Hackett pedaling himself in 10th

GOP congressional hopeful bicycling through 13 counties along the campaign trail.

By Andrew M. Seder aseder@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

Chris Hackett has a love of politics and a love of cycling. This week he decided to combine the two.

The Republican congressional candidate, seeking to unseat freshman U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock Township, hopped on the seat of his Cervelo bicycle Monday and began a 13-county, 20-stop tour of the 10th District.

The tour started in Milford on Monday and followed Route 6 west through Pike and Wayne counties, ending in Carbondale, Lackawanna County.

It picks up again today in Forest City in Susquehanna County. The 150-mile trek ends Friday in Sunbury, Northumberland County.

Hackett is joined on the journey by his wife, Ramah, a fellow biking enthusiast who rides a Cannondale. On some portions of the ride, the two share a Trek tandem bicycle.

“Biking is something we’ve done together as a family for many years,” Hackett said just after a meet-and-greet with about 20 perspective voters at Tick Tocks restaurant in Honesdale.

Riding west on Route 6 between Honesdale and Carbondale, Hackett passes within a mile of the Waymart Wind Farm, a rare symbol of agreement between the GOP challenger and his Democrat opponent. Both believe more alternative fuels, such as wind, solar and nuclear energy, need to be used.

Hackett said he’s interested in talking to people along the route about issues – and high oil prices are usually the first topic broached. He said he and Carney “are really on different pages on that matter.”

Hackett supports lifting the ban on off-shore drilling, while Carney has encouraged oil companies to utilize the millions of acres they already have rights to drill on. Carney’s campaign staff has attacked Hackett for owning thousands of dollars in stocks in oil companies and ads have run attacking Hackett for being on the side of “big oil.” Hackett counters that Carney has thousands of dollars in 401(k) investments in oil companies, too.

The Kingston Township businessman said the commercials and attacks are Carney’s way of “deflecting the focus from his lack of action” regarding rising oil prices during his first term.

While his campaign informed the media about the five-day trek, Hackett insists the real goals for the week are not purely political.

“We thought it would be a great way to view the beauty of the district. It’s a beautiful area we live in,” Hackett said.

He said the ride is also “a great way to spend some time with my wife.”

Cycling tour stops

Today: Forest City, Montrose and Tunkhannock

Wednesday: Wyalusing, Towanda and Sayre

Thursday: Dushore, Forksville, Kreamer, Selinsgrove and Williamsport

Friday: Danville, Shamokin and Sunbury