Local progressive activist Steve Bacher was scheduled to enter the Democratic primary in the 8th Congressional District last week, during a campaign kickoff in Newtown
By Tom Waring
The Times
Steve Bacher was scheduled to enter the Democratic primary in the 8th Congressional District on Saturday, after the Times went to press.
Bacher, a progressive activist, planned a campaign kickoff at the Temperance House in Newtown.
Bacher moved to Bucks County in 2008, and today lives in Lower Makefield. He has worked as an intergovernmental relations officer for the federal department of Housing and Urban Development and director of digital marketing for Bucks County Community College.
Politically, he is a former vice chairman of the Newtown Democratic Club.
He volunteers on Newtown Township’s Environmental Council and is co-founder of Bucks Environmental Action.
Lawyer and U.S. Navy veteran Rachel Reddick is already seeking the Democratic nomination. However, some Democrats have soured on her because she’s missed voting in some elections and has been registered Republican most of her life. She claimed a Board of Elections clerical error might have caused her change of party request to Democrat to not be recorded.
Many Democrats seem excited about likely candidate Scott Wallace, a rich lawyer expected to spend $10 million of his own money on the race. Wallace is the grandson of former Vice President Henry Wallace,
Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick is expected to face Dean Malik and Valerie Mihalek in the primary. Malik is a lawyer from New Britain Township, an Iraq War veteran and a former Bucks County assistant district attorney. Mihalek is a former Yardley councilwoman.
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Peter J. Wirs, who describes himself as a “Democratic-Republican” candidate in the 4th Senatorial District, is running on a platform of creating area governments, which would serve as a level between the state and county.
Wirs would split a portion of Bucks County into two new counties. Neshaminy County would consist of the Street Road corridor. Pennsbury County would service other parts of Lower Bucks County.
Wirs, 62, is running in a district that consists of Northwest Philadelphia and Southeastern Montgomery County.
A Republican, he will likely challenge Sen. Arthur Haywood in the Democratic primary in the heavily Democratic district.
Wirs argues that Philadelphia needs a Republican voice in the GOP-dominated legislature, now that Rep. John Taylor is not seeking another term. ••
