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Physician seeks Democratic nomination in race to represent the new 14th District

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Calling the U.S. health care system “broken,” an Oakdale physician is running for Congress on a platform that includes a vow to fight for universal access to health care.

Dr. Bob Solomon, 60, said Monday he plans to seek the Democratic nomination to represent the 14th District, which includes Washington, Greene and Fayette counties, plus part of Westmoreland.

“I’ve been an emergency physician for 32 years and treated tens of thousands of uninsured and underinsured Americans in hospitals across the 14th District,” Solomon said in a statement. “Saving and enhancing lives also requires ending the ‘war on drugs’ by prioritizing treatment and rehabilitation options, lowering prescription drug prices, and using the power of the people to rein in the pharmaceutical industry and their priority on profits.”

The congressional map set to take effect for the May 15 primaries was drawn up by the majority-Democratic state Supreme Court, which deemed the previous GOP-crafted map unconstitutional. Republicans have brought legal challenges to the new map in the federal court in Harrisburg and the U.S. Supreme Court.

The new district lines put Solomon’s home in Allegheny County about 2 ½ miles outside the district in which he’s running. Candidates do not need to live in the same district they run to represent.

Solomon joins Adam Sedlock, 64, of Chalk Hill, Fayette County, a licensed psychologist who also declared his plans this week.

Solomon previously sought the party’s nomination in the March 13 special election to replace former 18th District congressman Tim Murphy, a Republican who resigned last year.

Democrats ultimately picked Conor Lamb of Mt. Lebanon, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former federal prosecutor, to face state Rep. Rick Saccone of Elizabeth, the GOP candidate.

The political action committee Physicians for Progressive Care endorsed Solomon in that contest, according to his campaign website.

Solomon pointed to the importance of “thoughtful debate and dialogue,” saying health care and other issues that matter to district residents are “bipartisan in nature.”

“We all want a robust economy with more and better paying jobs, safe schools, fair taxes, and an independent energy future, and I look forward to hearing from and working with residents across the political and policy spectrum – I won’t exclude anyone,” he added in his statement.

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