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Courting supporters, Lentz says ‘you won’t regret it’ (Video)

Courting supporters, Lentz says ‘you won’t regret it’ (Video)

WAYNE—State Representative Bryan Lentz (D-Delaware) said Tuesday that his time in Harrisburg had taught him that individual lawmakers can have an impact, and he promised to “do what I believe is right” if elected to Congress next year.

Speaking to supporters during an evening fundraiser at the home of state Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) here, Lentz reflected upon the one-vote margin Democrats had in the state House when he first came to Harrisburg in 2006.

“What my experience in the state House has taught me, it’s reaffirmed what I learned throughout life, and that’s that invidivuals can make a difference,” Lentz said during brief remarks. “So from a political perspective, who you elect makes a difference.

“If you send me to Washington, you won’t regret it,” he added. “You’ll be proud of me as a congressman.”

In introducing Lentz—and prodding his guests to shell out a few more dollars before the close of the fourth quarter filing deadline this week—Leach called him a “class act.”

“He was one of the leaders of the caucus even as a freshman. … He’s going to be voting the right way on the issues we care about,” Leach said.

Lentz is considered the Democratic front-runner in a primary against environmental lawyer Gail Conner and political consultant E. Teresa Touey. Former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan is seen as the presumptive Republican nominee, though former Fox29 anchor Dawn Stensland is considering a run.

Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-13), former state Senator Connie Williams and Montgomery County Democratic chair Marcel Groen were all set to attend the event before heavy snowfall forced the campaign to reschedule it for Tuesday.

See a video excerpt of Lentz’s remarks embedded above.

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December 29, 2009 at 9:45 pm

--Dan Hirschhorn

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  1. Stosh

    Dec 30th, 2009

    By the way, did Lentz also think it was “right” to miss one of the biggest votes in the legislature in the month of December — the vote on table games legislation? I heard rumors that he was down in DC campaigning for Congress. Can anyone confirm this? Is he nervous about Sestak dropping out of the Senate race to run for re-election to the House and trying to shore up support from the DCCC and other insiders?

    As long as those rumors are flying around out there, I would think big donors are going to keep their powder dry.

  2. David Diano

    Dec 30th, 2009

    Stosh-
    I can assure you that Sestak is too egotistical and foolish to drop out of his unwinnable Senate race, even if he is 30 points or more points behind. He can hold out on the possibility of something ill befalling Specter in the next 5 months. It’s not like he’s spending his own money.

    Many 7th-CD Dems have put up with Sestak’s crap for several years now. We are eager to send him back home to Virginia, and replace him with an actual PA Democrat. If Sestak were to attempt running for the 7th-CD, there would be a very uncivil civil war and there would be plenty more stories coming out about the real Sestak (one’s that even I haven’t heard yet).

    As for donors and money, I think the Lentz campaign is doing pretty well.
    1) I haven’t seen the numbers, but I suspect that his fundraising is several months ahead of where Sestak’s was in 2006. (ie Lentz is probably NOW were Sestak was in March 2006, and Meehan is behind where Weldon was)

    2) Lentz has more name recognition than Sestak had (the name “Sestak” still had under 30% recognition in June 2006, even after the primary. Though “that Admiral Guy with the weird name” was probably around 75% recognition.)

    3) The donors know that a Dem can win the 7th-CD and don’t want to lose the seat.

    Lentz will have no trouble raising money.

    In his speech, Lentz remarked that Sestak outranked him (Major vs Admiral). What was not said, but is well understood by anyone who has met both of them, is that Lentz outclasses Sestak.

  3. K . Martel

    Jan 2nd, 2010

    I have seen Rep. Lentz in action and I would never underestimate him . He was a good lawyer and has an excellent reputation in the Reserves . ( I know a lot of Civil Affairs officers). In 2006 he defeated a 28 year incumbent , who , though a scatterbrain and rather lazy , still had the Delaware County Republican organization and his major bud John Perzel’s help.
    He is going to be very difficult to beat .

  4. colonel klink

    Feb 10th, 2010

    Hey Stosh, its a bit too obvious that your a Meehan supporter. Why don’t you spend a little more of your time trying to confirm whether or not the rumor is true that Meehan’s kids put his woeful website together? Like Lentz did in 2006 with Gannon, he’s going to outwork Meehan and yet again defeat the ever-weakening delaware county republican party. Have you ever heard Lentz speak? Better question – Can Meehan speak?? Your opinion will change after they debate each other. Oh yeah, Meehan will duck that too! And while you are tracking down rumors, go confirm how it is that Meehan can be the District Attorney of Delaware County and the U.S. Attorney and yet never try a case! You have hitched your wagon to a superstar Stosh! Congratulations. Don’t worry he will still throw a party after he loses.

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