The U.S. representative from the 15th Congressional District, Charlie Dent, is facing challenger Rick Daugherty in the Nov. 6 election.

Dent was unopposed in his primary, while Daugherty defeated Jackson Eaton 59 percent to 41 percent.

Daugherty, who grew up in West Bethlehem, and attended school in the Catasauqua Area School District before receiving a bachelor's degree in social work from Moravian College, is a longtime party activist.

He was asked why he is running for office.

"I have a different opinion than my opponent on a number of key policies," Daugherty explained. "I believe we need to make dramatic changes in trade policy and military spending and must protect, not eliminate, programs like Medicare that work well."

He claims the plan favored by Congressman Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney's vice presidential running mate "would eliminate the program and have senior citizens fend for themselves in the private, for-profit insurance market."

Daugherty looks to reform Medicare rather than replace it.

"We need to improve health outcomes and eliminate fraud in order to reduce costs," he said.

He took aim at economic policies.

"Policies that hurt our workers and manufacturers, such as unfair trade agreements with China and other nations, are promoted as beneficial," he said. "We need to stop unfair trade agreements that send jobs overseas."

On foreign policy, Daugherty says, "Military spending is not directed at our current national security threats and too much of our military spending goes to protect other nations who can protect themselves."

He and his wife April and their three children Sarah, Eric and Shane live in Lowhill Township.

The former district administrator for Congressman Paul McHale cited his 16 years of work at the Lehigh County Senior Center is a job experience qualifying him for the job.

Daugherty also pledges to impose term limits on himself, limiting his stay in the House of Representatives to five terms.

First elected in 2004, Dent has progressed through both chambers of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States House of Representatives. in recent years.

He is a lifelong Lehigh Valley resident.

A graduate of William Allen High School, he earned a degree in foreign service and international politics from the Pennsylvania State University and a master's degree in public administration from Lehigh University.

Before entering public service, Dent worked as a development officer for Lehigh University, an industrial electronics salesman, and an aide to then-Representative Don Ritter.

He served eight years in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and six years in the state Senate.

Dent's campaign has taken aim at Daugherty for suggesting that the federal deficit is a revenue problem rather than a spending problem, highlighting the dichotomy of views as to whether Washington should spend less or tax more.

Asked why he is running for re-election, Dent told The Press, "I offer a common sense, growth-oriented approach to the tough challenges that we face in today's uncertain economic times."

He added "I want my children and your children to have the same opportunities for success and a good life that previous generations of Americans have enjoyed."

Dent cites the experience he gained in state and federal government as qualifying him to continue to serve.

He said that experience "provides me with valuable know-how regarding the legislative process."

"As a result, I have been able to deliver results on issues ranging from jobs and the economy, to health care, to law enforcement and homeland security," Dent added.

In Congress, Dent serves on the Appropriations Committee and the Ethics Committee, as well as the Appropriations subcommittees dealing with homeland security, state and foreign operations and transportation, housing and urban development.

Asked about the issues facing the next Congress, he said, "We are facing a long-term debt crisis."

He added, "We must control government spending and place the country on a sustainable fiscal path."

Dent looks to reduce the tax burdens on small business.

"We are facing a jobs crisis and we need to deal with it by reforming the tax code and relieving the regulatory burden on small businesses. We are also in dire need of a national energy policy. Preferably, we need an energy policy that puts an emphasis on maximizing North American energy exploration, development and production."