Brian Skibo

HERMITAGE — A Hermitage man who is also a cancer survivor and community activist has announced a run for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District.

Brian Skibo, a Democrat, said Wednesday that he will challenge incumbent Republican Mike Kelly for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Skibo, a brain cancer patient who said he’s beaten the disease as of his last MRI scan, said he wants to bring his fighting spirit and concern about the stability and security of people’s health care coverage to Congress.

“I was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2012, so I know what it’s like for people and families to wake up each morning fearing that their health insurance could be taken away from them,” Skibo said Wednesday.

Skibo, who was working as a blackjack dealer in Pittsburgh when he was first diagnosed with the disease, said he’s upset at the way Congress is being run under Republican leadership, and wants to do more for small business owners.

“One of my main messages is that I know how to battle tough things,” Skibo said, “and I want to take that fight to Congress and bring reform to what’s going on in Congress — the dysfunction.”