Nick Troiano Scores Decisive Victory in 10th District Debate

Press Release

Nick Troiano, an independent and citizen-funded candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 10thdistrict, was a decisive winner of the sole 10th district Congressional debate hosted by WVIA on October 28th.

"I thought [Nick Troiano] did a really good job…He wasn't stumped at any point. He delivered I think a pretty good critique of the Congressman. He's somebody to watch," said Jim Hoefler, a political science professor at Dickinson College, during commentary on PCN TV following the debate. "I thought Congressman Marino was probably a loser tonight."

"I'm a registered Republican, and after watching this debate, I'm going to vote for Nick Troiano," said a voter identified as Bill from Jefferson Township in Lackawanna County during PCN TV's call-in program. "We need some fresh blood there in DC."

"I am a lifelong Republican…and I am just impressed with Nick Troiano," said another caller, identified as Matt from Monroeton in Bradford County. "I'm definitely going to vote for him in November."

Troiano opened the debate explaining his independent and citizen-funded candidacy by saying, "Congressman Marino votes with his party 94% of the time and takes the vast majority of his campaign funding from special interest groups. We don't need more politicians who promise to be different; we need leaders who are different."

On the topic of ISIS, Troiano criticized Marino for having stood with President Obama in opposing any earlier intervention in Syria, arguing that backing the moderate opposition could have prevented the vacuum that eventually led to the rise of the radical terrorist group. "We might not be having this conversation if our leaders acted in our long-term national interest instead of their short-term political interest," Troiano said.

On Social Security, Troiano pointed out that he is the only candidate to have published a comprehensive plan to make the program financially solvent for the next 75 years. "The worst thing that we can do to ensure the solvency of Social Security is nothing, and because of the gridlock in Washington, that is exactly what we are doing today," Troiano said.

On health care, Troiano said he opposed the Affordable Care Act as it was going through Congress but now wants to focus on overhauling the law where we know it is failing, including replacing the individual and employer mandates with market-based incentives. Troiano said Marino's repeated votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act "won't help the 70,000 people without health insurance in our district."

Troiano also spoke against Marino's vote in favor of the Biggert-Waters law that led to a crippling spike in flood insurance premiums and his vote in favor of the across-the-board cuts of the budget sequester, which Troiano said slashed critical investments and hurt economic growth.

Troiano closed the debate speaking directly to voters: "If you want just another Congressman in Washington, you can support either of my opponents. But if you want a true Representative, someone who isn't beholden to the parties or the special interest PACs, then I humbly ask for your vote on Nov. 4th."

Troiano expressed confidence his campaign can win on Election Day, noting that over 7,000 voters signed his ballot petitions, individuals contributed more funds to his campaign than either of his opponents in the last quarter, and 22 mayors from both parties endorsed his campaign.

WVIA's Larry Vojtko moderated the debate and panelists included Laura Janssen, news director of the Williamsport Sun Gazette; Scott Meinke, associate professor of political science at Bucknell University; and Beth Brelje, staff reporter at the Pocono Record.

A recording of the debate can be viewed on WVIA's website, wvia.org, and will re-air on Sunday, November 2nd at 1:00 PM on WVIA.

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