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Costello: I’ve ‘lived, worked and played’ in PA-6
PHILADELPHIA—As he campaigns to succeed Jim Gerlach in the 6th Congressional District, Republican Ryan Costello is looking to present himself as something of an uber-native, intricately familiar with a district where he has spent his whole life. And indeed, Costello’s personal and professional experiences have taken him to most every corner of the gerrymandered district.
He grew up outside of Pottstown and went to school at Ursinus College in Collegeville. Law school in Villanova sat just outside the district, but in an area that could very well be pulled in when the district is redrawn after the 2010 census. He was later an East Vincent Township Supervisor and a Phoenixville attorney.
“I know this district,” Costello said in a recent interview at a downtown cafe here. “I’ve lived, worked and played here my whole life.”
And while careful not to criticize his opponents on either side of the aisle, he noted the freedom that comes from not yet having many family obligations (he is unmarried and doesn’t have children).
“I have the time to do this,” Costello said. “I have the intellectual stamina to do this. This district is always going to be challenging. It’s always going to be something that you have to work for every two years.”
When the district is inevitably redrawn, he said, his knowledge of the area would prove key in winning over new constituents.
“Whoever gets elected,” Costello said, “that person’s going to have this commitment to introduce themselves to any municipalities that are new to the district, so people don’t just feel they’re getting passed from one congressman to the other.”
Costello faces businessman Steven Welch and state Representative Curt Schroder (R-Chester) in next year’s GOP primary.
September 23, 2009 at 8:30 am
Tags: Curt Schroder, PA-6, Ryan Costello, Steven Welch
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Nick C.
Sep 23rd, 2009
Ryan Costello’s decision to stay away from criticizing is a bad call.
Especially with Steve Welch jumping districts to find his best chance to win, and Curt Schroder being too conservative for the district.
Costello’s decision will lose him the endorsement to Schroder, and Schroder will get crushed by Welch in a Primary.
in the district
Sep 23rd, 2009
Unmarried and no kids… yeah I guess he does have a lot of time his hands. What he doesn’t have is far more important. Unmarried and no kids means that he likely has absolutly no clue what working families with kids go through every day to pay bills, juggle schedules, get layed-off, lose health insurance.
He can be told how tough it is. He can do research and read books on the subject. He can have town halls.
But it’s likely he still doesn’t have a clue.
Walter S.
Sep 23rd, 2009
The suggestion that a business attorney and public official in his mid 30s does not understand the challenges faced by middle class families is a stretch and would seem an intended clever shot from his opponents. I don’t think Pike has a family either, just family money that he inherited.
I would rather keep the carpetbagger argument against Pike then preserve “I have a wife and kid argument.” Let’s be serious.
NoWalter
Sep 23rd, 2009
Pike’s father is still alive, according to wikipedia, so where is this “family money” you keep talking about? What a bunch of hooey. Do some research.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_G._Pike
Ken
Sep 23rd, 2009
Walter S. you are wrong. There is nothing clever about that shot.
A comment like that is precisely why the Republican Party is plummeting among under 40 voters and suffering huge losses in Southeastern PA.
Welch has a good story to tell and the money to tell it. Costello represents a demographic Republicans can’t seem to crack these days (young professionals).
Schroeder has a long record of public service. A career politician. Republicans get slaughtered in Southeastern PA when they run these guys.
Michael Livingston
Sep 23rd, 2009
This is very impressive, he has spent forty years identifying with a district whose boundaries have changed at least three times and which has a large hole in the middle of it. Either he is a very strange person or he is simply looking for a way to get a jump on Welch.
ChescoTom
Sep 23rd, 2009
Ryan seems like a really nice guy trying to take shots at both Welch (“I live in the district”) and Schroder (“intellectual stamina”). I’d be surprised if Ryan made it to the primary. That being said, I hope Ryan sticks around or considers another office. I think his time will come… just not now.
As for inheriting money, I’m no lawyer but I understand that in this fine country of ours you can inherit family money from both men and women, your father and your mother… and in some very unusual instances from grandparents. There is no debate that Pike is a wealthy individual who did not grow rich by writing for the Inqy or running the Amityville Asylum.