BROOKVILLE, Pa. (GANT) — Kerith Strano Taylor of Brookville has officially announced her candidacy for Pennsylvania’s Fifth U.S. Congressional District. Strano Taylor is a Democrat.
Strano Taylor announced her candidacy Thursday in three, separate events spanning the fifth district. Geographically, Pennsylvania’s fifth district is the largest in the state, comprising all or parts of 16 counties.
(This article was provided by our news partner GantDaily.com.)
Strano Taylor began the day with a speech to her supporters in Erie. She then traveled to Clarion for a noontime announcement there. Then it was on to State College, for the last public event of the day.
After the State College event, she wrapped up with a private speech to the Centre County Democratic Committee in Ferguson Township.
This is Strano Taylor’s third run for Pennsylvania’s fifth district seat. She ran in 2014 after defeating Thomas Tarantella of Clinton County in the Democratic primary. In 2016, she had no primary challenger.
Cindy Purvis, an Erie County Democratic activist and one of Thursday’s event co-hosts, said, “We are so happy that Kerith is running. We need a strong leader with vision and integrity to represent our district in Congress and who will fight for single-payer health care.”
Bill Miller, co-owner of The Clarion House Bed and Breakfast in Clarion and former chair of the Clarion County Democratic Committee, said: “My wife, Judy, and I are proud to support Kerith Strano Taylor for Congress.
“Kerith understands the challenges we are facing in rural Pennsylvania and she is a true fighter. We want to see her fighting for us in Washington D.C.”
Jesse Barlow, a member of the State College Borough Council, said “Pennsylvania’s Fifth Congressional district is a very difficult challenge for any Democratic candidate.
“You need to run two or three times in order to build the base of support needed to win. Kerith has done that. I’m convinced that she is the only Democrat that can win this seat in 2018. That’s why I’m supporting her.”
Strano Taylor faces several primary challengers in 2018. The winner will run against four-term Republican incumbent Glenn Thompson from Howard in the general election.
Strano Taylor in the only female in the race, and is the only Democrat who has previously run for the seat.
