Injured combat veteran David Weidman doesn’t feel that he is getting the representation in Washington, D.C., that he says he fought for in Afghanistan while serving in the Air Force.
That is why the 37-year-old Emmaus man is running as a Democrat in the May primary for the 15th Congressional District. The seat is being vacated by retiring Republican Rep. Charlie Dent. The 15th District includes Lehigh County, and areas of Berks, Dauphin, Lebanon and Northampton counties.
“I am running mostly to fight discrimination, and inequality in education,” Weidman said.
Weidman said he and his wife, also an Air Force veteran, have experienced, and continue to experience, harassment and discrimination as a multiracial couple. Their car has been vandalized and they have been yelled at in a threatening way, he said.
“People said if (Donald) Trump gets elected it is going to embolden people, and it has gotten worse,” Weidman said.
Originally Weidman was running for state representative in District 131, covering Lehigh and Northampton Counties. But after delivering a speech in Harrisburg at a Pennsylvania Democratic Committee Meeting, he was encouraged to run for Congress instead, he said.
If elected, Weidman said he would fight for civil rights and civil liberties by promoting stronger protection against hate crimes.
“I would make sure people who commit these things are held accountable,” he said. “People are allowed to terrorize individuals and that is unacceptable.”
He would also work to ensure veterans get the health care they deserve. He said he has to drive more than an hour to see a Veterans Affairs specialist for his back injury. It would take months to get approval to see someone closer to home. He would make health care accessible and convenient for veterans by allowing them to use Medicare cards anywhere.
Weidman had a small business making furniture but after being invited to work as a paraprofessional providing autism support for students at Dieruff High School in Allentown, he decided to make it a career. He is pursuing a master’s degree in education to become a teacher for students with autism. This has turned his concern to budget cuts in education.
“Early childhood education funding is constantly being cut,” he said. “But the more early intervention in place, the better off the child will be down the line. That makes a stronger economy and a better future for America.”
Party winners in the May 15 primary will advance to the Nov. 6 general election.
In addition to Weidman, the following Democrats are running in the 15th District primary: Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli; Susan Wild, an Allentown attorney; The Rev. Greg Edwards of Allentown; and William Leiner Jr., a psychiatric registered nurse from Lehigh County.
The following Republicans are running: Dean N. Browning of South Whitehall Township, executive vice President and CFO of New World Aviation; Scott Uehlinger of Topton, a retired CIA officer; Lehigh County Commissioner Marty Nothstein; state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie of Lehigh County; Dan David of Lehigh County, co-founder of an equities markets research firm; and Dauphin County Commissioner Mike H. Pries.
Contact Beth Brelje: 610-371-5022 or bbrelje@readingeagle.com
