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ChesCo official considering PA-6 run
Chester County Recorder of Deeds Ryan Costello said Wednesday that he is considering a GOP run to replace departing Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6).
In a statement, Costello, also a Phoenixville attorney and former East Vincent Township Supervisor, said that his time as a volunteer for Gerlach’s campaign means he knows “what it will take to keep this a Republican district.”
It was the first indication that state Representative Curt Schroder (R-Chester) could be challenged for the GOP nomination to replace Gerlach, who is running for Governor. Doug Pike is the sole Democrat to declare his candidacy.
“I have a serious interest in the 6th District congressional seat, and in the coming weeks I’m going to continue to talk to the tax payers and community and party leaders who I know are equally concerned about the excessive spending in Washington and the ramifications for future generations,” Costello said. “We need to create jobs and promote economic development in the Tri-County region by eliminating regressive business taxes and reducing health care costs for employers so they can begin to grow and prosper again. As Recorder I see first-hand the impact of regional real estate trends on families and seniors and the only way to stimulate the housing market is to stimulate the job market.
“I have the energy to run an aggressive campaign, and the experience and intelligence to be a strong, thoughtful candidate with common sense ideas that reflect this diverse district,” he added.
July 15, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Tags: Curt Schroder, Doug Pike, PA-6, Ryan Costello














wow
Jul 15th, 2009
get in line
Stosh
Jul 15th, 2009
If Curt Schroeder is the Republican candidate, you might as well mark it off as a lost seat. He’s way too conservative for the 6th district.
Good to see some new blood stepping up. We need a younger generation of Republicans to step up, just as they did in the 1994 election cycle and retook Congress. But this time, the party needs to stick to its ideals and core values – lower taxes, balanced budgets, and fiscal responsbility
Joe Hart
Jul 16th, 2009
AGREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED.
DOUG PIKE IS A LEFTIST OF THE WORST KIND. He was part of the liberal media his entire life and now feels he can buy this seat with his daddy’s war chest from his days as a LONG ISLAND Congressman.
Start reading his writings and you’ll see that his guy is an extreme liberal. We must defeat this man.
Joe in Wynnewood
Jul 16th, 2009
Doug Pike is a leftist and Elvis just left the building. Jim Gerlach, a supposed moderate who voted with the then GOP majority 100% of the time when his vote was needed by the leadership to pass a bill, held onto the district custom drawn for him in 2002 by the skin of his chin three of the four times he ran. The district has been trending Democratic, along with the rest of the country outside the deep south, as moderates continue to abandon the Republican Party as it lurches ever further to the right. If Schroeder is as conservative as you say, he probably is a cooked goose.
As for Costello, it’s pretty much impossible for business taxes to be regressive, so if that statement is indicative of his capabilities, well, things will be looking good for flipping yet another Northeastern Congressional seat blue.
QP
Jul 17th, 2009
Joe Hart,
You said in earlier comments that Doug Pike just moved here. Where did he move from? I thought he lived in Haverford.
Get Smart
Jul 19th, 2009
State Representative Curt Schroder is a thoughtful, principled man with a strong
grassroots following. The more he is underestimated, the more likely he is to
win the 6th Congressional District.
karlub
Jul 20th, 2009
I generally agree the GOP would benefit from a new generation of candidates, and Mr. Costello fits that bill. Demographically.
Thing is, if you learn a little about the various candidates, I think you will find the bulk of Mr. Costello’s support will be from the “old” GOP in Chester County. I could be wrong. I know Ryan a little bit, and know he will make a thoughtful, well-liked candidate.
But for those looking for a change of pace, Rep. Schroder is probably the candidate of choice. He is indeed conservative. Nevertheless, though, he is a conservative that is well liked across the aisle by virtue of the fact he has been a champion of many pieces of legislation with populist appeal.
This, I think, is his advantage. In a primary, or a general, Rep. Schorder is unlikely to be running against anyone who can remotely compete with him on legislative merits.
Of course, it is entirely possible the voting public disregard such mundane matters as legislative accomplishments. But if that is indeed the case, it is not something worth celebrating.