By Matt Snyder
3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT — The field of potential Republican challengers intent on taking on incumbent U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, Erie, D-3rd District, next November is filling out.
A Cochranton-based insurance agent, Steven M. Fisher, 51, says he plans on seeking the Republican nod in next spring’s primary.
Fisher would face off with retired businessman Paul Huber, 65, from Vernon Township in Crawford County, and state Attorney General agent Elaine Surma, 53, of Edinboro.
All three candidates listed the economy and jobs at the top of their priorities list, attacking the Democratic-controlled Congress for stimulus spending and anticipated tax increases.
Fisher said many people figure health care is at the top of his list of issues, since he sells health insurance. He said the issue is important, but jobs and overspending by government are his first concerns.
He and Huber both talked about trying to spur economic growth through tax breaks for small businesses.
“We need to remove some of the burdens and the regulations that are putting handcuffs on businesses,” Huber said.
Fisher said if the government raises taxes on employers to cover some of its projects, businesses would raise prices of their products.
Fisher and Huber also both said health care reform is their No. 3 priority. Huber said the bill going through Congress will kill jobs by taxing businesses and the consumers who buy their products. He said he would work on protecting consumers from having insurance taken away for illnesses, make insurance more portable, and reform insurance markets and medical liability for doctors.
Fisher criticized the “public option” of the current bill. He said the public option will compete with private insurers with an unfair advantage that some fear could drive them under.
Ms. Surma also said the economy is her top priority. National security was second and she put concerns over big government in third place.
On the economy, she boosted job-creating legislation, particularly investments in high-tech businesses.
Speaking on national security, Ms. Surma criticized a recent move that shifted trials for terrorism suspects from military to civilian courts.
Ms. Surma has not formally announced her campaign, and said she would wait until January to avoid any conflicts of interest with her current job at the Attorney General’s office in Erie.
Mrs. Dahlkemper is a freshman congresswoman who defeated Republican Phil English in 2008.
