Dinniman endorses Trivedi for 6th District
11.6.2009
DAN KRISTIE
Daily Local News
Reading physician Manan Trivedi, who is seeking the Democratic nomination to run for the 6th Congressional District seat, got a boost on Wednesday.
State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19th, of West Whiteland, announced that he supports Trevedi.
Dinniman, who served as a Chester County commissioner for 15 years, has a lot of sway with both the county's Democrats and Republicans.
He said he hopes his endorsement will help Trivedi in his primary election battle against Doug Pike, a former newspaperman from Lower Merion.
"I believe Manan Trivedi has the best chance to win in November," Dinniman said. "He has a very compelling life story. He appeals to Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives."
Trivedi grew up in a working-class household in Berks County, and after obtaining his M.D. he served as a battalion surgeon for the Marine Corps in
Iraq. He went on to become a health policy adviser to the Navy Surgeon General's office.
The 6th District contains portions of Chester, Berks and Montgomery counties. Dinniman said he believes that a candidate from Berks or Chester counties stands the best chance of winning.
"In previous elections, I think one of the things that helped (incumbent Republican) Jim Gerlach was that he was a hometown guy," Dinniman said. "Montgomery County will likely go Democratic, no matter who the Democratic candidate is. So the real battle will be in Chester and Berks counties. To have a hometown person is the essential ingredient to winning the district."
Pike, however, has a significant financial advantage over Trivedi. Pike has committed $1 million of his own money to his campaign, and has already contributed half that amount.
Trivedi has proven himself a competent fundraiser, but Pike's personal wealth will be difficult to overcome.
One of the Republican candidates seeking the 6th District seat has likewise shown himself willing to commit his personal funds to his campaign. Steve Welch, an entrepreneur from Upper Providence, Montgomery County, has loaned his campaign $500,000.
Dinniman said he doesn't like the idea of candidates being able to buy elections.
"What you have in both the Democratic and Republican parties is candidates who come into an area where they have not been active over the years and put a great deal of their own money on the table," Dinniman said. "In both the Republican and Democratic primaries, voters should ask not just which candidate has put down the most of their personal money, but how the candidates have served their community."
Trivedi said that he is honored to have Dinniman's support and hopes it will help him in Chester County.
"Sen. Dinniman is one of the true pioneers of the Democratic Party in Chester County," Trivedi said. "He's shown a real bipartisan approach to bringing people together and he continues to do good not just for Chester County but for the state."
Dinniman earlier considered a run for the 6th District, but ultimately decided that he preferred his job in the state Senate. Bob Roggio, the Democrat who ran for the 6th District seat in 2008, has also endorsed Trivedi.
Dinniman will formally announce his endorsement at a party at Roggio's house later this month.
In addition to Welch, three Republicans are seeking the GOP nomination for the 6th District seat. They are State Rep. Curt Schroder, R-155th, of Downingtown; Chester County Controller Ryan Costello, of East Vincent; and Business Consultant Howard Cohen, of Lower Merion.
Gerlach, who has represented the district since 2003, will not run for re-election. He is seeking the Republican nomination to run for governor.
To contact staff writer Dan Kristie, send an e-mail to dkristie@dailylocal.com.
State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19th, of West Whiteland, announced that he supports Trevedi.
Dinniman, who served as a Chester County commissioner for 15 years, has a lot of sway with both the county's Democrats and Republicans.
He said he hopes his endorsement will help Trivedi in his primary election battle against Doug Pike, a former newspaperman from Lower Merion.
"I believe Manan Trivedi has the best chance to win in November," Dinniman said. "He has a very compelling life story. He appeals to Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives."
Trivedi grew up in a working-class household in Berks County, and after obtaining his M.D. he served as a battalion surgeon for the Marine Corps in
Iraq. He went on to become a health policy adviser to the Navy Surgeon General's office.
The 6th District contains portions of Chester, Berks and Montgomery counties. Dinniman said he believes that a candidate from Berks or Chester counties stands the best chance of winning.
"In previous elections, I think one of the things that helped (incumbent Republican) Jim Gerlach was that he was a hometown guy," Dinniman said. "Montgomery County will likely go Democratic, no matter who the Democratic candidate is. So the real battle will be in Chester and Berks counties. To have a hometown person is the essential ingredient to winning the district."
Pike, however, has a significant financial advantage over Trivedi. Pike has committed $1 million of his own money to his campaign, and has already contributed half that amount.
Trivedi has proven himself a competent fundraiser, but Pike's personal wealth will be difficult to overcome.
One of the Republican candidates seeking the 6th District seat has likewise shown himself willing to commit his personal funds to his campaign. Steve Welch, an entrepreneur from Upper Providence, Montgomery County, has loaned his campaign $500,000.
Dinniman said he doesn't like the idea of candidates being able to buy elections.
"What you have in both the Democratic and Republican parties is candidates who come into an area where they have not been active over the years and put a great deal of their own money on the table," Dinniman said. "In both the Republican and Democratic primaries, voters should ask not just which candidate has put down the most of their personal money, but how the candidates have served their community."
Trivedi said that he is honored to have Dinniman's support and hopes it will help him in Chester County.
"Sen. Dinniman is one of the true pioneers of the Democratic Party in Chester County," Trivedi said. "He's shown a real bipartisan approach to bringing people together and he continues to do good not just for Chester County but for the state."
Dinniman earlier considered a run for the 6th District, but ultimately decided that he preferred his job in the state Senate. Bob Roggio, the Democrat who ran for the 6th District seat in 2008, has also endorsed Trivedi.
Dinniman will formally announce his endorsement at a party at Roggio's house later this month.
In addition to Welch, three Republicans are seeking the GOP nomination for the 6th District seat. They are State Rep. Curt Schroder, R-155th, of Downingtown; Chester County Controller Ryan Costello, of East Vincent; and Business Consultant Howard Cohen, of Lower Merion.
Gerlach, who has represented the district since 2003, will not run for re-election. He is seeking the Republican nomination to run for governor.
To contact staff writer Dan Kristie, send an e-mail to dkristie@dailylocal.com.
