Three candidates are vying for the Republican nomination in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District. The district includes all of Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties; and parts of Monroe County. The district is currently represented by Democrat Susan Wild.

Candidates were asked a series of questions leading up to the election. There was a 75-word limit for the candidate’s background and a 100-word limit for the remainder of the questions.

Background

Kevin Dellicker: “I’m a 40- year resident of Northwestern Lehigh School District, a 28-year veteran of the U.S. military, and a 19-year business owner of a successful technology company. I live in Germansville with my wife Susan, a teacher at Palmerton High School, and our three sons. I serve as a Christian minister, coached 20 seasons of youth sports, and invested 1,000 hours mentoring high school students. I’ll apply my experience in Congress to Keep America Free.”

Ryan Mackenzie: “I have served proudly as a state representative for nearly 12 years and am the only candidate with a proven conservative record on taxes, immigration, public safety, protecting life and the Second Amendment, and more. A ninth generation resident of the Lehigh Valley, I am a graduate of Parkland High School, NYU, and Harvard Business School. My wife, Chloe, and I live in Emmaus with our newborn son and rescue dog.”

Maria Montero: “I am a Summit Hill native and the great granddaughter of Carbon County coal-miners. I was raised to value faith, family, and country. I played multiple sports at Marian Catholic and ran track at St. Joseph’s University. Growing up, I split time between Summit Hill and Allentown and now work at HGSK law firm. I co-founded the LV’s Power of Women, served as an executive in Governor Corbett’s administration, and participate on several nonprofit boards.”

What do you see as the most pressing issue affecting Carbon County voters and how do you plan to address it?

Dellicker: “Liberals and career politicians are destroying our country. Liberals weaken our military, open our borders, and demonize our police. They harm working families and senior citizens with high inflation and interest rates. They damage our families by attacking our hometown values. Career politicians get elected to office and never leave. They vote to stay in power and not to serve the people, undermining our Republic. I’m a conservative, and I’m no career politician. I’m a veteran, a business owner, and a family man. I’ll go to Washington, get the job done, and then come home, just like our founders intended.”

Mackenzie: “Illegal immigration, Washington overspending, and funding of forever wars - all of which are costing every American too much, driving inflation, and stopping us from addressing American issues first. In Congress, I will build on my proven record of never voting for a tax increase, passing laws that help fight illegal immigration, and focusing the budget on our priorities. We must stand up for our American citizens, secure our border and build the wall, protect Social Security and Medicare, and help those who are truly in need.”

Montero: “The most pressing issue is maintaining the quality of life we have in our beautiful county. Growing up in Summit Hill, the Pisgah Ridge and Lentz’ Trail were my backyard, family was always nearby, and grew up feeling safe. Today illegal drugs, crime, inflation, and employment scarcities are disrupting our way of life. We need solutions like: securing our borders and ports-of-entry to curtail crime and illegal drug flow; decreasing taxes to put more money back into American’s pockets and spur small business growth; and incentivizing manufacturing operations to bring family sustaining jobs back home while strengthening our families’ finances.”

What is the biggest issue impacting the economy and how would you address it?

Dellicker: “Excessive federal spending is the biggest threat to our economy. Interest payments on our debt now exceed spending on national defense. We cannot sustain our Republic if Washington keeps running trillion-dollar deficits. Excessive spending is the reason that prices are so high and interest rates are so oppressive in Carbon County. As a business owner, I know how to balance a budget. In Congress, I want to be on the House Budget Committee where I can work to restore fiscal responsibility. And because politics isn’t my livelihood, I’m willing to cast tough votes when others are not.”

Mackenzie: “Washington overspending. And fixing it means making the politicians do their jobs by enacting a balanced budget requirement or hard and fast annual deadlines. This will end the supplemental spending and continuing resolutions. We must force Congress to be accountable to taxpayers by showing them the entire picture, for the entire year. We must make certain we spend only what we are taking in. We must stop raiding the Social Security Trust Fund. And we need to end the piecemeal budgeting approach that makes it too easy for politicians to overspend because there is no prioritization.”

Montero: “Our country needs economic revitalization. Many in our community face job scarcity and lack financial security because of high inflation. We must cut through the red tape and over-regulation of small businesses so the creative economy may flourish. Small business owners are the backbone of our country and number one in job creation. When taxes are lowered, businesses reinvest which creates new job opportunities. Economic revitalization doesn’t happen in a vacuum, it’s key we as a nation face head-on our greatest threat - the Chinese Communist Party who continues to steal our intellectual property, undermines democracy, and threatens capitalism.”

What policies or changes would you champion at the Congressional level to help support local businesses?

Dellicker: “I’m the only candidate in this race who signs the front of a paycheck. My company has created or sustained 100 American jobs since I started my business. I understand the problems affecting local businesses, and I know how to fix them. Tax rates on small businesses are simply too high. Big corporations pay a maximum rate of 21%, but small business owners can pay up to 37%. And it’s not just rates that are the problem. The tax code is way too complex. In Congress, I’ll work to cut taxes and reduce red tape for local businesses.”

Mackenzie: “Government needs to stop picking winners and losers, reduce taxes, and end over-regulation. Biden’s climate agenda is a perfect example of government suppressing job creation in the energy sector - especially here in Pennsylvania - to satisfy his political base. It also drives up costs for consumers and businesses, thereby reducing investment in new job creation. Government over-regulation also makes it too hard for entrepreneurs to thrive and easy for too many companies to fail. We must ensure a fair and predictable regulatory structure. Finally, we need to reduce the taxes that make us uncompetitive in the national and international marketplace.”

Montero: “Congress can help by lowering taxes so businesses have more money to reinvest in their business, supporting legislation like “Expanding Access to Capital Act,” and increasing natural energy production which will decreases the built-in costs of running a business. I will introduce legislation that streamlines processes for small business application approvals; unburden compliance; and increase opportunities for loan and grant applications. I will advocate for tax reforms that incentivize local investment and consumer spending. We must future-proof our local economies and ensure the protection and creation of local jobs.”

Immigration has been identified as an important issue in this election. How would you deal with border security?

Dellicker: “Our open border is the most urgent national security threat we face. We must build the wall. We must change asylum and parole policies that allow illegal immigrants to enter our country and stay without deportation. We must reinstate the “remain in Mexico” policy. And we should designate cartels that traffic people and drugs as international terrorist organizations. I’m for legal immigration. But it must on our terms, follow the law, and benefit Americans. As a National Guard veteran, I’ve protected our homeland from terrorists and threats for decades. I’ll do the same when I get to Congress.”

Mackenzie: “To start, we must build the wall and reinstate the tough border policies of the Trump administration. Unlike other candidates in this race, I have a proven record of successfully fighting illegal immigration. As state representative, I wrote and passed the E-Verify law that protects American jobs in the construction industry from illegal immigrants. I also have presented a comprehensive plan to address illegal immigration in Pennsylvania on six different fronts - a plan that the open borders crowd protested me for, but is right for America.”

Montero: “My family came from Ireland, Italy, and Peru for the American Dream. They came here legally and worked hard to achieve that dream. I support legislation incentivizing legal immigration and preventing illegal crossings. Our tax dollars should be invested in advanced border security technology - not providing freebies for those entering our country illegally. We must fortify all ports of entry with increased personnel, we must end the catch and release cat and mouse game, and we must allocate the resources needed to immediately deport anyone found violating U.S. immigration law and those who are committing crimes.”

What, if anything, do you feel needs to be done in the area of gun control and curbing gun violence?

Dellicker: “I am proud to have the support of the four largest police organizations in the congressional district. Police support my candidacy because of my uniformed experience helping law enforcement officers protect our communities, and because they know I’ll have their back. The violent crime wave we are experiencing is because liberals have demonized and defunded the police and because criminals don’t respect authority. We need to restore law and order to crack down on crime. I have the highest rating for a candidate by the National Rifle Association and I will always protect our 2nd Amendment rights.”

Mackenzie: “This is common sense: We need to start treating criminals like criminals again and enforce the countless laws already on the books. The radical left’s agenda of coddling criminals, letting repeat offenders back on the streets, and refusing to prosecute different crimes has only emboldened criminals. One need look no further than America’s most Democratic cities to see the truth: those cities with the toughest gun laws but soft on crime prosecutors continue to suffer from the highest gun crime rates. It’s not the laws. It’s the fact the laws aren’t even being enforced by radical left prosecutors and district attorneys.”

Montero: “Crime drops when you hold criminals accountable. Crime thrives when you elect politicians who are soft on crime like Susan Wild who voted the D.C. crimes bill, which decriminalized carjacking and reduced sentencing for violent crimes. Imprisoning repeat offenders allows our hard-working men and women in blue to do their job and our communities are safer because of them. Guns are not the problem. The 2nd amendment is second for a reason, our right to bear arms is integral in keeping of the peace, as is fully funding and protecting law enforcement.”

How do you view the role of the US in responding to challenges facing the international community?

Dellicker: “In Schnecksville last week, Donald Trump said that American weakness emboldens our enemies. He’s exactly right. I’m the only person in this race with any military experience, and I’ll help President Trump restore “peace through strength.” My 28 years of military service includes time as an Army infantry soldier, Air Force intelligence officer, and squadron commander. I’ve deployed four times to the combat zone. I know what it takes to defend our country. In Congress, I’ll defend Israel and stand up to China. And I’ll work to strengthen our military, secure our border, and deter our enemies around the world.”

Mackenzie: “While the U.S. can and should play a role in the international community, it’s FIRST duty is to American citizens. That is a duty that has been ignored or forgotten for too long in Washington. Congress and the President should not be asking taxpayers to fund things like housing, food and medical benefits for illegal immigrants, or forever wars. We should be taking care of our own citizens and our own communities. Ensuring the needs and challenges of America are met first is critical when making decisions on how to help our allies and partners in the international community.”

Montero: “I am running to be PA-7’s Congresswoman not Congresswoman of the world. We must focus on issues at home first. When our allies call, we will answer - but maintaining “forever wars” does not benefit our citizens here at home. Our government seems to care more about foreign aid than the American voters who put them in positions of power. Peace through strength does not mean funding proxy wars. We must use diplomacy to protect national interests.”

Given the divisiveness of party politics, how would you work to ensure Congress is effective and efficient?

Dellicker: “The best way to end the divisiveness in Congress is to expand our Republican Majority with real leaders who aren’t career politicians. I don’t like divisiveness either, and I’m proud that I ran a positive campaign. But my goals are to win this primary, unite the Republican Party, and win in November. I’m the best person to defeat Susan Wild because I’m authentic, in touch with local voters, and effective in solving problems. My real-life experience in military, business, and community affairs isn’t just important to Republicans, its important to everybody. And that’s why I’m best positioned to win.”

Mackenzie: “By focusing on one thing: pushing for solutions to America’s problems that make sense. That’s what I have done as state representative and - in doing so - I have built a proven conservative record of results. I have even had success on issues that many would consider “divisive” because when the solution is the right thing, it attracts support. That is why my E-Verify law to protect American jobs from illegal immigration passed with a veto-proof majority of Republicans and Democrats voting for it. And why my maternal mortality law - which many consider “pro-life” - attracted the same type of bipartisan support.”

Montero: “I commit to fostering pro-America values in Congress. America’s success relies on responsible energy development like natural gas, strong borders, ending government wasteful spending, and empowering parents to have education choice for their children. I have taken a term-limits pledge because serving the people of PA’s 7th District is my priority, in contrast to self-serving career politicians. As a mom, a coach, and a former athlete, rallying and unifying a team is where I excel - skills that are much needed in Washington D.C. right now.”