Daily Local News - In 6th District, a Gerlach-Trivedi Rematch

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Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach and Democrat Manan Trivedi are the only two candidates running in their respective party primaries next Tuesday, assuring a rematch for election this fall in the 6th Congressional District.
Gerlach easily won re-election in the 2010 election against Trivedi.

Gerlach, originally from Ellwood City, said he has experience and an ability to achieve real, common-sense solutions to problems in the district.

"My years of service in Congress and in the state Legislature have given me insight into the needs of southeastern Pennsylvania's job creators, taxpayers and communities," said Gerlach.

Trivedi, 37, is a primary care physician from Fleetwood, Berks County, who received a bachelor's degree and doctorate from Boston University, and a master's degree in public policy from UCLA.

"I've never held public office before, but I first got seriously engaged in politics after serving in Iraq with the Marines and working as a health policy adviser to the Navy surgeon general in 2009," said Trivedi.

Gerlach received a bachelor's degree and law degree from Dickinson College, and he served in the state House and later the state Senate prior to being elected to Congress in 2002.

"I have built a solid record of working on behalf of the families and communities in this region," said Gerlach. "Nonpartisan analysts have found I have one of the most independent voting records in Congress."

Trivedi said his educational, professional and personal experiences qualify him for election to public office.

"My generation is being left with many problems due to the Washington politicians that came before us," said Trivedi. "With that, I have an understanding of the direction our future must take in order to ensure that we correct those political mistakes, rein in excessive spending and reset our priorities toward more prosperous, evidenced-based outcomes."

Gerlach said priorities in the district are fixing the economy, restoring fiscal health through reducing the size of government, balancing the budget, controlling debt, and empowering the private sector to create jobs.

"Rubber stamping the left-leaning policies of the current administration is the wrong direction for our country," he said.

Trivedi said his focus on district issues includes job creation, health care, energy independence and "mending our long-term budget woes by cutting wasteful spending and inefficient programs and focusing on investments that will lead to greater prosperity."

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