Three contested local races, including a fight over whether Schuylkill County will continue to have a resident as its congressman, will highlight Tuesday's Primary Election.
U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, D-17, a Saint Clair resident who also is the dean of Pennsylvania's congressional delegation, has been in a tough battle against Lackawanna County lawyer Matt Cartwright in a redrawn district that includes all of Schuylkill and parts of five other counties.
First elected in 1992, Holden has stressed his constituent service, moderate "Blue Dog Democrat" voting record and attention to economic development in his campaign to win an 11th two-year term in Washington.
He said compromise is not a dirty word, but a necessity for anyone who wants to do things in Washington, and that he has been able to accomplish much for his constituents, especially through his memberships on the House Agriculture and Transportation committees.
"I believe the Congress should be functional," Holden said in an interview with The Republican-Herald's Editorial Board.
However, Cartwright has attacked Holden as not a being true Democrat for allegedly being too conservative and too willing to compromise with Republicans.
Cartwright also says he will promote infrastructure development if he is elected to Congress and will support efforts to raise taxes for wealthy Americans.
Schuylkill County is the only part of the former 17th District that has been included in the new one. Dauphin, Lebanon and parts of Berks and Perry counties have been replaced by parts of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe and Northampton counties; the overall effect has been to make the district far more Democratic, so the winner of the Holden-Cartwright race is almost assured of victory in the Nov. 6 General Election.
While the Holden-Cartwright race has had its share of contentious advertising, it has paled in comparison to the race for the Republican nomination for the 29th District state Senate seat.
Incumbent David G. Argall, Rush Township, who won the post in a 2009 special election to replace the late James J. Rhoades, faces a challenge from West Brunswick Township businessman Brian Rich.
Rich has attacked Argall as a liberal career politician who has voted for tax increases and the notorious 2005 midnight pay raise.
Argall has counterattacked by criticizing Rich's leadership of Reading Anthracite Co., saying the company has engaged in unethical and even unlawful practices.
Each candidate for the four-year term has run numerous negative television advertisements; they also have mailed many fliers to homes in the predominantly Republican district, which includes all of Schuylkill and parts of Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton counties.
While not as negative in tone, the race for the GOP nomination for the 124th District state House of Representatives seat also has featured numerous mailings to homes in northeastern, eastern and southeastern Schuylkill and northern and central Berks.
Incumbent Jerry Knowles, Rush Township, is seeking his second full two-year term after winning a special election in 2009 to replace Argall. He has emphasized his conservative voting record in a solidly Republican district, saying he will continue to work to eliminate property taxes and keep spending under control.
Meanwhile, his opponent, New Ringgold Borough Council President Larry Padora has attacked Knowles as a career politician who is not conservative enough. He has said he will not accept a pension and will work to make Pennsylvania a more business-friendly state.