Pride head mulls run for 10th seat

BILL O ’ BOYLE

With U.S. Attorney Tom Marino opting out of the Republican 10th congressional district race, another potential candidate is moving closer to making a decision.

Dan Meuser, president of Pride Mobility in Exeter, said he is “imminently close” to deciding whether he will enter the race.

“I have definitely moved closer to making a decision,” Meuser said. “Partially because of Marino’s decision, but mostly because I’m being encouraged to run by so many community, business and political leaders.”

Meuser said he has been talking to a lot of people about the race and will determine if becoming a member of Congress would be to his liking and in the best interests of his family.

“I get along with people and I feel that is an important component of being a congressman,” Meuser said. “I also like the fact that I would be working for the people of the 10th District to make sure their concerns are met and addressed. It would be a great opportunity.”

Meuser said he doesn’t have a timetable, but is “imminently close” to deciding.

Marino, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, notified the National Republican Congressional Committee of his decision not to run.

Democrats claimed Marino’s decision reflected somewhat of a victory for incumbent Christopher Carney, a Dimock Township Democrat. Carney defeated Don Sherwood in November and took office in January.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said Marino’s decision shows that Carney has been a strong and effective congressman for the 10th District.

Ken Spain, press secretary for the National Republican Campaign Committee, downplayed the significance of Marino’s decision.

“I really think it’s a little ridiculous to be claiming victory in June of 2007,” Spain said. Carney is expected to seek re-election.

“There is no shortage of top candidates out there,” Spain said. “We are confident that a challenger will emerge and win back that seat. Chris Carney is a top target for us and he can and will be beaten in next year’s election.”

That brought a response from Rebecca Gale, communications director in Carney’s Washington office.

“With all due respect to Ken Spain’s opinion, it’s not up to him,” Gale said. “The decision on who represents the 10th District in Congress remains with the people of the 10th District.”

Claiming some sort of victory now speaks more to the Democrats’ concern for the district and whether they can hold onto the seat, Spain said.

“Look, we are still in the very early stages of recruitment,” he said. “We don’t endorse before the primary. We trust that the people of the 10th District will decide which candidate would be best for them.”

The 10th District race was the subject of an April 10 article in Roll Call headlined “A Battle Brews in PA’s 10th.” Roll Call bills itself as “The Newspaper of Capitol Hill since 1955.”

The lead paragraph said Marino was the consensus choice of GOP power brokers and “whether he runs could prove an early test of their ability to recruit preferred candidates into targeted races.”

In fact, Marino is quoted in the story, saying, “I hear good things about (Carney), and I think he’ll work very hard, and no one should underestimate him.”

While the story credits Carney for being “a good fit” for the seat, it also questioned how vulnerable Carney would be against “an ethically clean candidate.” Carney, who handily defeated Sherwood, “clearly benefited after it was disclosed that Sherwood, who is married, had an affair and then settled a lawsuit lodged by his mistress alleging physical abuse.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has placed Carney in its Frontline program, which is for vulnerable candidates and provides them with additional fundraising and operational assistance.

The national Republican group has been targeting Carney by lobbing direct press hits into the district via local newspapers and talk radio and some TV ads. Most of the ads attempt to paint Carney as being in lockstep with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Carrie James, northeast regional press secretary for the Democratic committee, said Carney’s effective leadership is no doubt part of the reason Marino decided not to run.

“The reality is Congressman Carney is doing exactly what his constituents sent him to Washington to do – fight for Northeast Pennsylvania families and change the way business is done in Washington,” James said. “Congressman Carney’s top priority is representing the families in the district and he’s going to continue to fight for what’s in their best interests.”