This is one in a series of profiles of the four candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in Pennsylvania’s 14th Congressional District, which comprises Greene, Fayette and Washington counties and most of Westmoreland. The primary is May 15.
GREENSBURG, Pa. — It’s easy to see why Bibiana Boerio — a woman who spent 32 years at Ford — frequently compares her political candidacy to her time in the automotive industry.
In this particular metaphor, spoken over a cup off coffee in this Westmoreland town on Saturday, “there’s a lot of similarities between launching a campaign and launching a car.” There’s a target audience and constituent needs. Then there’s figuring out how to deliver the product.
Either way, the engines had to start fast for Ms. Boerio, who launched her candidacy with only eight weeks to go until primary day. She said it’s been like “running a marathon in a 100-yard dash” — though strategists say she got an early boost from having the most recognizable name in the primary.
Ms. Boerio, 64, of Unity Township, is best known for her stints as an executive at the Ford Motor Credit Company and with Jaguar Cars, but also her tenure as former U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak’s chief of staff. For Mr. Sestak, she was in charge of legislative policy in several areas, including health care, in which she spent time studying the Affordable Care Act.
“She combined her insightful grasp of issues with the ability to include those with differing opinions, which permitted her to provide solutions that would serve everyone,” Mr. Sestak wrote in a statement supporting her candidacy. “It is this inclusive leadership that will serve the district well, for she recognizes that she is, above all else, a public servant for each of her constituents.”
Health care is the issue on which Ms. Boerio believes she differs the most from her primary opponents. She described herself as a “realist and a pragmatist who wants to get things done,” criticizing those — like Bob Solomon — who say the country could move quickly into a single-payer system. Instead, she named specific bills in Congress she supports that would fix certain parts of the Affordable Care Act while slowly transitioning to single-payer.
Her main pitch to voters is that she’ll work to strengthen the economy while building quality of life, and that even though she’s spent most of her career as an executive, she has always listened to “the guy on the line” — adding that she would represent her constituents with what she calls the four C’s: confidence, character, caring and civility.
“People don't see progress, and they don't see how you make progress out of chaos,” Ms. Boerio said. “They don't see how you make progress out of people screaming, shouting and calling each other nasty names. They’re really tired of that.”
Julian Routh: jrouth@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1952, Twitter @julianrouth.
First Published: May 8, 2018, 3:52 p.m.
