John McClure
Now here's something that doesn't come along very often in Lancaster County: a congressional primary battle ... among Democrats.
A 35-year-old Lancaster City businessman said Sunday he intends to seek the Democratic nomination for the 16th Congressional District seat in 2010.
John J. McClure is the second member of his party to enter the race, setting the stage for the first congressional primary contest for the Democrats since 1994.
McClure, of 9 S. Prince St., said he intends to run against fellow Democrat Lois Herr of Elizabethtown in the May primary and, if victorious, will try to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts in the 2010 election.
The primary is May 18
In an interview, McClure said he will work in upcoming weeks to clearly distinguish himself from Herr.
"We're running very different campaigns, and have very different perspectives on life, but I'll come out with more as we go along," he said.
On at least one major issue — abortion — McClure stands in contrast to Herr. The political newcomer said he is anti-abortion.
"I'm for human rights, and all human rights," McClure said. "It's a medical procedure but I'm pro-life in my policies."
Herr, on the other hand, is an outspoken abortion-rights advocate who has been endorsed by the National Organization for Women's political-action committee.
Herr, reached for comment Sunday, said she was not surprised by McClure's decision. She said she met with him over coffee recently because she initially believed he was interested in working on her campaign.
"He said that he thought he might be running himself," Herr said. "I, of course, tried to get him to work on my campaign."
She described McClure as well spoken but inexperienced.
"I had not known him before, nor does anyone on the committee," Herr said. "If I were just advising him, I would advise him to work on another campaign — whether it's mine or someone else's — before running. But if he wants to run, that's his privilege."
McClure said he intends to seek backing from the county and city Democratic committees when they meet to endorse candidates in February. But he added that he'll run regardless of whether he gets it — a move committee people would likely consider a breach of political etiquette.
Bruce Beardsley, who chairs the county Democratic committee, said McClure had not notified him of his intention to seek endorsement but that he welcomes the candidate to the process.
Beardsley added, though, that McClure's determination to run for a position as high as Congress regardless of who the committee backs is "a little presumptuous."
"It is an open process, and we're an open party," he said. "He's certainly welcome to seek our endorsement. I hope that if he does — first of all, he needs to get a hold of me — but if he does, and he views that process as fair, hopefully he understands the presumption that he should abide by the process," Beardsley said.
"Two years ago, we had two people seek endorsement, and the one who didn't win did drop out and ended up running for state House," the committee chairman said.
In other words Democrats, who already face an uphill battle in trying to unseat the seven-term Republican Pitts, want to avoid a messy, costly primary contest.
Pitts, who initially said he would serve no more than five two-year terms in the House but later rescinded the pledge, is seeking his eighth term.
Herr, a 68-year-old retired executive who has served as a teacher, administrator and scholar-in-residence at Elizabethtown College, is making her third run at Pitts. She ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2004 and 2006.
McClure said he would work to be a "hands-on" congressman and intends to outline a series of goals for the 16th district that include creating jobs, assisting farmers and helping the city's economic revitalization.
"There are lots of people who are down in this economy, and they're being taken advantage of by the banks, and so forth," he said. "Mercy should be shown to those due mercy. There are a lot of inequities."
McClure moved to Lancaster in 1981 from New Jersey. He attended Lancaster Christian School and graduated from Twin Valley Bible Academy in 1993. He attended Elizabethtown College.
He is the founder and owner of two businesses: Aslan Lamont LLC, a painting, wallpaper and decorating business based at 9 S. Prince St.; and Advisors Outsourcing, a management consulting firm for nonprofits and charities.
He has never held office or a committee position, but said he has volunteered for Democratic campaigns in the past.
McClure, who is single, said he grew up a Republican and was registered as a Republican for some time before switching parties.
McClure has not filed a statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission, which means he cannot begin serious fundraising efforts yet.
But he said he is confident that he can raise at least $1.5 million — a stunning figure compared to the amount candidates have spent in previous races.
In his most recent re-election campaign, in 2008, Pitts raised about $625,000, for example.
Pitts raised $172,631 and spent $154,022 through the first nine months of this year, according to FEC data. His campaign had $181,527 at the end of September, the most recent reports show.
Herr raised $76,630 and spent $48,183 through the first nine months of this year, according to FEC data. Her campaign had $28,448 at the end of September.
The last time there was a Democratic primary contest for Congress here was in 1994, when former Coatesville city councilman Bill Chertok beat Donald Hadley by a nearly 6-to-1 margin, according to newspaper records.
Chertok lost the election to then-U.S. Rep. Bob Walker, a Republican from East Petersburg who was elected to his 10th term in Congress that year.
The 16th district covers Lancaster County, southern Chester County and a small portion of Berks County, including the city of Reading.