HERSHEY—Five Democrats running against U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-York) for U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District answered a series of questions during a forum Wednesday to try to demonstrate why they are the best candidates to face the Republican serving a sixth term in November.
The forum at the Hershey Free Public Library was organized by Hershey Indivisiblea grassroots organization aimed at promoting civic engagement, moderated by former Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq.
Janelle StelsonThe former longtime WGAL-TV anchor was the only Democratic candidate expected to be on the ballot in the April primary who did not attend Wednesday’s forum.
A Hershey Indivisible spokesman said Stelson confirmed she would participate but later declined. Stelson’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
In order to cover as many topics as possible, candidates were asked a variety of questions at the forum. Each candidate was asked what he or she saw as the most pressing issue facing Congress next year and how he or she planned to approach it.
“We need to make sure that our economy is controlled and that all the loopholes are closed in terms of income and disparity,” said Blake Lynch, former director of WITF. “And then that our health, our mental health and all the other issues that we pride ourselves on are taken care of and taken care of.”
Lynch added that rising housing costs and student debt being a barrier to future success are also key issues that could be addressed to support set the next generation up for success.
Mike O’Brienretired Marine, said “freedom” should be the top priority to ensure safety for future generations.
“True freedom… freedom from having to live paycheck to paycheck, freedom to feel safe in our communities in our schools, freedom from gun violence, freedom from crime, freedom to exercise the right to abortion, and last but not least, political freedom,” he said.
Shamamina DanielsThe Harrisburg city councilwoman, who was the party’s candidate against Perry in 2022, said the biggest issue on the table is immigration. She argued that immigration reform could have a positive impact on many issues, including addressing the health care worker shortage.
“We also need to normalize the tax base as someone who represented the city in a difficult financial situation,” Daniels said. “The power that comes with unleashing a group of people to be as productive as possible could help our city in ways that are unimaginable today.”
Businessman John Broadhurst said he is focused on eliminating health care debt, addressing child care and the housing crisis.
“Defending and strengthening democracy is our most urgent concern,” he said. Rick CoplenArmy veteran and board member of Carlisle School.
Support for Biden
The candidates expressed support several times during the forum for President Joe Biden, who will face Donald Trump in November.
“It’s clear that we as Democrats, and I absolutely intend to do this, are sending a clear message that the Biden administration is doing, I think, an excellent job of managing our economy, building jobs and doing all kinds of things to help people across the board,” Coplen said, although he added that “there’s a lot more that can be done.”
Lynch said his neighbors and constituents “don’t feel it” when it comes to Coplen’s assessment of the economy, adding that Perry was too busy fighting the culture wars instead of helping Main Street.
“There are positive aspects to what Joe Biden has done, where he’s going back to his roots in Pennsylvania, where he’s standing specifically with American workers,” O’Brien said. “He’s the most pro-union president in history.”
International problems
Broadhurst described the ongoing war in the Middle East as “the moral issue of our time” and said efforts should be made to support end the war immediately, rebuild Gaza and support the creation of a Palestinian state. He also cautioned President Joe Biden for his handling of the issue, saying the issue could cost Democrats the presidential election.
Daniels said that “we have to defend our moral values, and we also have to be strategic in our approach to global politics” and called Israel’s strategy towards Gaza “immoral.”
“And if we want to be a good ally of Israel, we have to make sure that Israel is not just operating from a military perspective, but also from a perspective of securing the region,” Daniels said. “Israelis and Palestinians are going to have to live with each other.”
Broadhurst argued that the war was not divisive. “It’s immoral, it’s unjust and the United States is the only force that can stop this now, it has to stop the killing,” Broadhurst said.
When asked about immigration and the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border, Lynch said it is an issue that needs to be addressed. “President Obama was clear on this issue during his term,” Lynch said, adding that the Biden administration should revisit the policy.
Final Statements
In their closing remarks, each candidate explained what unique skills they would bring to the position.
Coplen detailed his experiences in the military and as a school board member, as well as his ability to bring people together.
“I truly believe that we can solve our most difficult problems if we have the wisdom to say that government cannot solve all the problems,” Coplen said. “The private sector cannot solve all the problems, religious organizations cannot solve all the problems. But if we work together and make things happen, we can.”
Broadhurst said living abroad for about 20 years gave him a completely different perspective on the United States.
“I think to win this district, and not just in the primaries, we have to bring new people into the process,” Broadhurst said, citing African-American, Muslim and low-income voters as those whose voices should be heard.
Despite losing to Perry in 2022 7 pointsDaniels argued that her campaign had accomplished a lot, adding that the district had shifted left since redistricting and that she was already familiar with the “Perry playbook.”
“Scott Perry is vulnerable. We know he’s in a very difficult position,” Daniels said. “And national Democrats are targeting this race because they know Democrats can win. So I want to ask you to support a Democrat who you know is a Democrat, who has stood with you as a Democrat, instead of supporting people who you hope are Democrats.”
O’Brien said authenticity, humility and honesty are what win elections. He added that he has the resume, resources and coalition to defeat Perry.
“And the way I’m going to beat Scott Perry,” he said. “With the resume, I’m going to challenge him on his oath of office, I’m going to take everything he thinks is a virtue, freedom, patriotism, national service and leadership, and turn that into a vice.”
As he often did during the forum, Lynch emphasized his roots in the district where he has lived his entire life. “You should have a vetted, vetted local person living in your community representing you,” Lynch said. “This job is about local representation.”
Throughout the forum, the candidates rarely addressed each other directly, although Broadhurst criticized O’Brien for challenging his nomination petitions.
Perry, a former chairman of the conservative Freedom House Caucus, is seeking a seventh term in Congress. He is currently the only Republican candidate on the early ballot. He is one of two Pennsylvania Republicans on the Democratic Campaign Committee Goal List for 2024 incumbent members who intend to remove them from power as their goal is to restore the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.
Many national television stations see the race in the 10th Congressional District as tilting toward Republicans.
Perry’s campaign did not respond to the Capital-Star’s request for comment about the forum.
The 10th Congressional District includes all of Dauphin County and parts of Cumberland and York Counties.
The Pennsylvania primary election will be held on April 23.
