Karen Shuey: Primary 2022: 4 candidates compete for GOP nod in 6th Congressional District

Apr. 29—Four Republicans are competing for the nomination in the 6th Congressional District.

Former Chester County Chamber of Commerce President Guy Ciarrocchi, businessman Steve Fanelli, real estate agent Ron Vogel and businesswoman Regina Mauro are seeking the Republican nomination in the May 17 primary. The winner of the primary will face Chrissy Houlahan, a Chester County Democrat who is seeking her third term, in the general election.

The 6th Congressional District includes all of Chester County and parts of Berks County, including Reading.

U.S. representatives serve a two-year term and receive an annual salary of $174,000.

We asked the candidates to respond to four questions:

Guy Ciarrocchi

Residence: Tredyffrin, Chester County.

Age: 57

Background: Ciarrocchi previously served as president and CEO of the Chester County Chamber of Commerce. He has also served as a top official in former Gov. Tom Corbett's administration, as the director of public affairs for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and as a township supervisor.

Website: OurGuyForCongress.com

Why are you the best person for this position?

My experience has prepared me to fix our problems — and to defeat Congresswoman Houlahan. From serving as chief of staff to Congressman (Jim) Gerlach to serving as CEO of the Chester County Chamber of Commerce, from serving as an Archdiocese of Philadelphia officer to being a Little League softball coach, my work has prepared me for this moment.

We are facing four crises: run-away inflation; violent crime; putting parents back in charge of their kids' education; and government that's too big and out-of-touch. I'm prepared to solve these problems.

As the former CEO of the chamber, I know inflation has harmed our families and small businesses — let's stop paying people not to work and get American energy out of the ground.

As a former prosecutor, we must support our police with the tools and training to fight violent crime and protect our communities.

As a fighter for school choice from scholarships to charter schools, I increased parents' choices for our kids' education. Our work is not done.

I was the first chamber president to speak out against the lockdowns. I led the effort to limit Wolf's authority over our lives. Some have rhetoric, I have a record — on the issues that matter most to our families.

What do you think is the single biggest problem currently facing Pennsylvanians and what would you do to address that problem?

Inflation is crushing our family budgets, harming our already weakened small businesses and making America weaker to fight against our enemies.

We are suffering with inflation because Biden, Houlahan and the Democrats are making a series of bad decisions — based on politics, rather than doing what would help. Inflation will cost our families $5,300 more this year — more than we spend on groceries in a year.

When prices shot higher; they told us that things weren't really that bad. Then, they blamed everyone else. Since the Democrats won't change; we need new leadership in Congress to hold Biden accountable and turn things around.

Thankfully, there are answers to inflation — based on commonsense. Biden must restart the Keystone XL pipeline and reduce and modernize government regulations to get our oil and Pennsylvania gas out of the ground and safely into our homes, businesses and cars.

And the government must stop paying people not to work. This will also help with the broken supply chain.

Increasing our energy and increasing the workforce will fight inflation and revive our local economy.

The United States is suffering through a period of severe inflation. What specific steps do you believe need to be taken to address this issue?

Inflation is eating away our paychecks and savings. It will lead to unemployment and more suffering. It's crushing middle class and lower income families.

But there are commonsense solutions. Increase American energy production. Stop paying people not to work. Keep our schools open. Stop wasteful spending.

Step one: Increasing American oil and gas will not just save us money at the gas pump, it will lower production, shipping and delivery costs.

Stop paying people not to work. This will stabilize small-businesses and help with supply chain shortages — our empty stores shelves. We must increase our supplies to lower costs and improve our quality of life.

Keep our schools open: Not only will this help our children's mental — and physical — health, but it will also allow parents to be at work, which will help with supply chain and productivity. And parents will not be forced to pay for unnecessary child care.

Washington must stop wasting our tax dollars. This is a double problem: our money is wasted, and the extra spending is driving inflation higher. Inflation can be fixed. Republicans will use commonsense, to do the opposite of what Biden, Houlahan and the Democrats have done the past two years.

Do you think it is important for legislation to receive bipartisan support? Why or why not?

To fix inflation, help our children, fight crime and reduce the growing power and control of government, we must undo the mistakes of the Democrats over the last few years.

Bipartisanship can be a positive goal — if the policies and legislation are focused on helping people, not growing power in Washington. But it's not a goal in and of itself. Results matter.

The focus should be on finding policies that work. The focus must be on results not partisanship. In Congress, I will work with anyone of either party willing to work on commonsense solutions for our short-term and long-term problems.

The Republicans must lead the way because the Democrats have voted together to create this mess. In fact, Congresswoman Houlahan has voted with Biden and Pelosi 100% of the time. And the sad reality is that the Democrats have focused on micro-managing our lives and growing power and spending with tragic results.

When elected, my focus will be on restoring power to us — not government; and bringing down inflation, fighting violent crime and ensuring parents are in control of their children's education. I will work with any Republican — and any Democrat — who shares those goals.

Steve Fanelli

Residence: West Chester, Chester County.

Age: 60.

Background: Fanelli launched a small outdoor fencing company in 1987. Within a few years the company grew and today the fencing company serves Berks and Chester counties. He is also a volunteer for Thorncroft, a world-renowned therapeutic equestrian center in Malvern.

Website: fanelliforcongress.com

Why are you the best person for this position?

I love America! My prime motivation for wanting to go to Washington, D.C., is to improve life for all citizens, especially those in the 6th. I am not going there for a job, or to obtain power or for any other reason except that I am deeply saddened when I think about the future of the U.S. for our children if the same corrupt, amoral individuals remain in power and continue to destroy the American Dream.

I have deep roots in this district, along with connections and support of both the residents and small businesses of this district. My experience as a business owner for decades has provided me with the managerial skills necessary to address the problems that we face with practical solutions. Since I am retired, I have the time and energy necessary to dedicate myself

to public service.

What do you think is the single biggest problem currently facing Pennsylvanians and what would you do to address that problem?

In different sections of the state the problems vary, but I believe the current inflation levels of gas, food and other goods and services impacts all Pennsylvanians. In addition, the open border which allows a flood of fentanyl to invade our streets endangering our youth and our security needs to be addressed. Since the Democrat Party took control of all three branches of the federal government, we have seen a serious threat to our children with the promotion of policies such as critical race theory and gender identity. There are countless other issues that must be addressed, and I will do this by using commonsense solutions, without ever deviating from the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.

The United States is suffering through a period of severe inflation. What specific steps do you believe need to be taken to address this issue?

The causes of inflation are deep and complicated, mostly stemming from the failed economic policies, excessive regulations and war on American energy by the Biden administration. Ultimately, it is up to the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates to get inflation under control because they, along with the federal government, used money we don't have in a feeble attempt to fix our problems. The printing of more money made citizens' savings less valuable.

Specific steps that must be taken by Congress: revert back to the Trump administration's energy independence policies; elected officials must cut unnecessary spending even if that makes them unpopular; enact programs that motivate people to work rather than to stay home; eliminate regulations that discourage entrepreneurship and small business; end illegal immigration which is putting a massive financial drain on our already in-debt country; keep criminals off the streets and make schools safe, so our youth have the opportunity to become productive members of society. In summary, reverse everything that the current administration and Democrats like Chrissy Houlahan are doing, and inflation will right itself.

Do you think it is important for legislation to receive bipartisan support? Why or why not?

Absolutely, legislation must receive bipartisan support. The division that has been created by the left and promoted by the mainstream media, big tech and the Washington, D.C., establishment hurts all Americans and serves only to give those entities more power. Americans are craving a government that uses commonsense to make the U.S. flourish. We need opinions and input from all sides to come up with solutions that will work in our unique melting pot of a country.

Regina Mauro

Residence: Tredyffrin, Chester County.

Age: 59.

Background: Mauro owns an importing business. She received her bachelor's degree from Villanova University and her master's degree in business from Georgia State University. Before starting her own business, she worked for an American multinational consumer credit reporting agency for much of her career.

Website: reginamauroforcongress.com

Why are you the best person for this position?

Most qualified — Effective representation doesn't just require academic background and professional accomplishments. It requires a record of conservative activism proving not just what one stands for, but what one has done. Only I fulfill all three given documented history of years of passionate and effective advocacy for the issues and values we are sent to Congress to defend.

Electable — I am the one most equipped to defeat Christina Houlahan because only I:

—Neutralize her appeal to moderate women regardless of party affiliation.

—As a Hispanic, only I can grow the conservative base through effective outreach and most sincere motivation and ability to equally serve underrepresented conservative minorities.

—Bring national donor interest to the 6th (only one with endorsements from national conservative organizations or personalities in the Hispanic, Black and gay communities).

Needed — The most underrepresented group in Congress is conservative women. At 42%, conservative men are overrepresented, followed by progressive men (30%) and progressive women (21%). Conservative women remain at a meager 7%. Making matters worse, Pennsylvania has only sent one Republican woman to Congress, ever. One of the most important roles of Congress is to be the "voice of the people." It is about time we worked towards its fulfillment.

What do you think is the single biggest problem currently facing Pennsylvanians and what would you do to address that problem?

All in critical need of attention:

—Out-of-control spending facilitated by excessive printing of dollars that devalue it.

—Irresponsible prosecutions causing substantial spikes in criminal activity.

—Labor shortages fueled by competing government subsidies.

—Ongoing decline of academic excellence matched by increasingly bloated and bureaucratic Department of Education that seems more focused on emotional/social rather than intellectual/skills development.

One thing remains close to the top: Election integrity. As long as the process remains open to manipulation by those with the means to control equipment or flood communities with untraceable unsecured ballots, the outcome will be questioned, participation will drop, discord and tribalism will settle, and power will be shifted to the few who control the process and whose motivations may not be to prioritize all of the above concerns. A first step is to require a federally issued voter ID to be validated and cross-checked when processing each ballot. We already have a federal agency issuing voter IDs for all citizens, the U.S. passport. One of the State Department's goals is to "protect the integrity of the U.S. passport as proof of citizenship." It's about time we treated our right to vote at least as valuable as our ability to travel.

The United States is suffering through a period of severe inflation. What specific steps do you believe need to be taken to address this issue?

Record-setting and longer periods of inflation signal a need to reduce spending — particularly given strained supply chain. Instead, the current administration continues to justify massive spending by either labeling growing inflation as temporary, the fault of external actors, what is prescribed to control it or addressing existential threats like climate change. Meanwhile, the deficit grows as does the need to finance it. This causes either additional borrowing or printing more money further devaluing currency and fueling inflation.

We must:

—Facilitate flow of goods to remove stress from the supply chain.

—Reduce transportation costs.

—Reduce or streamline port regulations.

—Ensure adequate infrastructure in place at ports of entry.

—Introduce measures that would cause spending reduction like legislative line-item veto requiring Congress to vote on requests to rescind specific appropriations within days of submission, without filibuster, and solely if it reduces the deficit.

—Require full and advance disclosure to the public of all major spending proposal line items. It leads to accountability, as does the publication of already existing waste and abuse.

Do you think it is important for legislation to receive bipartisan support? Why or why not?

Most legislation passes in the House with bipartisan support. This is a good thing for the country as it promptly moves more bills on to the Senate for consideration and a vote. It is also points to existing collaboration and skilled negotiation in areas of common concern for their constituents. While I believe more focus should be placed on such areas, others are intrinsically as polarizing as they are essential to the protection of our liberties and our core values. Those are the battles we also must have.

Ron Vogel

Residence: Charlestown Township, Chester County.

Age: 36.

Background: Vogel is a real estate agent who works primarily in Chester, Berks and Montgomery counties. He previously owned a small business and worked as a day trader in the stock market.

Website: rontherep.com

Why are you the best person for this position?

I'm the best choice for Republicans to nominate because I'm the only candidate who has put together a cohesive strategy on how to defeat Chrissy Houlahan. Despite being the least "politically experienced" candidate in the field, I earned nearly 60% of the votes at the Republican Committee of Chester County nominating convention.

I know the issues that the voters of Pennsylvania's 6th District care about and I can articulate clear distinctions between the views I share with most voters and Chrissy's extremist positions.

What do you think is the single biggest problem currently facing Pennsylvanians and what would you do to address that problem?

The greatest problem facing Pennsylvania right now is the Biden-Houlahan economic policy of spending-induced hyperinflation. This has already robbed every Pennsylvanian of a portion of their income, and the poorer you are, the greater the impact. I will slam the brakes on this economic policy by voting to restrict wasteful spending, lift all COVID-related restrictions, and bringing jobs back to America.

The United States is suffering through a period of severe inflation. What specific steps do you believe need to be taken to address this issue?

The Biden-Houlahan economic experiment of trying to spend your way to prosperity has backfired horribly and we're all paying the price. The solution is simple: reduce government spending and make necessary reforms to entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security that are going bankrupt. I will also encourage American energy independence rather than attack the energy sector like Biden and Houlahan have done. American energy independence will lower the price of gas which will help to ease inflation.

Do you think it is important for legislation to receive bipartisan support? Why or why not?

Good legislation is good legislation regardless of who supports it as long as it gets the votes necessary to pass. That will be my attitude with any legislation I introduce or any legislation that is put before me. I don't care who is behind it; what I care about is whether or not it's right for the country.