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August 15, 2008

Concert enters 11th Congressional race to face off with Kanjorski, Barletta

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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Christopher Concert made it official Thursday – he’s running as a write-in candidate in the 11th Congressional District.

Concert will try to take votes away from 12-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, and Republican Lou Barletta, mayor of Hazleton. Concert, 35, said he is a Democrat. He lives in Swoyersville’s 3rd Ward – the only ward in the borough that sits in the 11th District.

“I guarantee this will be a well-fought race,” he said. “This race is not about Lou Barletta and Paul Kanjorski or myself. It needs to be about the over 250,000 residents who make up the 11th District.”

Concert, a perennial candidate in the Back Mountain area over the years, said he has formed a “great team” to help him.

“So don’t underestimate me,” Concert said. “We need to start talking about issues that concern our residents.”

Ed Mitchell, Kanjorski’s campaign spokesman, declined comment on Concert’s announcement. Barletta said, “I welcome Mr. Concert into the race and wish him luck.”

Concert said the economy and environment are two top issues in this election.

“I can relate to the hard-working folks who make up the foundation of this district,” Concert said. “I will fight to not only get new employment opportunities into our district, but to also work hard to keep the ones we have and keep our residents working.”

Concert said illegal immigration is another key issue. He said he believes that immigrants who want to earn the right to stay in the county and become citizens should do so in a timely fashion.

“Most of these people are hard-working individuals and should be treated with the respect they deserve,” he said.

On Aug. 5, Concert said he was entering the race, but admitted he probably can’t win.

Concert said he believes the new electronic voting machines make it easy to get write-in votes.

As a write-in candidate, he said no one “can boot me off the ballot.”

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