Fitzpatrick wants smaller government, controlled spending

After watching their oldest son battle cancer, Jim and Mary Fitzpatrick didn't want him to run for Congress.

"Let someone else step up and do it," Mike Fitzpatrick said, recalling his parents' words.

Fitzpatrick, one of seven kids raised by his mom and dad, understood their trepidation.

"Parents are always concerned about their children," the former Republican congressman said. "But if you want to live in a good neighborhood, you have to be a good neighbor. That's the way we were raised. I'd like to pass some of that on to my own children."

In this case, being a good neighbor means running for Congress to "bring some sanity to our nation's capital," Fitzpatrick said. "Running for public office is a major sacrifice for anybody, and one of the most important things anybody could do in terms of giving back to a community."

Especially after overcoming cancer. But Fitzpatrick is no stranger to campaigning after 10 years as a Bucks County commissioner and two congressional races.

His January decision to "get back in the game" changed the dynamic of the competition for the Republican nomination in the 8th District.

When Fitzpatrick declared his intention, the GOP field was crowded with nine candidates. Fitzpatrick, who many consider the favorite because of his name recognition and ability to raise money, took in more than $500,000 in just over nine weeks since Jan. 23.

He now faces competition from three Republicans: Gloria Carlineo, a Solebury committeewoman; Ira Hoffman, a financial planner from Solebury; and James Jones, a Langhorne businessman.

Fitzpatrick has batted .500 in campaigns for Congress. In 2004, when Jim Greenwood left office after six terms, Fitzpatrick defeated Ginny Schrader. Two years later, in the first of back-to-back GOP thumpings as the country turned against President George Bush, Fitzpatrick lost by less than 1 percent - just over 1,500 votes out of nearly 250,000 cast - to Democrat Patrick Murphy.

According to The Washington Post, Fitzpatrick was one of the most independent voters in the House during the 109th Congress. He voted with his party 83.4 percent of the time. Only 17 of 435 members supported their party less, according to The Post's voting database.

"The facts are, while I was in Congress I was one of the most likely of either party to ask the tough questions of both parties," he said.

"People know what I stand for - smaller, efficient government and reform of government spending. A belief in the individual, and support of the entrepreneur and his or her ability and desire to take risks and create jobs. That's what has made America great. And if we stray from that, America will crease being great," he said.

Born and raised in Middletown - he lives three blocks from the home his parents have lived in since 1957 - Fitzpatrick returned to his law practice following the setback to Murphy.

"Being away has given me a fresh new outlook and a very clear vision," Fitzpatrick said in his first campaign speech. "Eighteen months ago, I did not expect to run again for public office. But I also didn't expect to see the runaway growth in the federal government, our national debt exploding, and so many fine Americans unemployed and underemployed."

And 18 months ago, he didn't know if he'd survive colon cancer.

"I look back on my diagnosis and it was a difficult time. It has given me a fresh perspective on life, on my family," said Fitzpatrick, who with his wife, Kathy, have six children. "I can honestly say I'm glad I went through it. It has made me a better person."

In the days before his candidacy, he said those who knew him as a friend or acquaintance would prod him about getting back to Washington to "stop the growing mountain of debt."

"I'm not going to sit back and watch it continue," he said. "I want my children and all children of the country to inherit a nation with a balanced budget and a business climate that encourages job creators."

He said doctors have given him a clean bill of health prior to his entry into the race and he has a "renewed appreciation for the medical profession."

"I have very clearly experienced the impact from the perspective of the patient," he said. "It will make me a better representative in Congress for individuals who face important health care decisions and the struggle with cost."

Once in the race, Fitzpatrick was not shy about staking out ground.

He called for an open primary, which earned the praise of tea party members; said he supported term limits and appealed for Murphy to limit campaign spending. At a health care town hall event in Perkasie, he promised to lead a repeal effort of the new health care law.

"I would not have been so adamant about term limits and controlling spending if I had not had these past four years to reflect on what works and what doesn't work in the nation's capital. I wanted to make it clear right out of the starting block that I feel very strongly and will fight very intently to change the way Washington does business.

"And given my fresh perspective, I'm going to ask even tougher questions because we don't have much time to turn the ship around."

"Eighteen months ago, I did not expect to run again for public office. But I also didn't expect to see the runaway growth in the federal government, our national debt exploding, and so many fine Americans unemployed and underemployed."

Mike Fitzpatrick