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Conner: ‘I am not an insider’

Gail Conner is playing catch up. As she seeks the Democratic nomination in the 7th Congressional District, she faces a front-runner opponent, state Representative Bryan Lentz (D-Delaware), who has a three-month head start, significant party support and more than $250,000 in the bank.

But Conner, an environmental lawyer who unexpectedly declared her candidacy last week, says an earlier start wouldn’t have changed much.

“I am not an insider, so I would not have that advantage,” Conner told pa2010.com in an interview Monday. “People need a choice and the solutions aren’t coming from Washington or Harrisburg.”

Conner, a delegate for Barack Obama in last year’s primary who did faith-based community outreach for the campaign, is still at the earliest stages of building her own campaign. She has formed a committee with the Federal Election Commission. She has launched a campaign Web site. And Walter Ludwig, a Washington-based political consultant who has managed House races in Pennsylvania and California, is working as Conner’s campaign manager, though the campaign plans to hire a permanent political chief soon.

And while it’s unlikely Conner will be able match Lentz’s fundraising ability, Ludwig said the campaign would be able to narrow the advantage enough.

“It’s a challenge that we’re certainly aware of, and we think we can make up enough ground,” he said. “We’re certainly going going to b e competitive on money. She’s already working the phones.”

But Conner’s strength, Ludwig said, “is going to be at the grass-roots.”

In the interview, Conner said she decided to run, in part, because of how she felt after writing a memoir, Healing Parties, which was published earlier this year.

“I just realized how blessed I was and how I had received so much as a result of the sacrifices of others,” Conner said. “While I’ve given back to my community, I felt it was time to make a higher level of commitment.

“We have a very very big problems in this country, but I don’t think they’re insurmountable,” she added. “I believe that I’m uniquely qualified based on my life and professional experiences to be a help in government.”

Political consultant E. Teresa Touey is also seeking the party’s nomination, and state Representative Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) is considering a run.

November 16, 2009 at 2:09 pm

--Dan Hirschhorn

Tags: Bryan Lentz, E. Teresa Touey, Gail Conner, PA-7

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