The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

July 14, 2007

Waltner enters race for Congress

Erie Democrat is lay minister

By Matt Snyder

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA — The latest challenge for U.S. Rep. Phil English’s seat in the 3rd District comes from Erie-based faith and community leader Moise “Mike” Waltner.

Waltner, 32, a lay minister in the Erie area who has worked to bring faith leaders together on social issues, will be running in the Democratic primary for the chance to face off with English.

So far, his competition includes Erie County attorney Tom Myers and possibly Erie County Councilman Kyle Foust, who has also expressed interest in the nomination.

Waltner said his two main issues will be bringing troops home from Iraq, and re-investing at home rather than abroad. He said in a release that moving away from debt and “broken promises” was a moral obligation.

With no prior political experience, Waltner said he is emphasizing in his campaign that he is not a politician. “If we want to make a change in Washington, then we need to change the type of people in Washington,” he said.

An Erie native and Pennsylvania State University graduate, Waltner said he was studying at Union Theological Seminary during the Sept. 11 attacks.

The day after the attacks, he said, he was in the World Trade Center area ministering to people and decided then to work in public service rather than as a minister.

Waltner also supports a host of other issues, such as trade reform and education, single-payer health care reform, and investment in renewable energy.

On energy, he said, “Rendell’s been very aggressive about this, but I think some support could come from the federal government as well.”

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