There might be a new face among contenders running against Phil English for the 3rd district Congressional seat. TOM LYNCH filed papers with the Federal Election Commission on November 17th under the committee name "Committee To Elect Tom Lynch."

View the papers here: http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?_27039564451+0

Who else is running?

REPUBLICANS:

Phil English
http://www.house.gov/english/

John Drescher

DEMOCRATS:

Kathy Dahlkemper
http://www.kathydahlkemperforcongress.com/

Kyle Foust
http://www.foustforcongress.com/

Tom Myers
http://www.tommyersforcongress.com/

Mike Waltner
http://www.waltnerforcongress.com/cont/index.php

INDEPENDENT

Steve Porter
http://www.porter4congress.com

Who is this new candidate?

I just spoke to Democrat Tom Lynch. He's an Erie native that studied at Gannon University, Harvard Business School, and the University of Southern California.

He says he has worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City, Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, and taught at the following institutions:

Gardner-Webb University, Professor of Accounting and Bus.Ad. 2005-2007
University of Phoenix 2005
Golden Gate University 1997-2001
Manhattan College 1989-1994
Maryland State University System, Baltimore and Towson 1982-1987
Duquesne University 1974-1982
Columbia University 1973-1974
Cleveland State University 1970-1973
University of Notre Dame 1966-1967

Here's a bit more from the interview:

Have you been planning to run for a while now?

"I've been planning to run for the past year, and I moved back to Erie to do it. People are disappointed with what is happening in Washington."

What makes you different from the other candidates?

"My knowledge of taxation will make me stand out among the other candidates."

If you win the nomination, and Phil English wins the Republican nomination, do you think you have a chance?

"Phil English needs to get out of Washington. He has been there for too long. I think I stand a chance against Phil English because people want change. And my background is better."

What would you promise if you got elected?

"There is an erosion of authority to the President and I promise to change that."

How much money do you have to run with?

"I don't plan to spend big bucks to win."

Former Governor Tom Ridge is playing a key role in one high-profile candidate's race for the presidency.

Watch the video story here!

They've been friends for 25 years and now they're hitting the campaign trail together. Erie native Tom Ridge is supporting John McCain's presidential bid, serving as national co-chair of the campaign.

"Some of the candidates think the country needs them, I think the country needs John McCain," said Ridge during an interview in his Washington office.

The once Pennsylvania Congressman, Governor, and first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security is now running his own consulting company-- Ridge Global.

"It's quite exciting for all of us to see the way that people react to Tom Ridge, the young man from Erie who has grown to be an international statesman….And with that it is hard for us to see that he is not in this presidential race," said Michelle Nix, Chief communications advisor for Ridge Global.

So we asked Ridge if he has any plans to run for president.

"I've had the privilege of running for office eight times. I’m eight and zero, maybe I just ought to stay retired, the undefeated guy. So who knows, I doubt it, we'll see," said Ridge.

While Tom Ridge hasn't ruled out the possibility that we'll see him in the White House one day, he says for now you can catch him working in his Washington office or on the campaign trail with Senator McCain.

Holiday festivities in our Nation's Capital have a special link to Pennsylvania. Let me fill you in on how the state helps spread cheer throughout Washington...

Watch the video story here!

Pennsylvania plays an important role in a White House tradition that spans decades. The national Christmas tree, lit by the President, is originally from the Keystone State.

Congressman Phil English traveled to Iraq this past weekend as part of an official Congressional delegation. I caught up with the Congressman to talk about the trip…

Watch the video story here!

The flight was loud and bumpy but the Congressional delegation made it safely to Baghdad. It’s the second trip Congressman Phil English has taken to the region.

“I went to Iraq to assess for myself what was going on, on the ground and to see whether the improvements in security were for real,” said English.

English stayed overnight at Camp Victory, and said he could hear distant rocket attacks overhead. I secured all the photos of the trip from the House Armed Services and there were shots of the troops’ swimming pool, mosques, military aircraft, and many photos of the city of Baghdad taken from a plane.

The Congressman met with commander Brian Lasher, Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy world history teacher and officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, who is stationed in the “green zone.”

“I had a chance to sit down with Brian, who’s a old friend from my neighborhood, and really hear what’s going on. Looking at things through the eyes of people who are there is very important to people in Washington and Brian gave me a window on how things really have developed in Iraq,” said English.

English was a skeptic of the troop surge but now he’s optimistic. The Congressman told me that he feels very strongly that progress has been made. The trip was cut short because the members got called back to Washington for votes.

Now that English has returned from Iraq and is back here on Capitol Hill, he says he’ll continue to push for legislation to withdraw troops and reduce our footprint in Iraq.

Things at the Capitol are quiet this week but things on the campaign trail are gearing up. It’s just a few days until the earliest presidential primary season in history begins. I’ve been keeping an eye on the polls, reading the papers and sites, and staying tuned to the cable news blather--and I still have not picked a favorite. Thankfully, it seems I’m not alone. I asked Sen. Arlen Specter, Sen. Bob Casey, Rep. Phil English, and Rep. John Peterson if they endorsed a candidate yet. Only Congressman English has, saying he wants Rudy Giuliani in the White House. Check out the video of English's response here.

So what are we waiting for? Do we have to get the approval of the early states like Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan, and South Carolina before we can start thinking for ourselves? Are we just letting them do all the heavy lifting?

On February 5th--“Super Duper Tuesday”-- most of the delegates to the parties’ nominating conventions will be chosen. In a month voters from other states will have picked the nominees, and most political analysts say later primary states like Pennsylvania won’t count this time around.

But let me dare to be different. Say the race remains competitive for the next few months and the candidates campaign like they still have the presidency to win. It is possible that none of the candidates will achieve a majority, putting the real decision into the hands of the delegates.

Perhaps, just like our Senators, we aren’t sure who to vote for yet. Maybe our early primary voters will feel the same way. And maybe, just maybe, Pennsylvania’s votes will count this time around.

So, perk up Pennsylvanians because we’re headed into an unfamiliar political landscape, and what will surely be a historic presidential election.

What do you think of Pennsylvania's late primary election date? Which candidate do you plan to vote for? E-mail me at washingtonwatch@wsee.tv