Philadelphia attorney talks about his U.S. Senate campaign

George Bochetto is not afraid of a fight.

The prominent Philadelphia attorney said he has built his career on high-profile cases that challenge progressive movements and promote conservative values. That includes his victory last fall in preventing the city from removing a statue of Christopher Columbus in a dispute that highlighted tensions over views of exploration, Italian American history and colonialism.

Now, Bochetto is taking on a new challenge.

He has joined a crowded field of candidates vying for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. And the wide-open race for the seat being vacated by retiring Pat Toomey could end up being the most expensive race in the history of the chamber and could determine control of the Senate.

Bochetto said in a recent interview that he decided to throw his hat into the ring because he is deeply concerned about “the takeover of this country by radical progressives.”

“There is a very small group of radical progressives that are having a disproportionate impact in our country, and it is creating chaos,” he said. “I want to stand up to this kind of insanity and return conservative core values to our leadership.”

The 69-year-old said his campaign is focused on improving public safety, protecting personal freedoms and investing in a prosperous economic future.

First on that list is increasing funding and providing more resources for law enforcement. Bochetto said he believes raising the salaries of those who put their lives on the line to protect their communities should be a top congressional priority.

“The more we increase their salaries the better candidates we’re going to get, the better training they’re going to get, the more serious they will take their job and the better off our communities will be,” he said.

Bochetto said he is also a big believer in establishing a school choice program, saying it would give students a greater chance at success who are attending schools that are not meeting their educational needs or exposing children to dangerous ideas.

“Students and their parents should have a choice in where they go to school,” he said. “There are so many different schools teaching different curriculums that may not align with the personal preferences of the families that attend those schools. They should be able to choose which one is the best fit for them.”

Building a vibrant economy is another priority for Bochetto.

He said the expanding the natural gas industry and investing in the manufacturing of technology are two specific areas where he thinks the United States can take action.

“We need to have an American-first mentality,” he said. “We should be focusing on industries that will help us become less reliant on other countries.”

While Bochetto has a clear vision of what he would like to do if elected, polls show he is facing a bit of an uphill battle. A recent Emerson College poll of Pennsylvania Republican primary voters found that David McCormick and Mehmet Oz are tied with 14% support at the top of the field, while no other candidate reached double digits.

However, about half of those surveyed said they’re still undecided.

Bochetto said he is confident he can win over those voters.

“I am the person who has the real bonafides of having stood up, promoted and defended conservative values my entire professional career,” he said. “I don’t have to lie about where I live or about me record. And I don’t have to start adopting positions on important issues just because I’m running for Senate and it’s politically convenient. I’m the real deal.”

Meet the candidate

Candidate: George Bochetto, 69, Philadelphia.

Position: U.S. senator.

Current salary for position: $174,000.

Background: Bochetto is a prominent Philadelphia lawyer who has fought various high-profile cases in the city. He also served a stint as the state’s boxing commissioner and launched the Boxing Scholarship Foundation. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany, State University of New York, and a law degree from Temple University.

Website: bochettoforsenate.com

Source: Berkshire mont