Politics PA: Interview with Kathy Dahlkemper

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Interview with Kathy Dahlkemper

Sy Snyder talks with 3rd District Congressional Candidate Kathy Dahlkemper about her buzz-creating run for Congressman Phil English's seat.

SS: In June, Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call's Stuart Rothenberg profiled
you as one of only four Congressional candidates in the whole country to
watch. Why do you think that is?

KD: Well, I can¹t speak for him, but I believe he saw two things; one, that I
am a uniquely qualified candidate that truly can represent the people of my
district. I'm a small businesswoman, community leader, mother of five, I
have 20 years of health care experience. I've lived the lives that those in
my district are living. In fact, he referred to me as a citizen
politician, a term that I really like. Secondly, I believe he recognizes my
opponents' vulnerability. In 2006 while outspending his democratic rival by
22 to 1, English was only able to garner 53% of the vote. Clearly Mr.
Rothenberg was right, our recent poll shows me up by 1 point and English's
favorability rating at an all time low.

SS: What issues made you want to run for Congress?

KD: I initially decided to run because of the Iraq War. I¹ve been against the
war since day one. I have personally seen the negative effects of this war
on families, our communities and the country. My nephew just finished his
fourth tour of duty in Iraq and a friend who lived with me during high
school returned from a year on the ground with post-traumatic stress
syndrome. It was a mistake for Bush and Congressman English to get us
involved in Iraq. We need to bring our troops home, safely and with honor
through an organized disengagement.

       Of course, in my district we've been
hit hard over the years with job losses in the steel and manufacturing
industries. As a small businesswoman I understand the challenges facing
businesses and the need for quality, family-sustaining jobs. I put a jobs
plan together in the primary with focus on investment in alternative
energies, eliminating tax benefits for businesses that ship jobs overseas,
investment in infrastructure. Essentially, what this region has lacked is a
pro-active leader working to protect, retain and create jobs. As I have
said many times, I will work to make sure our children can stay in this
District and raise their families here.

SS: What issues do you think people in your district are the most concerned
about?

KD: Jobs or the lack thereof is the most pressing issue. As I said, we've
lost thousands of good paying jobs over the last 14 years and these jobs
have not been replaced. Let me tell you a story from when I was going door
to door during the primary. I met a man who was working in his yard getting
it ready for sale. He told me how he just lost his third job in eight
years. He had a good job at each of these three companies and each of the three
had left Mercer county and went either overseas or south. He was frustrated
and sad that he had the leave the town where he grew up, where he raised his
children, in order to find a family sustaining wage job. Rising gas prices
and our dependence on foreign oil is the other key issue. I hear it every
day how the rising gas prices and food prices are effecting the way people
live. Eliminating our dependence on foreign oil is both a domestic issue
and security issue. Immediately, we should insist the oil and gas companies
start drilling on the 68 million acres they already have leased and we must
crack down on speculators. As a long term solution, we must develop
alternative energy sources so we can create jobs and reduce our dependence
on foreign oil. Drilling on the already leased land will help in the short
term but for a long term solution, we must look to alternative energy. What
I won¹t do that my opponent has been doing for years is take money from the
oil and gas industries and then give them preferential treatment (while they
are making record profits). Health care, the war, education along with a
myriad of local issues are of concern to folks.

SS: What kinds of discussions have you had with national Democrats regarding
funding your campaign?

KD: The National Democrat Party has been very supportive all along and I
am very appreciative of all that they've done and continue to do for our
campaign. Taking on a 14 year career politician is no easy task. I'm
confident we have the right team with the right support to succeed.

SS: How would you like to respond to Congressman English's charge that your
fundraising has been "dismal"?

KD: What is truly dismal is English¹s record on protecting American jobs,
on the environment, on veterans issues among others, and this dismal record
is reflected in the polling numbers. More than half (52%) give English
negative job ratings and fewer than three in ten (29%) say they will
re-elect English.

SS: What has it been like running as a Democrat in an area that has voted
Republican consistently in the last several elections?

KD: It's been a wonderful experience overall. As a newcomer to politics
I had no idea what to expect, but I¹ve got to tell you that I love the voter
contact. I've gotten positive response everywhere I go and I'm just not
seeing the partisanship you¹re referring to. The voters are much more
focused on how they¹re going to fill up their gas tanks and who¹s going to
give them real solutions rather than party politics. I've consistently told
People that I don't care if it's a Republican idea or a Democratic idea, if
it's a good idea for the 3rd district then I¹ll support it.