In their own words: Q&A with PA-17 candidates Chris Deluzio and Jeremy Shaffer

Beaver County voters will play a pivotal role in deciding the winner of Pennsylvania’s hotly contested 17th Congressional District race this year, as Democrat Chris Deluzio and Republican Jeremy Shaffer jockey for the seat now held by U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb.

After winning their respective party's nomination in May to compete for the U.S. House seat, Deluzio and Shaffer will appear on the ballot in the Nov. 8 midterm election in hopes of succeeding moderate Democrat Lamb, D-Mount Lebanon, who didn't seek re-election after losing his U.S. Senate primary bid to Lt. Gov. John Fetterman.

More:Deluzio to face Shaffer for Lamb's 17th Congressional District seat

Shaffer, a 45-year-old Republican software engineer from Pine Township, is co-founder and president of InspectTech, a software company for the management of bridges and transportation infrastructure. It has since been purchased by Bentley Systems; Shaffer now serves as a vice president at the company.

He served as Ross Township commissioner for six years. He has a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and has spent the past two decades raising his family in western Pennsylvania alongside his wife.

“I came from extremely humble beginnings, but worked hard in school, mowed lawns and was blessed enough to earn a scholarship to attend Carnegie Mellon,” Shaffer said. ”My college roommate and I started a business in our apartment to keep our roads and bridges safe. We grew it to employ many people, all right here in western Pennsylvania. I lived the American Dream and now feel a duty to make sure that dream is possible for generations to come.”

Chris Deluzio, a 38-year-old Democrat and Navy veteran who lives in Aspinwall with his wife and three children, is a voting rights attorney and policy director of the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy and Security. From serving in Iraq to working alongside the United Steelworkers for a successful union at Pitt, Deluzio said his life “has been driven by service.”

“After the 9/11 attacks, I took the oath to protect and serve our country as a 17-year-old at the Naval Academy,” he said. “I served as an officer in the Navy and deployed overseas multiple times, including a tour on the ground in Iraq.”

More:Lamb wins re-election; Parnell refuses to concede

Polls and political analysts suggest it's anyone’s race – the 17th Congressional District comprises all of Republican-leaning Beaver County and a chunk of suburban Allegheny County. Both campaigns and their financial backers have spent millions on TV ads in recent weeks.

The Times asked Shaffer and Deluzio to share their thoughts on pressing issues like infrastructure funding, abortion rights, criminal justice reform and petrochemical buildout in western Pennsylvania.

Here’s what they had to say.

(Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and space.)

Q: What are the biggest challenges facing western Pennsylvania and the nation?

Shaffer: Western Pennsylvanians are getting crushed by the rising cost of essential goods and services. With core inflation rising over 9% this summer, that is equivalent to having an entire month’s paycheck taken from you. The things we most commonly buy, such as groceries, gas, electricity, rent, or new mortgages, used and new cars, are up even higher than that. Making matters worse, our retirees are seeing a double hit of having their nest egg decline with falling investments compounded by surging inflation that makes their fixed income worth less and insufficient to cover everyday needs.

People are struggling in western Pennsylvania while Washington politicians bicker. It doesn’t have to be this way. We need leaders who will work to balance our budget and enact sensible economic plans. Flooding the system with money and then restricting businesses, as our current administration has done, is a disastrous recipe for high inflation. My opponent wants to double down on this failed approach and has expressed that he doesn’t think Joe Biden is liberal enough. He champions far-left policies supported by Pelosi, AOC, and Bernie Sanders. On the other hand, I believe that western Pennsylvania has many of the solutions right here in our backyard. With all of our energy resources and production capacity, we can bring jobs back, get our economy going and lower prices at the same time.

Deluzio: Service is foundational to my life. After 9/11, I joined the Navy and resolved to protect this country overseas. I’ve served at sea and in Iraq; now I protect our nation’s elections at Pitt Cyber. Washington is broken and we need leaders willing to stand up to the corporate giants who are gouging us and against extremism that limits people’s rights. We have a system that is rigged against working families, from lousy trade deals and far-flung supply chains, to union-busting corporations and outsourcers making record profits being protected in Washington. They make profits as we pay the price. It’s wrong.

We need leaders in Washington who will take on these corporations instead of doing their bidding. I also think the fundamental rights I served to protect in the military are in jeopardy. From voting rights to abortion rights, we must defend them against those who would attack our freedom. Finally, I love western Pennsylvania. It’s where I grew up, and it’s where I learned the values that shaped who I am and that my own children are learning today. The hard-working people of this area deserve a representative who will fight for their values and interests – not party bosses, huge corporations, or special interests. In Congress, I’ll always work for all of us.

Q: How would you address the needs of the region’s schools, including the teacher shortage?

Shaffer: As a father of five school-aged children, I understand that these decisions should be ultimately made by parents and local schools - not bureaucrats in Washington. That said, there are practical steps that can be taken to fix this problem. One common sense idea is to direct more funds to schools so good teachers can be rewarded. Incentives matter. Good teachers are underpaid and deserve more than what they are getting. A merit-based system means putting our kids first - not the teachers unions. We should also look into the current certification laws with the goal of creating a more efficient process for signing good teachers. There are many people who have worked productive careers and have valuable experience and skill sets outside of the educational system that with proper training could add value for our students as teachers in our schools.

Deluzio: We have to continue to invest in public education. Years of budget cuts from the radical right have ravaged our school systems, burnt out our teachers, and completely done a disservice to our students. I’m proud to have the endorsement of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT), whose teachers work hard for our region’s kids every day. And as a dad myself, I’ll always fight to give every kid in western Pa. the best education possible, that will set them up for a life of opportunity and success.

Q: What is your plan to address the region’s infrastructure needs?

Shaffer: Having a world-class infrastructure of roads, ports, rail, airport and water systems is critical for western Pennsylvania’s success. That is one reason I supported the bipartisan infrastructure bill that Congress passed even though it wasn’t perfect. I have spent the past 20 years in the transportation industry working on bridges and roads, and I have seen governments that manage their infrastructure well and those that couldn’t manage a lemonade stand. The City of Pittsburgh is a stark example of failure. Instead of properly maintaining and investing in its core infrastructure and public safety, its leaders have pursued pet projects and woke ideology.

The result has been a bridge collapse and an enormous bill that has come due. Just like your house or car, if you ignore infrastructure, the simple maintenance needs that are relatively inexpensive to fix turn into major problems that require costly repairs or replacements. In Ross Township, we prioritized and invested in our roads and bridges. We relied on engineers to develop a comprehensive long-term plan and funded it. We need to do the same thing as a country. Roads, bridges, locks and dams, and railroads should not be a partisan issue. We need to come together to prioritize the needed funding and also implement the correct maintenance practices to provide a safe, long, and efficient lifespan.

Deluzio: I was a vocal supporter of the bipartisan infrastructure package legislation, which was a historic investment in our crumbling roads and bridges. Unlike my opponent, I haven’t made a fortune from a company building roads and bridges in Communist China. I’m fighting to invest in our infrastructure right here in America, right here in western Pennsylvania, and will work hard to create the good-paying union jobs we need to get it done.

Q: How would you support business and economic growth in Pennsylvania?

Shaffer: As a small business owner, I know firsthand the challenges faced by many employers in our region. Owning a small business requires hard work, long hours, and a lot of risk, but it offers the reward of helping our community and providing good jobs for people right here in our area. With the threat of a recession, the last thing we should do is hamstring the engine of our economy by increasing taxes and red tape as the current administration is doing. Instead, we should be looking for bipartisan solutions to ease the tax burden for main street businesses, and we should reward them for making long-term investments in our communities and creating more American jobs.

One of my main focuses in Congress will be to support legislation that builds up small businesses and encourages growth in our jobs right here in western Pennsylvania. This is why I received the endorsement of pro-business organizations like the National Federation of Independent Businesses, which represents small businesses and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Deluzio: Main Street has been hurt by unchecked corporate greed, weak antitrust laws, and far-flung supply chains stretching across the world. We need to strengthen our antitrust laws so that small businesses can compete with giants like Amazon, and we should invest in making stuff right here in PA-17. Bringing good-paying, union jobs right here to the district is a top priority. We support business and economic growth when we support workers, and we need to wake up to the economic threat posed by adversaries like China and the lousy trade deals that undercut our jobs here at home.

Q: Should Pennsylvania transition to renewable forms of energy? Do you support fracking?

Shaffer: I support an “all of the above” approach to energy rejecting the false narrative of the far left that responsible stewardship of the environment and domestic energy production are mutually exclusive. Home to many sources of energy, I have talked with Beaver County workers and community members, and I have visited natural gas sites and toured the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Plant producing some of the cleanest, most reliable energy in the world. We can tap into our vast natural resources in an environmentally safe manner, while creating good-paying jobs, lowering our energy costs, and strengthening our national security.

My approach includes renewable energy, however, as an electrical engineer, I am keenly aware that focusing on this alone poses significant challenges to providing reliable, cost-effective energy. For example, tons of solar and wind capacity is required to replace a single megawatt of stable energy. Taking a much different approach, my opponent publicly supports the Green New Deal and has donated money to its backers. His policies would destroy thousands of jobs and lead to massive price hikes for gas and electricity. His ideology might be in fashion with out-of-touch elites but not with people here in Beaver County. While western Pennsylvania sits on the Saudi Arabia of natural gas, Biden begs foreign dictators to produce more energy. It doesn't have to be this way. A clean energy future doesn't have to come at the cost of consumers.

Deluzio: I know that western Pennsylvania will continue to lead the way in securing America’s energy future. We have the best workers and are a hub of innovation, especially as we see growth in sources of energy like hydropower, wind, and solar and federal investments in carbon capture and storage and hydrogen technologies. Natural gas is a vital part of our energy mix, is a key source of jobs in our region, and will help us achieve our climate goals, alongside our strong nuclear sector and growing renewables. No matter what, I will always stand up for the workers of western Pennsylvania, our country’s energy security, and our critical task to act boldly to protect our environment.

Q: Do you support further petrochemical buildout in western Pennsylvania?

Shaffer: Industries that abide by our environmental regulations and seek to be good neighbors in our region should be welcome. These companies can provide high-paying jobs and can be operated in a way that doesn’t hurt our air or water quality. We are not going back to the days of smoke-filled valleys, but we do need to return to the time when we made things here and offered our residents high-paying jobs for any type of education. New York Billionaire Michael Bloomberg who aligns with my opponent recently announced he will spend $85M to shut down these industries right here. This would be devastating to Beaver County.

I will stand up to these attempts and allow our region to make its own decisions. I have been a long-time member of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Friends of the Riverfront, and a National Park volunteer. I care deeply about our environment and would never sacrifice that. This should not be made into an “either-or” choice. As an engineer, I know we can have both good-paying jobs and a clean environment.

Deluzio: I am not opposed to further petrochemical buildout in the region, as long as the project adheres to strict environmental regulations to ensure our safety. These projects are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for the trades and our region’s manufacturing jobs. As we fight to bring back our manufacturing and supply chains, we should be growing our workforce here at home every chance we can.

Q: Do you support criminal justice reform? How can Pennsylvania and the nation both address crime and reduce recidivism rates?

Shaffer: I have pledged to fully support our law enforcement community who put their lives at risk every single day to keep us safe, and I strongly oppose efforts to defund the police. Our law enforcement community should be supported with resources to provide the training and personnel they need to be most effective in their role. My opponent, on the other hand, has aligned himself with AOC and has been endorsed by far-left groups who have called to defund police departments. This is why I have been endorsed by our local Fraternal Order of Police, Beaver County Sheriff Tony Guy, and Beaver County District Attorney Dave Lozier.

When it comes to recidivism, there are efforts being taken by nonprofits and prison ministries to bring a select group of non-violent inmates proactive life skills training in preparation for when they will rejoin mainstream society. This is something most Republicans and Democrats support and has proven to be an effective way of making sure these individuals can become productive members of society and not end up right back in prison. In Congress, I will work with both sides to support proven strategies to reduce crime and recidivism rates.

Deluzio: Our criminal justice system is broken. I will work with anyone, from either party, to create a more just system, that keeps us safe, does right by people, and does not waste public money. This is not a partisan issue. I believe in public safety and that those who do our communities and neighbors harm should be held accountable. And I support common-sense reforms to protect both members of our community and the police officers who serve us. It’s why I support increased training and funding for law enforcement and public safety, and efforts to reduce recidivism so folks can return to society as productive citizens.

Q: How can the nation best address gun-related crimes? Do you support stricter gun control laws?

Shaffer: The taking of innocent life is categorically and unquestionably horrific, especially when it’s innocent children who are at school. As a father of five school-aged children, I cannot begin to fathom this, and sadly too many have experienced this reality. While a strong supporter of our 2nd Amendment rights, I will also support common sense approaches to stop violent crime, including strengthening our background check process to keep firearms out of the hands of violent criminals, opposing any and all efforts to defund the police, investing in mental health services and resources, and making sure our schools have what they need to adequately secure students and staff. Another action we must take to fight violent crime is to get control of our southern border.

Because of choices made by Biden and many far-left Democrats in Congress over the past two years, the border is now a complete mess and illegal drugs are pouring through every day into our communities. There is an obvious correlation between violent gun crimes and illegal drugs, and if we don’t reverse our current border policy our communities will continue to be ravaged. Outside of Washington, most people know that having safe communities and schools is not exclusively a Republican or Democratic issue – it’s an American one.

Deluzio: As someone who has led Americans in harm's way and carried weapons of war in places like Iraq, I have had some of the best weapons training in the world from our military. And I know the power of these weapons and support common-sense gun reforms like background checks for every gun sale, getting high-capacity magazines and weapons of war off our streets and out of our schools, and red flag laws to keep guns out of the hands of people who are a danger to themselves or others. Unlike my opponent, I supported the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act signed into law this summer to expand background checks, strengthen school safety, and provide better mental health services.

Q: What is your stance on the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Roe v. Wade decision?

Shaffer: The Dobbs decision sent the crucial debate over when life begins and at what point it should be protected, back into the hands of each state, their elected state representatives, and the people. This is where it was for most of our country’s history. I understand the gravity of this issue and that there are heightened emotions on both sides. This is appropriate considering it is an issue that impacts not just the baby but the mother, too. I have not shied away from the fact that I am pro-life and have long advocated for a policy allowing for exceptions including rape, incest and life of the mother. That said, as mentioned above, this issue will largely now be debated at the state level.

Congress should stop the partisan bickering, find areas of common ground, and pursue policies that support vulnerable women. This should include making sure new mothers have sufficient resources to care for themselves and their children and that quality child care is more affordable. Being pro-life and pro-mother are not mutually exclusive, and it will be incumbent upon our leaders to show that. My opponent’s position of providing taxpayer-funded abortion up through the point of birth and making this a federal issue is not only extreme but unconstitutional.

Deluzio: The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn decades of precedent in Roe v. Wade was terrible. I believe that women should have the freedom to make their own decisions about their families and their healthcare. Right-wing politicians would gladly attack that very right, threatening women and doctors with prison time. My opponent is on record supporting a national abortion ban, opposing exceptions even for victims of rape and incest, and calling for Congress to ban abortion. He poses a serious threat to women’s freedom.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for this office?

Shaffer: I am the only candidate who has created good-paying jobs in western Pennsylvania. Unlike my opponent, I have actually had to balance budgets and work with people in both political parties to get stuff done and move our community forward together. That kind of mentality is sorely missing in Washington today. You have members on both extremes who go to Washington to yell at the other side. Not me. While I believe we need to put a stop to many of the reckless policies we have seen over the last two years, I also believe we need to be solutions-oriented and always put the country before party.

My opponent will be a rubber stamp for the failed Biden-Pelosi agenda of the last two years. A vote for Chris Deluzio means two more years of the same: sustained inflation and crime, a wide-open southern border, dependence on foreign adversaries for energy, and an economy that’s failing the middle class, and even more partisanship. In Congress, I will work to get our country back on the right track by being a workhorse, not a showhorse. In some elections the choice between candidates is gray. In this race, it couldn’t be clearer: a proven bipartisan problem-solver or a far-left extremist.

Deluzio: The values I learned growing up here are what drove me to devote my life to serving this country, from leading Americans in harm’s way to defending our rights. I will do the same in Washington. I believe we should protect the rights of women, our votes should count, we can and should create good-paying union jobs and make stuff right here in western Pennsylvania, and we should take on the threats of corporate power and China hurting our communities.

My opponent has made a fortune from a corporation doing work in China, he wants to ban abortion – even for rape and incest victims – and he isn’t going to work for us, he’s going to serve huge corporations and extremists (like Doug Mastriano and the D.C. Republicans backing him in this race who tried to throw out our votes in the 2020 election). I hope to earn your vote, and I would be proud to serve all of us once again as I have in uniform when I was willing to risk my life for this country.

This story has been updated.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Q&A: PA-17 candidates Chris Deluzio and Jeremy Shaffer