(This story by John Gregg was published by the Valley News on Dec. 28, 2017.)
[U].S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., cruised to re-election in 2016, facing no primary or Republican opponent and defeating a fringe candidate while gaining almost 78 percent of the vote.
But it does appear the six-term Democrat will face a primary challenge in 2018, and from a fellow Upper Valley resident, to boot.
“Special interests do not give money to politicians out of the goodness of their heart; they do it because they know the money does affect the decisions of our representatives,” Freilich said on his website. “That’s why I have chosen to take the political risk to stand up for what I know is the only way to bring integrity back into the process — refusing to take any kind of special interest or corporate money.”
The 53-year-old Freilich is a captain in the Navy Reserve after spending 15 years on active duty. He bought a home in Brownsville in the fall of 2016, though he also spends some time in the Washington, D.C., area, where his wife works for a think tank in the homeland security field, and where he fulfills some of his Reserve duties.
Freilich, who specializes in infectious diseases, said he began working part time at the VA in 2011 and has been full time since 2015, working essentially as a contractor, rather than as a civil service employee. He said that would allow him to keep his job while he runs for Congress.
The other issues on his four-plank platform are ending income inequality, addressing health care disparities through some sort of Medicare-for-all program, and helping to implement a “green energy” economic policy.
Though the 70-year-old Welch remains popular through much of Vermont and has been a consistent vote against Trump-era policies, Freilich said he considers the Norwich Democrat to be part of the problem in Washington, given his campaign war chest. Welch reported more than $2 million cash on hand in the most recent FEC report.
“I’m trying to be positive,” Freilich said. “I’m not critical that he takes money, because almost everyone in Congress does. I just feel that it can be done better.”
This is not a new stance for Freilich. He challenged U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., in 2010 on a similar platform and was drubbed in the Democratic primary, but also appeared on the general election ballot as an independent. At the time, Freilich owned a home in Wilmington but also had D.C. ties.
Freilich plans to announce his candidacy Jan. 21 at an event at the Trail Break taco restaurant in White River Junction.
