By Ted Bordelon
Wire Managing Editor
Kevin Strouse
Kevin Strouse scored his first building trades endorsement earlier this month, after the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 5 unanimously voted to back the Democratic candidate.
The union represents 1,000 active and retired members in the tri-state area.
“IUEC Local 5 endorses Kevin Strouse for Congress because Pennsylvania’s 8th District deserves a representative who will put politics aside and stand up for working men and women,” union business manager Ed Loomis said. “When Kevin served in the Army, he and his fellow Rangers got the job done. Kevin would take that same problem-solving approach to Washington to create jobs and economic opportunity in Southeast Pennsylvania.”
The former Army Ranger and CIA Officer was recently endorsed by Bucks County Commissioner Diane Marseglia, as well as the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1776.
“Local political leaders and working families in Bucks and Montgomery Counties are sending a clear message that Kevin Strouse has what it takes to defeat Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick in 2014,” Justin Lamorte, Strouse’s finance director, said.
Strouse will face publisher and former breast cancer researcher Shaughnessy Naughton in the Democratic primary in May 2014.
Shaughnessy Naughton
Naughton received a slew of endorsements last week from several local government leaders and influencers and from a political action committee that focuses on women in the tri-state area.
Det Ansinn, the president of Doylestown Borough Council, as well as Norval Reece, former Pennsylvania Secretary of Commerce, announced their endorsements of Naughton, who hopes to unseat Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick in November.
“She’s a business leader and a scientist by training, and I know she’ll be a strong, common sense voice for all of us,” Ansinn said. “If we’re going to break the logjam in Congress and get things done for Eighth District families, we can’t keep on electing the same, tired DC politicians.”
Reece said Naughton, who is a publisher and former breast cancer researcher. would be a “welcome breath of fresh air.”
Naughton was also endorsed by the Tri-State Maxed-Out Women’s PAC, a federal PAC that raises funds to support Democratic female candidates running for the House and Senate.
The PAC raised $336,000 and spent $295,300 in the 2012 election cycle.
Marcia Disctein Sudolsky, executive director of Tri-State Maxed-Out Women’s PAC, said that her PAC’s backing of Naughton was rooted in the candidate’s background as a scientist and small business owner.
“Shaughnessy will be a champion for women and families, and is committed to common sense economic solutions for the many among us who are still struggling,” Sudolsky said.
Naughton has been endorsed by Ironworkers Local 401, the Women’s Campaign Fund and the Women Under Forty PAC. She has also been placed on EMILY’s List.
