidate in the 3rd Congressional District in the very near future.
“He hasn’t filed yet, but we expect an announcement shortly,” said one GOP operative.
Another Republican source said the announcement has already been scheduled for next Thursday.
Kelly, a car dealer from the southern part of the district, would join an already crowded GOP field lining up to challenge Democratic incumbent Kathy Dahlkemper.
Businessman Paul Huber, who has already raised $100,000, and insurance agent Steve Fisher, among others, have declared interest in seeking the Republican nomination in the district.
Kelly, however, appears poised to be one of the front-runners for the nomination.
The 3rd District resides in Pennsylvania’s northwest corner. Dahlkemper won the seat from incumbent Phil English in 2008 in a very close vote.
Gerry-it sounds like you and A. Randal Smith came out of the same mold, both ignorant, bitter and don’t know what the hell you are talking about!
George ‘Mike” kelly is what we need. I’ve known Mike since early grade school. He and his family have very strong family values, and also have a very strong Christian Value. For some people this is a negative, but those people are people who don’t know what true Christianity is. We pray for them that some day their eyes will be opened. Mike is a hope for the family and for decency. Give him a try people, you will see he is what we need. He will be a relief from “old style politics, and politicians”. Lets get our country back to where it needs to be, a country we can again be proud of. Not a country we are ashamed of as we are now.
Alfred Kiser is right on!! HUBER IS A FAKE AND A DEMOCRAT. I would NOT even say he is a RINO; he is bad news. Just because you can put $300, 000 behind your campaign means nothing. Steve Fisher, Ed Franz, Clayton Grabb, Mike Kelly, or Martha Moore is the way to go!! It is time to let people know that Paul Huber is an elitest fake. Supposedly, he met with Tom Ridge, Phil English, and Kathy Dahlkemper before he decided to run and of course, conveniently, change parties. Let’s get the word out – Huber is a Dem!!
HEY GERRY,
SOUNDS LIKE NO ONE BELIEVES YOUR NONSENSE.PEOPLE ARE A LOT SMARTER THAN YOU THINK—GO MIKE-YOU HAVE OUR VOTES!!!!
ALERT! RINO PAUL HUBER RUNNING FOR CONGRESS IN PA-3
Paul Huber (RINO) of Meadville, PA is running for congress in PA-3 on the Republican ticket. He was a Life-long Democrat up until last spring. So he is a RINO (Republican in name only). I believe that it’s as hard for a Democrat to suddenly adopt true Conservative core values as a skunk to change it’s colors! He is just trying to ride the tidal wave of Conservatism that is going to sweep the 2010 elections. We already got an Arlen Specter and we don’t need another one! Please help me expose this RINO for what he is! I realize that Ronald Reagan started out as a Democrat and slowly evolved in his core beliefs and values until, when he was in his 50’s, he became a Republican. Paul Huber is no Ronald Reagan! He did not switch over night just so he could win an election. We do not need another Arlen Specter!
Why Tea Party members are endorsing Steve Fisher for Congress in PA-3
As citizens, we are responsible for electing leaders that are of good moral character, exhibit incorruptible ethics and care deeply about our country. All too often, we get the leaders we deserve, because we have not invested in the time to learn about them. More often, we just blindly follow what the Democrats and Republicans have picked for us. Then too, so many American shrug their civic duty to even vote. That is the sad state of our country today. We need to choose honest leaders that believe that America is a christian nation and endeavors to do good. They should believe that the family is sacred and we are the ultimate authority, not the government. That if you break the law you pay the penalty. That justice is blind and no one is above it. They should believe that we have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results. We do not “Share the Wealth”, just the opportunity. That we work hard for what we have and we will share it with who we want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable. That it is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion. And finally, the government works for me. We do not answer to them, they answer to us.
We know that Steve Fisher believes in these principles and those of our “Founding Fathers”. Steve is also very active in the community. He is the past President of the Cochranton Music Boosters; is on the Board of the Crawford Area Scholarship Committee; serves on the leadership team for the International Referral Network (business organization); is a member of the Meadville Sertoma Club; serves on the Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce Golf Committee; teaches Sunday School at Grace United Methodist Church (Meadville); and has volunteered for numerous other organizations and events. He is also an approved instructor for teaching Continuing Education courses to Pennsylvania insurance agents. He is the son of an Army officer who graduated in 1976 from Fairview High School (Erie County) and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Gannon University (Erie County) in 1980. Steve obtained his Life and Health insurance license in 1980 upon graduation from Gannon, and made the decision to remain in northwest Pennsylvania to raise his family. He has resided in Cochranton, PA (Crawford County) for the past 17 years with his wife Carole, who teaches First Grade. He has three children and one grandson.
We are so tired of our elected leaders lying to us. Their moral depravity makes us so ashamed. If we continue to elect these type of leaders, our country will continue its downward spiral into a decadent abyss.
So, we owe it to ourselves, our families, and our country to elect leaders who realize that we will not settle for less than real leadership and that they will have to provide genuine direction because it is the best path toward election. All are invited to climb on board Steve’s campaign wagon. You will be glad you did! You may learn more, volunteer and donate on Steve’s website or contact Steve directly at:
Steven M. Fisher http://www.SteveFisherForCongress.com
3rd District Congressional
Candidate 2010
P.O. Box 1404
Meadville, PA 16335
(814) 724-0914
Al Kiser – District Coordinator of “The Patriotic Resistance”
Union City, Pa.
Does anyone notice a pattern here? Buying Congressional seats.
Reading the comments posted on this page has been a real eye opener.
It is obvious that “Gerry” has a personal axe to grind with Mike Kelly that has nothing to do with him running for Congress. It appears to stem from an insidious jealousy and envy over what Mike has done with his life and to utilize the gifts he was given to better his community.
Mike Kelly is an honorable man who would never to stoop to the same level Gerry has in an attempt to tear another person down. “Gerry”, Republicans generally do not ascribe to the politics of personal destruction that you seem so apt to do.
Face it “Gerry”…there are three sides to every story. The third being the actuallity of the situation. Mike did not run his brother out of the family business. Anyone perpetrating such a lie should be ashamed of themselves and anyone posting such nonsense tips their hand as to who they really are.
Mike Kelly has served the community of Butler for many years, donating both his time and his money. He has served on the School Board, Community Redevelopment Board, City Council, and various other groups and committees.
He was instrumental in the “One Warm Coat” initiative through the Lighthouse Foundation, collecting 600 coats for children didn’t have one this winter. That is only one of the many things he has done to help others throughout the years. There are so many things he has done to help others, but never blown his own horn about it.
Mike has very capable people at his business to help if or when he happens to be out of town. That malarky about him always being away or on vacation is nothing but another example of the insidious jealousy and envy written of above.
Mike has great ideas to get our nation back on track! We need someone like him in DC, not the rank and file politicians that are there now. We need someone with the same voice as “us”…the people of Western Pennsylvania.
Mike has lived in Butler for most of his life. He saw it go from the thriving community it once was to how it is today.
Mike is honest, approachable, loyal, forthright and has integrity. He is someone anyone could be proud to call their Congressman. He will be a wonderful representative of PA in DC.
He does not have to run for Congress! He could stay here at home, run his business and live a quiet life. But he has chosen to put himself out there for the betterment of our community and our country.
He has proven that he can run a successful business and knows that we have to get this spending under control. Anyone with any sense at all knows you cann’t spend your way out of debt. It’s not possible! Our country is already bankrupt, thanks to the Junior Senator from Illinois, aka “Narcissist in Chief”.
Mike did not seek out a career in politics. He was asked to participate because he has so much to bring to the table.
They’re referring to Mike as the “Scott Brown of the PA Congressional race” on another site. He was already considered a frontrunner even before he announced his candidacy. (That should tell the naysayers like “Gerry” something.)
Mike Kelly is sacrificing so much of himself to do this…to be a part of saving our country before it’s too late.
We, as Republicans, should stand behind Mike and offer him all the support we can. He is the one who can and will beat Dahlkemper in November.
Voting in the Primary is of the utmost importance. We have to get him the nomination and send Mike to Washington, DC to fight for US!
“I like Mike!” and support his campaign and him to the utmost of my abilities.
To respond to Gerry’s comment above, my father has been a good friend of Mike Kelly for YEARS! My father (who is 84 years old, a veteran of two wars, a former POW of the Japanese) is one of the most honorable men I have ever known (I have traveled extensively around the world and have not lived in Butler for years and have met MANY people in my travels and can say that with confidence). And I can assure you, my father WOULD NOT befriend just anyone!! He does not take friendship lightly as he doesn’t have time for people who are full of shit!
Mike Kelly is a good man and quite worthy of my father’s friendship. Just as that old saying goes “you are who your friends are”.
And having been born and having lived in Butler for 20 years until moving away, Gerry, I am familiar with the likes of people like you. From the sounds of your comments, I can only assume that you are jealous. It’s just typical class- warfare bullcrap…..because of your own inadequacies, your jealousy is evident in your comments that Mike is ABLE to go on vacation, ABLE to have a successful business, is out of town, probably doesn’t tolerate slacking at HIS business, makes difficult decisions regardless if that makes him ‘popular’ or not. I’d like to hear your resume, Gerry????
You are the type of person who would vote for John Murtha time and time again..which has made western Pa. the laughing stock of the rest of the nation!!!!
It’s also evident to me that the problems of towns dominated by Democrats, such as Detroit, Buffalo, Baltimore, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Chicago are the direct results of corrupt and stupid governship!!! I am, by the way, a former Democrat who has since seen the light, educated myself and tossed aside the party of Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the narcissist- in-chief, Barack Hussein Obama.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results!!!! Keep voting for the idiots in charge and you will get what you deserve!!!!
Western Pa. (and this country) needs someone like Mike Kelly who has PROVEN that he can run a business, has the skills to lead, can tackle the tough issues and do what is not always the most popular thing to get results and the REAL change that is needed in places like Pennsylvania and all of the rust belt towns!
Mike Kelly DOESN’T NEED TO DO THIS!!!
There has been a grass roots call out to special people who are being asked to run for political office….to save our Republic before it’s too late.
Mike Kelly has answered this call!
I hope the people in Western Pennsylvania will put party affiliation aside and vote for the BEST candidate, not the political party for a change!!
I have had the pleasure to serve on the Butler Area School Board with Mike Kelly for 4 years. He is an honest, sincere, and a person I am glad became my friend.
At any meeting we attended or any negotiations we were involved in he always the taxpayer in mind. I believe he would bring that same integrity to Congress. He is a person who is for the people and as long as I have known him has always helped people.
I think he would be a great asset to all the taxpayers in this area. I will be glad to call him my Congressman.
I am Chuck Swidzinski and will sign my full name!!!
I have known Mike Kelly for over 20 years. He is honest, approachable and generous. He has built his business step by step and provided secure employment for his employees. He is a very concerned citizen who has decided to run for congress because he believes he can make a difference. I believe he will make a difference if he is elected.
I sincerely wish him good luck. Please support Mike in ebery way you can. Frad Meyer.
It’s so apparent that “Gerry” does not know Mike Kelly because if he did he would know what a wonderful, kind, generous and honest man he is. I could not think of a better candidate for congress.
Mike Kelly running for Congress is the BEST news I’ve heard in a long time!
He is a man of integrity, high morals and good ethics, and is impeccably honest in both his personal and business lives.
Mike is known for his good works in the community of Butler and beyond; I know firsthand of his generosity in helping those in need.
Mike is very approachable and takes time for everyone he encounters.
He is unwavering in his Faith and loyalty to his family and friends. With Mike, you always know exactly where you stand, as he is a “straight shooter”.
Mike Kelly is exactly who we need in Congress right now.
MIKE KELLY IS A SNAKE,I’VE KNOWN HIM FOR MANY YEARS SINCE MOVING TO BUTLER IN THE MID 1960’s. PEOPLE AROUND HIM ALWAYS SAID HE’D MAKE A GREAT POLITICIAN BECAUSE OF HIS ABILITY TO LOOK YOU IN THE EYES AND LIE TO YOUR FACE AND THEN STAB YOU IN THE BACK! I HEARD FROM OTHERS HE RAN HIS OWN BROTHER OUT OF THE FAMILY BUSINESS WHILE HIS BROTHER WAS ON VACATION, HE TREATS HIS EMPLOYEES TERRIBLE, AND WHEN A CUSTOMER NEEDS HIM HE IS ALWAYS OUT OF TOWN OR ON VACATION. HE SHOULD FIT RIGHT IN TO POLITICS IF THIS SNAKE GETS ELECTED, HE HAS THE BACKSTABBING AND LYING PART MASTERED! HE WILL NOT GET MY VOTE !