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Congressional candidates talk qualifications

FRED KELLER

From staff reports

The 12th Congressional seat pits Democrat Marc Friedenberg against Republican Fred Keller.

That district encompasses all or parts of Lycoming, Bradford, Centre, Clinton, Juniata, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union and Wyoming counties.

The two candidates will appear on a special ballot in Tuesday’s primary election.

They are running for the seat vacated by Tom Marino, who resigned for health reasons shortly after being re-elected to another term in the November 2018 election.

MARC FRIEDENBERG

Q: What qualifies you to be a member of Congress?

FRIEDENBERG — There is the background I have in cybersecurity and cyberlaw which helps me understand our economy. Agriculture and industry require internet and high technology. It also makes us vulnerable to our intellectual property and information from being stolen. Chinese espionage and stealing of American innovation are undercutting us in prices. I think we need in Congress someone who has a history of being a fighter. This economy is creating winners and losers. Our people are our resources. We have a wonderful and beautiful district here that is worth defending. We can draw people to this district. With outdoors activities, we can have an economy based on tourism. We need somebody to fight for our universities and schools which are engines of economic growth. We need someone who understands that this country is worth investing in. If we don’t invest in critical infrastructure like the Williamsport levee, we will see insurance costs rise. I support an infrastructure bank for investing in infrastructure projects. We need to make sure we have that level playing field to compete with the rest of the country. We need to incentivize our students to stay here and grow our economy. Our infrastructure is critical to that.

KELLER — The founders of our nation laid out a government that is we the people. The principles for governing ourselves were designed that way. I grew up as a poor kid, worked hard and got elected to the state House of Representatives and took those values to Harrisburg. I behaved as I said I would and got re-elected four times. The founders of the nation envisioned independence, and I would appreciate it if the voters of the 12th congressional district would elect me to take their values to Washington D.C.

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