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PLYMOUTH TWP. — State Sen. John Yudichak said Thursday he has decided against running for Congress.
Yudichak, 47, of Plymouth Township, said after many “thoughtful conversations” with family, friends, and citizens from across northeastern and central Pennsylvania, he decided to continue his service in the state chamber and not seek the Democratic nomination in the race for the 11th Congressional District.
U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, announced earlier this year he will not seek re-election for a fifth term. Instead, Barletta announced he will seek the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate, the seat currently held by Democratic incumbent Bob Casey of Scranton.
While he’s passing on a shot at Barletta’s job, Yudichak will be seeking another term in the state Senate in 2018. The 14th Senatorial District he represents includes parts of Luzerne and Carbon counties.
“In recent years, I have worked to build public-private partnerships that are attracting new technology jobs to Wilkes-Barre, manufacturing jobs to the South Valley corridor, and health care jobs to Hazleton,” Yudichak said. “Furthermore, our Senate office has been a full partner in remarkable local efforts to revitalize many of northeastern Pennsylvania’s best small communities like Nanticoke, Pittston, Jim Thorpe, and Lehighton.”
Yudichak said he has worked to establish bipartisan, regional leadership on key community issues that has helped with the continued success of the SHINE after-school program, the reclamation of hundreds of acres of mine-scarred lands, and the investment of hundreds of millions in public infrastructure.
In Harrisburg, Yudichak has served as the Democratic chair of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.
“I have championed environmental legislation that balances growing energy sector jobs with cleaning up our rivers, preserving our state forests, and protecting every Pennsylvanian’s right to clean air and water,” Yudichak said. “While I am humbled by the spirited enthusiasm of both local and national leaders who sought my interest in a campaign for the 11th Congressional seat, the clear advice from family and friends is the fight for a better Northeastern Pennsylvania is a fight best continued in the Pennsylvania State Senate.”
Yudichak talked about his family, especially his four daughters.
”In addition to continuing our work in the state Senate, there are four very good reasons why I have decided against running for the United States Congress,” Yudichak said. “And, those four good reasons are Sarah, 11; Anna, Evelyn, twins age 9; and Grace, 5. Public life requires much sacrifice from a young family, and I have already asked a great deal of my daughters. The thought of my daughters having to give up even more of our time together is simply, in my heart and mind, too much to ask of them.”
Yudichak said when he was trying to reach his decision, he took his four daughters to lunch. He said he explained to them — his “presidential cabinet” — that if he was elected to Congress, his salary would double.
“They looked at me and said that we could ‘FaceTime’ a lot on the computer,” Yudichak said. “But I don’t want to be a Skyping dad. I don’t want to raise my daughters on a computer screen.”
Yudichak said it came down to deciding where he could be the most effective — where he felt he could do the most good.
“It remains the highest honor of my life to serve the people of northeastern Pennsylvania in the state Senate — an honor that I will work at every day to earn and an honor that I accept with the deepest of gratitude and respect for the voters who have hired me to do the job,” Yudichak said.
In the 11th District race, Dan Meuser of Kingston Township, and Berwick councilman Andrew Shecktor, both Republicans, have announced for the seat. Robert Alan Howe, a Democrat from Carlisle, is also running, as is Republican state Rep. Stephen Bloom of Cumberland County. Republican Andrew Lewis, of Harrisburg, is also reportedly interested in running for Barletta’s seat.