Rick Daugherty (D-PA-15)

Back to PA Candidate Bios

Rick Daugherty

 

Campaign links: Rick Daugherty (D-PA-15)

 

Richard D. “Rick” Daugherty

Rick Daugherty Congressional Candidate Pennsylvania District 15

 

Biography of Rick Daugherty from Rick Daugherty for Congress

Rick grew up in the west Bethlehem area where his father, a combat veteran of WWII, his mother, and two brothers lived in a ranch house on Troxell Street. It was a great place to grow up. Neighbors looked out for each other. Children could roam free and create their own games. He delivered papers for the Evening Chronicle, fished at Monacacy Park, and rode his bike to Almarts department store. His parents founded Daugherty Travel Agency located on the eastside of Allentown. Rick attended the Catasauqua School District from kindergarten to high school. He played football and track. Later he graduated from Moravian College with a bachelors degree in social work. He is a lifelong member of Saint Andrew’s church.

Rick knows the struggles and challenges that face small businesses. His parents took a second mortgage on their home in order to start their business. There was no safety net. If the business had failed, they would have lost everything. When Rick was 15, his father died of cancer. Although the support of family, friends, and neighbors was strong, without Social Security his family would never have made it. He knows that government programs can be there to help when it is needed the most.

In the area of social work, Rick helped children in foster care grow and mature while at Pinebrook Family Services, and he helped homeless families become more self sufficient at New Bethany Ministries. He worked as the District Administrator for former Congressman Paul McHale. He now works at what he describes as “the best job I will ever have” at the Lehigh County Senior Center.

Rick is running for Congress because he is very concerned that programs helping senior citizens are under attack by Republicans. Republicans want to make Medicare a voucher program, forcing senior citizens to compete in the private insurance market on their own. His first priority will be to strengthen programs that help senior citizens such as Medicare, Social Security, senior housing, senior consumer protection, and senior work assistance programs.

Rick will refuse to take a pension or health care. He pledges to serve at most five terms. He will never accept a gift or a free trip. He will serve the people of the 15th Congressional District, not lobbyists. He will never become part of the Washington establishment.

Rick and his wife April and their three children Sarah, Eric and Shane live in Lowhill township.