Dahlkemper wins four-way primary, will face English in the fall

By Matt Snyder
Herald Staff Writer

THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT- Kathy Dahlkemper is the Democratic nominee to run against Phil English for his 3rd Congressional District seat in the fall.

Mrs. Dahlkemper, who faced three other Erie-based opponents, won 45 percent of the vote in the district, which includes parts of Mercer County and all or parts of Erie, Crawford, Venango, Warren and Butler County.
She pulled in almost 45 percent of the Mercer County vote, according to unofficial results.

Mrs. Dahlkemper said Tuesday night that two of her opponents Erie Councilman Kyle Foust and lawyer Tom Myers conceded. Mike Waltner rounded out the field, pulling just 11 percent of the vote.

"I think I won every precinct I campaigned in except for one," Mrs. Dahlkemper said Tuesday night. "And I think that speaks a lot for the support I have throughout the district.

"It was because of hard work, she said. Going door-to-door, holding 30 house parties and meeting people from all walks of life."
Mrs. Dahlkemper, who with her husband owns a landscape architecture firm, said voters knew she'd take their struggles to Washington. She said that is why she is this year's change candidate.

But Phil English said Tuesday night that he's the real change candidate because of his experience, including his position on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

"The fact is, we can't afford to have a junior member of the House (of Representatives) staffing it at a time like this," he said.
English said he would also campaign on the I-80 tolling issue, which he has fought since a law was passed in the state legislature calling for tolls on the interstate to pay for infrastructure repairs across Pennsylvania.

Asked if she could raise funds to match English's, Mrs. Dahlkemper said "he's already way ahead on that front. But I do believe there's a lot of support that will come from both the Democrats locally and nationally."
English has proven a tough campaigner in the past and he wasn't letting Mrs. Dahlkemper savor her victory. He called on her Tuesday to release her federal tax returns as he has.

Mrs. Dahlkemper, who was attacked twice in the primary both on her anti-death penalty stance and on the relationship between her small business and work it has done for the Lake Erie Arboretum, the non-profit park she serves as director, said she plans to stay on-issue and will not go negative.

"I know it actually backfired on some of my opponents and I think that will happen again to Phil English if he goes negative," she said.
English said he expected a campaign with positive debates. "I think this is going to be an issue-oriented campaign."

With the battle against English ahead of her, though, Mrs. Dahlkemper said she would be taking Tuesday night as a chance to enjoy the crowd and the camaraderie, surrounded by hundreds of her supporters and friends.
"I'm just having a wonderful time. I'm going to enjoy tonight because I know the work starts tomorrow."