Kevin Strouse never dreamt of being a politician.
Strouse, who grew up just five minutes outside Media, Delaware County, spent time in the military as an Army Ranger and as a member of the CIA before noticing how dysfunctional Congress seemed – he told LevittownNow.com that he’s running against Mike Fitzpatrick to change all that.
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On Tuesday, Strouse will face off against incumbent Republican Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8) for control of Pennsylvania’s Eighth District. The district encompasses Bucks County and parts of Montgomery County.
Strouse, a Democrat, is aware of the public’s perception as someone who moved into the district just to run for office – but this area isn’t new to him. Strouse, who has multiple family members living in the Bucks County area, said he has the same concerns that Bucks and Montgomery County families do.
“The same sort of things keep me up at night,” Strouse said. “In the America I grew up in everyone felt like they had a fair shot, now American families are feeling like the game is rigged.”
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Most hardworking American families are concerned with their child’s education, sending their kids to college, paying back student loans and finding jobs, according to Strouse.
Strouse, who thinks most politicians are stuck in a vicious cycle of gathering political points, wants to focus on growing the middle class and reaching across the aisle in order to get things done not only in Washington but here at home. “We need people that are willing to take political risks, rather than just being focused on getting reelected,” he said.
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Politicians haven’t been made accountable according to Strouse. “We need legislation with real teeth behind it and people that are going to hold our feet to the fire.” Strouse said politicians are one of the few jobs where there are no consequences for not getting the job done. “Voters should be holding elected officials responsible,” he said.
Strouse maintains the stance that his campaign is running one of the largest ‘get out and vote’ campaigns in the history of the district and that voting is one of the most important things people in the district can do to help transform politics. “It’s your civic duty to go out and vote,” he said.
Strouse, a proud veteran of both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, stated that Fitzpatrick’s behavior during the latest VA scandal suggested the issue was new. “The problems with the VA go back more than a decade, to suggest [these problems] are new is absurd,” Strouse said.
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Education is another thing that keeps Strouse up at night. Strouse, a father of two young children said that the focus for education has been misled. “My problem is that we have moved so far into testing. My worry is that my kids will be forced to test so much that they won’t grow up to be critically thinking adults,” he said. “We just have to get out and start talking to people about education.”
Strouse has been very open about his stance on education and the need for quality Pre-K in Pennsylvania. In fact, Strouse’s two young children attend Pre-K now. “They are doing fantastic in Pre-K,” he said.
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Regardless if Strouse wins or loses Tuesday’s election, he’ll be visiting his son’s school to read a book to his classroom. “I try and do whatever I can and find time to go home and spend time with my family,” he said.
