Election 2022: Two to challenge Rep. Kelly
Dan Pastore grew up working in his family's construction business, became a lawyer and went on to run a national online fishing tackle business and retail shop near Erie's vaunted steelhead alley.
His next challenge is seeking the Democratic party nomination to run in this year's election against U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, of Butler, to represent the 16th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The district contains all of Erie, Crawford, Mercer and Lawrence counties, and part of Butler County.
This is his first time seeking an elected public office, but he has served as an appointed member of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission representing District 1, which includes Butler, Clarion, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Crawford, Erie, Forest and Warren counties, since 2019. Commission appointments are made by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate.
Rick Telesz, of Volant, said he was inspired to run for Congress after Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, challenged the state's mail-in voting law and objected to certification of the 2020 presidential election.Telesz, a 64-year-old Lawrence County crop and dairy farmer, is seeking the Democratic party nomination to challenge longtime incumbent Kelly, of Butler, to represent the 16th district in the U.S. House of Representatives. This is his first run at public office.“What he did after the election inspired me to do something,” Telesz said.He said Kelly was among the representatives who voted against congressional certification of the presidential election and he filed a state lawsuit to have 2.5 million mail-in ballots thrown out, arguing that the state Legislature lacked authority when it expanded mail-in voting.Certification of the election results that put President Joe Biden into office was disrupted Jan. 6, 2021, by the riot in the Capitol, but the results eventually were certified.“He voted to disqualify mail-in votes in Pennsylvania, and he was very vocal supporting what people call 'The Big Lie.' He wanted votes thrown out. His motive was to keep one individual in power. He was sacrificing everybody,” Telesz said. “I'm doing this for the future of my kids and everybody else out there.”<b> A portion of this story is shared with you as a digital media exclusive. To read the full story and support our local, independent newsroom, please subscribe at butlereagle.com. </b>
