Trivedi to Run in 6th Congressional District

Doug Pike has some company in the race to be the Democratic candidate in the 6th congressional District. Manan Trivedi has jumped in (see details below). Trivedi is ahead in the all important twitter followers contest, though more of his followers appear to be from out of state (www.twitter.com/dougpike against www.twitter.com/manantrivedi). He is also ahead in the ActBlue fundraising race, and his campaign website is jazzier. What Pike brings to the race is the $510,000 he has given / loaned his campaign.

Here is Trivedi's press release and bio:

Today Manan Trivedi announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 6th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. Recently retired as a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy, Trivedi made his campaign for the 2010 Democratic nomination official.

Trivedi’s roots in the district are deep. He grew up in Fleetwood, Berks County, and then went on to become a decorated Iraq War Veteran by serving as the Battalion Surgeon for a Marine Corps Infantry Battalion in the 5th Regiment. After his tour of service, Trivedi returned home to the district, and he now resides in Reading, where he works as a board-certified internal medicine doctor at Reading Hospital.

“I was raised in this district by working-class parents and experienced what many families are going through now with the loss of their jobs and their pensions. But I also learned the importance of serving others and working hard for things that matter. These principles have guided my career, from the battlefield to the emergency room,” said Trivedi.

“I am now prepared to serve my community in a new capacity: in the halls of Congress. We have some big challenges facing our nation. Our healthcare system is broken, we’re engaged in two wars, and our economy continues to struggle. I know how to get things done under extremely difficult situations, and my direct experience with these challenges will give the working families in my district a strong and credible voice in Washington,” Trivedi concluded.

Manan and his wife Surekha have been married for five years, after meeting in college. Trivedi’s recent involvement in Democratic politics was as a Healthcare Advisor to the Obama for America Campaign. For more information, please visit the campaign website at www.trivediforcongress.com.

###

Complete Bio:

From boots on the battleground to scrubs in the emergency room, Manan Trivedi's life's story and life's work have prepared him to confront the pressing challenges Congress faces today.

A son of immigrants from India, Manan Trivedi was born and raised with his brother in Fleetwood, Berks County. His parents worked at the old Red Cheek apple juice factory. He attended public schools and graduated from Fleetwood High School. He went on to college and medical school before embarking on a Naval career that took him to the frontlines of the War in Iraq. Now, he’s a primary care physician in Reading, board certified in internal medicine.

Manan Trivedi’s passion for community service began at a very early age. As a young boy, he won a national contest for launching a healthy eating initiative. In college, he received a community service award for his work with HIV/AIDS patients. As a physician, he has treated the poor and uninsured in the inner city.

From 2001 to 2003, Trivedi served as the Battalion Surgeon for the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment Marine Corps Infantry Battalion. His battalion was among the first US ground forces to enter Iraq. Trivedi served on the frontlines of battle, commanding a medical team that cared for over 1,200 of our troops and hundreds of Iraqi civilians. For his service, Lt. Commander Trivedi earned the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy Commendation Medal, and his unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

After his service in Iraq, Trivedi received a Masters degree in Health Policy. He drew on his experience with combat medicine to become one of the early researchers to investigate the unique mental health issues affecting our troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Trivedi went on to serve as health policy advisor to the Navy Surgeon Generaland was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.

After leaving the Navy, Trivedi is now a primary care physician at Reading Hospital and Medical Center. An expert on public health and Veteran’s health care, Trivedi served as health policy advisor to Barack Obama’s campaign for President. He met his wife Surekha while they were in college together. They live in Reading where they enjoy outdoor activities and are avid Philadelphia sports fans.