TED BORDELON / WIRE PHOTO
Shaughnessy Naughton will face Kevin Strouse in the Democratic primary next May. Both hope to defeat incumbent Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) in the 8th district election next November.
By Ted Bordelon
Wire Managing Editor
Shaughnessy Naughton doesn’t fit the archetypal model of congressional candidate that the average 2013 American voter might expect.
She’s 35, a former scientist and a current business owner. She has no prior political experience.
But Naughton doesn’t view that as a detriment.
“I’m fed up with the constant gridlock in Congress,” Naughton said. “The only way we’re going to change that is bringing in people with fresh voices.”
Born and raised in Point Pleasant, Pa. and a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, Naughton says that her background as an infectious disease researcher and a local publisher of home-for-sale magazines gives her a “unique perspective” as she attempts to unseat incumbent Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) in the 8th district election next November.
“His years in office haven’t produced a whole lot and he’s afraid of meeting with his constituents,” Naughton said from the Point Pleasant General Store. “The way he does vote is really against what people in the district want.”
Naughton said she was referring to Fitzpatrick’s positions on stem cell research, his vote for the Paul Ryan budget and congressional inaction that led to raised interest rates on student loans.
“All of these things are really painting a bleak future for the middle class and people trying to enter the middle class,” Naughton said.
Naughton will face Kevin Strouse in the Democratic primary next May. Strouse has, thus far, outraised Naughton, $254,000 to $89,000.
Naughton said that she wasn’t worried about the early fundraising figures, however.
“We started in earnest in basically June so I think we did OK,” Naughton said.
She announced her candidacy in May, a month after Strouse did.
If elected, she said that her top priority would be to give Bucks County voters a local voice from someone who was born and raised in the county.
“I think we need to have a Bucks County voice representing us in Washington and not a Washington voice representing us in Bucks County,” Naughton said, noting that Strouse relocated to the district in March.
While she is not an isolationist, Naughton said that she is running for Congress to bring the nation’s focus back to cultivating a strong U.S. economy.
“Since September 11, our national focus has really been overseas and the challenges there,” Naughton said. “I think it’s time to bring it back here and focus on how we’re going to continue to be the world’s leader.”
While her platform is fairly progressive, Naughton said that her experience as an entrepreneur has taught her that common ground can be found with those from all parts of the political map.
“In my career and my business I have a lot of clients that are all across the political spectrum and a lot of times we have really lively debates,” Naughton said. “The one thing we agree on is what’s going on isn’t working. That’s why I’m getting a lot of support here.”
