Bochetto feels he is best choice for U.S. Senate seat

WILKES-BARRE — George Bochetto, a trial lawyer from Philadelphia, said he decided to enter the race for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania because he is appalled at what has been going on in the country.

Bochetto, 69, is a Republican who lives in center city Philadelphia, also known as a political bastion for Democrats. Bochetto said there are just 115,000 Republicans registered in Philadelphia and only 6,800 of them have actually voted in recent elections.

That aside, Bochetto said he feels there are far too many undecided voters as the May 17 primary approaches, and he is confident that once voters get to meet him and find out more about him, he can win their support.

Bochetto said he has invested $1 million of his own money and he has raised another $1 million. He said he expects to raise more.

“It won’t be $20 million, however,” Bochetto said, referring to the two wealthy candidates, Dr. Mehmet Oz and David McCormick, who appear to be leading in most polls.

Bochetto said he has been traveling across the state, talking to voters to hear what’s on their minds. He said there are several issues he hears most: national security, election security, schools/education, public safety and gun violence.

“Look, I don’t need this job,” he said. “I don’t need the aggravation. But I want to stand up and make a difference and I believe the best place for me to do that is in the U.S. Senate. I’m the best candidate in this race.”

Bochetto said he has received numerous endorsements, many coming from law enforcement groups throughout Pennsylvania.

One endorsement he didn’t get was from former President Donald Trump, who recently endorsed Oz, despite Bochetto having been a member of Trump’s impeachment defense team.

“Would I like his endorsement, sure, but that will not deter me,” Bochetto said. “In fact I was with President Trump the other day.”

Bochetto said he will do all he can “within my power” to get his message out. He said his TV ad campaign will begin soon to allow voters to get to know him better.

Bochetto said Luzerne County will play a large roll in selecting the Republican nominee. Bochetto said he is keenly are on the infrastructure issues in the county and he intends to see they are addressed, if elected.

A few other items of note:

• Bochetto said he successfully fought to protect the Christopher Columbus statues in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

• He is also locked in litigation with Philadelphia’s District Attorney Larry Krasner, where Bochetto represents the family of Danny Faulkner, a police officer who was murdered, and he is fighting to keep the killer in prison.

“Philadelphia has seen the murder rate double and car jackings have tripled,” Bochetto said. “It’s getting to the point that people don’t want to visit the city’s downtown.”

• Bochetto is endorsed by several police organizations, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Bucks County Fraternal Orders of Police, among others.

• He recently stated that he would not support Leader Mitch McConnell, but that he would prefer new Senate leadership. He also stated that he would endorse Trump in 2024.

Background

Bochetto and his wife, Christy, have two adult children. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y.

His young life at an orphanage and the difficult years spent cycling through the state foster care system had a profound effect on him. He grew up quickly, developed a remarkable ability to understand people, and turned the challenging childhood hand he was dealt into an adult life of accomplishment at nearly every turn.

The law is his life’s work, but Bochetto is also a fierce advocate for conservative and cultural causes close to his heart.

Known as being a fighter, Bochetto is a lifelong member of the athletic community in Pennsylvania. In 1995 he was appointed Pennsylvania State Boxing Commissioner and served in that role until 2002, completely overhauling the regulation of boxing in Pennsylvania while at the organization’s helm.