News

December 22, 2009

Carney to get GOP challenger

Snyder County Commissioner Malcolm Derk has announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District.
Derk, 27, of Freeburg, will be seeking the Republican nomination to challenge two-term incumbent Democrat Chris Carney of Dimock Township, Susquehanna County.
Derk is the first Republican to enter the race. Two other names have surfaced in the 10th District – state Rep. Mike Peifer of Greentown in Pike County and former U.S. Attorney Thomas Marino of Lycoming County.
Peifer recently met with the National Republican Congressional Committee in Washington, D.C., and decided he would not enter the race.
Marino met with the NRCC on Friday and has yet to decide on a run for the Republican nomination. GOP leaders encouraged Marino to run in the 2008 election, but he withdrew from the race early.
Tory Mazzola, spokesman for the NRCC, confirmed Marino met with the committee to discuss his possible candidacy.
“Yes, Tom Marino met with us about this race,” Mazzola said. “We’ve met with others as well. The fact that people are stepping up to consider a run shows how vulnerable Carney is as a result of his partisan, job-killing voting record and a tough political environment for Democrats. Being a (U.S. Rep. Nancy) Pelosi puppet does not resonate with voters in Northeastern Pennsylvania who want jobs, not a partisan, big-government agenda.”
Mazzola said Derk has yet to meet with the NRCC, but he said “a handful of candidates” are interested in challenging Carney.
“I haven’t talked to or met with Derk,” Mazzola said. “We plan to have a strong candidate to contrast Carney’s partisan, big government votes. At this point, it’s early.”
For more information, read Wednesday's Times Leader.

Tweet	Follow @TLnews