The 6th congressional district looks to get interesting.
Mike Leibowitz, a Montgomery County real estate executive, is preparing to announce his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Congress in the 6th Congressional District, a seat currently held by Rep. Jim Gerlach, R-Montgomery County.
“I know the 6th District needs a change,” said Mr. Leibowitz, who also sought the Democratic nomination in 2006. “I believe many voters in the district have grown weary of Republican policies and have become more open to Democratic values.”
A 29 year old resident of Lower Merion Township, Leibowitz runs a award winning firm dedicated to restoring neighborhoods and historic homes throughout the area. His business experience and deep roots in the region give him insight into the needs of the district. “I have listened to people to understand what they look for in a congressman,” the fourth-generation Pennsylvanian told Keystone Politics.
Leibowitz lost the nomination in 2006 to party leadership candidate Lois Murphy, a lobbyist and attorney. Murphy had also run unsuccessfully in 2004, but has indicated she is ready to cry uncle and not run in 2008.
Gerlach has been viewed as vulnerable, based on his narrow victories and changing demographics of his heavily gerrymandered district. Pennsylvania’s 6th congressional district includes parts of Montgomery, Chester, Lehigh and Berks Counties. The largest cities in the district are Reading and Norristown.
The Democratic Party establishment has made numerous attempts to woo a candidate in the district, but has been unable to field a challenger. Among those purportedly passing on a 2008 run are Philadelphia magazine editor Larry Platt, actress Melissa Fitzgerald and Senator Casey’s brother Christopher.
Other rumored candidates include former State Senator and radio personality Bob Rovner, sports industry and union attorney Richie Phillips, plus Bob Roggio, a Chester County native with close ties to Senator Bob Casey.
Blog accounts of his 2006 run describe Leibowitz as handsome and energetic, with well researched positions and original ideas. Despite his enthusiasm he was unable to buck the establishment challenger, but things are always different the second time around.
“I learned a great deal from talking to the citizens of the district,” said Leibowitz, a graduate of Villanova Law School. “To beat Jim Gerlach we really need a candidate who has not been poisoned by the political process.”
Run Mike, Run!
Gerlach is an empty suit. He can be beaten, though it’ll take a smart campaign and a great deal of money.
PA 6 can only get traction on TV via Philly, which is one of the biggest markets in the country…and therefore extremely expensive.
Gerlach has used PA/VA consultant John Brabender in the past and will likely do that again. They are not afraid to get ugly, early and they have strong connections throughout the state. On the other hand, they watched their fortunes slide as Santorum lost, Melissa Hart got upset, Bob Ney imploded and David Vitter got his comeuppance — so it ain’t like they’re on an upswing!
It’s time to let Gerlach go back to pitching footballs and get a smart Progressive into Congress from that district!
Piltdown man
Gerlach needs a strong challenger
I’m glad this race is finally getting some interest. The trouble is that Gerlach has intelligently tacked to the center since his close scrape with death in 2006.
To be a strong challenger, Mike Leibowitz should model himself on “Ideal Candidate.” Please see the “Ideal Candidate” blog at “http://idealcandidate6pa.blogspot.com/” for more info.
RPP
Ideal candidate in the 6th
RPP – Not sure I understand your blog, though I like the idea. Maybe you could make it a little more clear for KP readers… in a nutshell, what does the Ideal Candidate represent?
Ideal Candidate
The blog represents my attempt to change the culture of the race to pick a challenger to Jim Gerlach. The thrust of the “Ideal Candidate” site is to create a model of how a Democratic challenger could create consensus around a “game changing” campaign. My fear is that without this type of intervention, the challenger will be either a weak candidate or some sort of “celebrity” candidate who is drafted because of name recognition but does not have a good idea of why he or she is running except as a “favor” to the local Democratic Party. The “Ideal Candidate” is one who forges a new consensus among suburbanites and residents of older manufacturing towns around a program of middle class tax cuts and federal support for infrastructure development. Middle class tax relief is a natural Democratic issue and should be contrasted with the types of “tax incentives for investment” that Republicans favor which are code-words for skewing the tax code in favor of the wealthy. More broadly, Ideal Candidate wants to shift politics to real issues of the common good and away from identity politics, where Republicans can continue to get votes from groups whose economic interests are not served by their pro-investor policies.
Another way of saying it...
Is that “Ideal Candidate” is pro-investment, not pro-investor.
Constable Eric Bradway should run for the 6th
I think Constable Eric Bradway a Proven Vote getter should run for the 6th Congressional Run he has proven he can win an election
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