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Underdogs gear up in the 17th

To political watchers, the race in the 17th Congressional District is a showdown between incumbent Democrat Tim Holden and state Senator Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill)—as well as one more competitive House race in a state full of them.

But before the two can face each other in November, they’ll each have to face a primary against underdogs determined to make a dent. Argall’s GOP opponents recently made their first mark, when the Dauphin County Republican Committee opted against endorsing a candidate in the race. Perhaps worried of being anointed by the party in a climate hostile to so-called establishment candidates, Argall reportedly asked local GOP leaders not to endorse. And Democrat Sheila Dow-Ford has vowed to tap into liberal unrest with Holden after he was one of only two House Democrats in Pennsylvania to vote against health care reform legislation last year.

Argall faces a particularly crowded primary, with former minister Allen Griffith, veteran Frank Ryan and businessman Josh First all seeking the party’s nomination. For now, they’re focused like all candidates on gathering the signatures needed to get on the May 18 ballot. In an interview, Griffith said he doesn’t feel like an underdog.

“My challenge is to get my message out,” he told pa2010.com. “I believe I have a really good chance if I reach the people.” Griffith said he decided to run because people are “tired of politics as usual.”

“I’m really concerned about the direction of the county and I feel Holden should be defeated,” he said. “I just felt that I could not lend my support to any other Republican candidates. I want to take this step and go to Washington and make a difference.”

He’s running a low-cost campaign so far, with his son Jeff as campaign manager and a mostly volunteer staff. For Ryan, the crowded primary is familiar, after losing a nominating contest in 2004.

On the other side of the aisle, Dow-Ford has said she’s in the process of building a campaign staff—but did not respond to multiple requests seeking comment about the particulars. In earlier interviews, Dow-ford, a member of the state board of education and a former counsel to the state’s higher education assistance agency, has said Holden’s vote against health care reform was the last straw.

“Candidly, I had a moment of questioning the wisdom of swimming upstream,” she said, “and then a lightning bolt of clarity that this must be done because Tim Holden has not effectively and  honestly represented the interests of the 17th. We need a person who cares about our families, our friends, neighbors and communities. Tim cares about Tim.”

A Holden aide has not responded to message from pa2010.com, but in public comments, Holden has argued that getting challenges from both sides of the aisle shows he’s representing the district well.

February 22, 2010 at 7:45 am

--Peter Panepinto

Tags: Allen Griffith, Dave Argall, Frank Ryan, Josh First, PA-17, Sheila Dow-Ford, Tim Holden

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