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EXCLUSIVE: Geologist to run for Republican primary in 6th District

Just when it looked like the crowded GOP primary in the 6th Congressional District was getting smaller, another candidate is poised to throw his hat in the ring.

Walt Hufford, a Chester County geologist who has made a career managing environmental cleanups, will formally announce his candidacy Thursday. In an interview with pa2010.com Wednesday ahead of his announcement, Hufford, who lives on a farm outside Coatesville, signaled that he would apply the same clean-up mindset from his environmental career to a new career in politics.

“I want to go to Washington to leave it better shape than it is right now,” Hufford said. “I love my country, I’m passionate about my country. I’ve spent most of my career … leaving properties in better shape than I’ve found them, and I want to bring that to the 6th District and leave it better than it is right now.”

Hufford has formed a federal committee and will begin raising money in earnest when his campaign Web site goes live Thursday. A St. Louis-based political consulting firm is advising him in the early stages of his campaign. In a statement to be released Thursday, Hufford describes himself as fiscally conservative, “but moderate on other issues,” and he adamantly rejects narrow ideologies and so-called litmus tests and purity tests that have recently made noise in the party.

“Our country needs the Republican Party to do more than just oppose policies,” he will say Thursday.

Hufford, who also serves on the board of Pennsylvania Environmental Council, faces significant political obstacles in announcing his candidacy relatively late in the game, when he is at least the sixth candidate to run and more are still mulling a campaign. With businessman Steven Welch and state Representative Curt Schroder well into raising money for an expensive primary, Hufford has no intention of equaling their spending.

“I’m going be able to raise enough money to run an effective race,” he said. “Am I going to be able to match them dollar for dollar? I have no intention of doing that. I’m going to put out my message and we’ll let the chips fall where they may.”

Hufford said he had been laying the groundwork for almost six months, talking with party leaders, and that with most voters still just beginning to tune in he’d have plenty of time to catch up.

“In terms of the voters, it’s really not late at all,” Hufford’s political adviser Robert Miner said. “They’re really not looking at this race yet. Walt’s actually been preparing to run for several months.”

And Hufford said he welcomed the opportunity of running in a large primary field.

“I think it’s going to give the voters a good chance to look at all the candidates and decide who’s the best candidate to move forward in the general election,” he said. “It’s good to see choices. That’s what makes this country so great, that we give people a chance to participate, and I admire all the people running.”

He faces Schroder, Welch, Howard Cohen and Patrick Sellers in next year’s primary to succeed incumbent Republican Jim Gerlach, who is running for governor. Lower Merion Township Commissioner Scott Zelov is also considering a run.

December 16, 2009 at 11:51 am

--Dan Hirschhorn

Tags: PA-6, Walt Hufford

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