Mike Fitzpatrick to Run for State House

Looks like Bucks County’s former Congress Critter has decided to run for State Representative in my district:

Saying he is ready for a change in how he serves the public, Mike Fitzpatrick, former congressman and Bucks County commissioner, has announced he will run this year for the state representative seat held by Democrat Chris King, D-142.

The 44-year-old Republican said the job, if he gets it, will give him the chance to hold public office again but stay a little closer to his wife, Kathy, and six children, ranging in age from 7 to 18. Since being defeated by Patrick Murphy, D-8, in the 2006 congressional election, Fitzpatrick has worked as an attorney at the Middletown law firm of Begley, Carlin and Mandio.

I think Chris King has will have a fight on his hands.  It’s worth pointing out that Fitzpatrick took Bucks County during the 2006 election.  It was only the parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties that are part of our district that pushed Pat Murphy over the top.

It’s hard to say who I would get behind in this race.  On one hand, Chris King has had little time to have much of a voting record for me to judge, but I am wary of a Democratic Controlled house with Ed Rendell in the Governor’s mansion for another two years.  Turnout for Republicans may be low in 2008, so Chris King will have the advantage of an energized Democratic party going for him.   I wouldn’t bet on this race.