I.J.NEWS SERIVCE

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Iraq war veteran Manan Trivedi has announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 6th Congressional District in a challenge to former ‘Philadelphia Inquirer’ writer Doug Pike.

Trivedi, a primary care physician from Reading, was a surgeon in the Marines from 2001 to 2003. He went on to serve as a health policy adviser to the Navy Surgeon General and was an Assistant Professor of medicine at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.

“From my working class upbringing, to the ER and then onto the battlefield, I have been on the front lines of some of the biggest challenges of our time,” he said while announcing the candidacy.

Trivedi’s candidacy sets up a compelling primary race where Pike has already won the endorsements of Democratic Reps. Patrick Murphy and Allyson Schwartz of the 8th and13th districts. Pike, a strong fundraiser, has already pumped $510,000 of his own money into the campaign.

Democrats view the seat, which outgoing Congressman Jim Gerlach, a Repulican, has held for seven years, as a terrific pick-up opportunity. In four straight elections, they’ve come close to winning the seat. President Obama won the district handily last year.

“I know this community.  As the son of parents who worked at the Red Cheek apple juice factory, I am no stranger to the fear of lost jobs and lost pensions.  As a primary care physician at Reading Hospital, I see people everyday who are in dire straits because they don’t have the health care insurance they need.  And because of my time on the ground in Iraq, no one in this race understands the needs of our men and women in uniform better than I do.  Our district has over 60,000 veterans and each day of this campaign and when I am in Congress, every single one of them and their families will know they have someone looking out for their interests,” Trivedi said.

For more information: www.trivediforcongress.com