Neuhardt Aims to Make Changes for the Better

Press Release

Neuhardt aims to make changes for the better

By Bridgette Outten

Homes in foreclosure. Rising gas prices. Growing numbers of people without jobs, health care.

Those are some of the situations that concern Sharen Neuhardt, Democratic candidate for the 7th Congressional District seat in the November election.

"When I look at it, the things that really upset me are going on at the federal level," said Neuhardt, a 56-year-old corporate attorney and newcomer to politics. "So I decided to step up and do something about it."

Neuhardt has been embraced as a serious candidate by Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the official campaign arm of the Democrats in the House. Her campaign was spotlighted for surpassing fundraising goals and skillfully demonstrating to voters that Neuhardt stands for change, according to the group's Web site.

Issues

Neuhardt said she is "appalled at what has gone on" in Washington, D.C., for the last several years, from the state of the economy to health care.

"I think voters are fed up with everything that's going on," she said.

Her decision to run for Congress — though she has never held a political office — stems from her desire for change.

"The bottom line is, we deserve a lot better than we're getting, and it's time we stood up and started demanding it," Neuhardt said.

Neuhardt wants to revamp the health care system, which she said Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama has pledged to reform. She also is in favor of energy independence.

"I believe that the Republicans feel like the average American is stupid when it comes to energy prices," she said. "(But) the average American understands what's going on with gas prices. They understand that the big oil is getting richer and richer and they're getting richer off the backs of all of us. ... We have to get off of our dependence on foreign oil."

And U.S. troops need to be brought home from Iraq, Neuhardt said.

"We're all interested in gas prices and jobs, but what we can't forget is that a lot of our economic problems are due to the fact that we are spending $300 million a day in Iraq," she said.

When the veterans do come home, Neuhardt said it is imperative that they come back to jobs, have access to education and the benefits they need.

"So it's not just about getting out of Iraq," she said. "And (ensuring veteran benefits) are going to be high priorities for the Democrats. They are not going to be high priority with the Republicans."

Background and family

Neuhardt, born and raised in Dayton, is the oldest of four girls and the daughter of a Dayton police officer.

"I went to Dayton public schools," she said. "I went on to college, then to law school, the good old-fashioned way."

Neuhardt attended Northwestern University then went on to Georgetown University, earning her law degree in 1976. She returned to Dayton to practice law as a business lawyer.

"I've worked with businesses all over the Miami Valley, all over Ohio, all over the country for 30 years now, working on helping them solve their problems and grow their business," she said. "And I think I'm going to be able to bring that business experience to be a help in Congress."

Neuhardt married attorney Dave Neuhardt in 1994. The couple, along with her two children, moved to Whitehall farm in Greene County, a historic farm spanning 610 acres that dates back to 1842.

Neuhardt's children are both involved in her campaign. Rob, 23, lives at Whitehall farm and works on the campaign full-time while Ann, 25, is a second-year medical student.

Neuhardt said that the voters she's talked to aren't as concerned about losing nine-term U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson, R-Springfield, as they are about electing someone who will fix the problem.

"I believe it's our responsibility to grow our economy, provide good jobs for people, to provide education opportunities," she said. "And to help people who need our help to live up to the American ideals."

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