Jim Gerlach fought hard to win over well-funded Democrat Lois Murphy in 2004 and 2006, holding o to his seat by slim margins in both elections.

This year he faces political newcomer Bob Roggio, whose experience includes a 30-year business career, time in the U.S. Army Reserve, and campaign work for both U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and 2004 presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

Roggio, 61, of Charlestown Township cites Gerlach's reversal on the financial bailout — he voted for the second version after rejecting the first — and his positions on energy, health care and the war in Iraq as being politically expedient and tied to the Republican White House.

Gerlach stresses his independent votes and said he has "real problems" with giving government more responsibility for health care. The 53-year-old West Pikeland resident favors greater competition among states for individual health plans and increased power for physicians to negotiate reimbursements.

Gerlach's positions on national issues have at times differed from a district where Democratic voter registration has been growing. But, voters have returned him to office for his track record of working tirelessly for issues of local and regional importance.

He battled with the Department of Veterans Affairs long and hard to bring a veterans cemetery to Chester County, and he continues to work with county and regional transportation agencies for a viable rail alternative in the Route 422 corridor. His positions on environmental issues — such as disposing of nuclear spent fuel rods by resolving the Yucca Mountain impasse — are rooted in local issues.

We endorse U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach for another two-year term to continue representing the interests of the 6th District.

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Aided in part by a federal investigation of his opponent, Democrat Joe Sestak two years ago stunned the political establishment by ousting U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon, a Republican who had represented the 7th Congressional District for 20 years.

Sestak's current opponent is Republican Craig Williams, a former federal prosecutor under Patrick Meehan in the U.S. Attorney's office in Philly.

Both candidates have impressive military careers and professional resumes. Sestak is a retired three-star Navy admiral who once commanded an aircraft-carrier battle group in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also served on the National Security Council in the Clinton White House. Williams is a 21-year Marine Corps veteran who flew 56 combat missions in the Gulf War. He's advised two chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The two differ on the war in Iraq, with Sestak calling for a "date certain" withdrawal and Williams mockinghis Sestak's opposition to involvement in Iraq and the troop surge as the politics of surrender.

Sestak voted twice in favor of the $700 billion economic bailout plan; Williams opposed the bailout, saying he's fundamentally against such philosophy..

This has been a good race, with a strong incumbent and an equally impressive challenger. But Sestak earns an edge because of his tireless work for his constituents during the past two years.

We endorse incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak for another two-year term representing the 7th District.

— Journal Register News Service