Lentz looks to go to D.C.

In what was the least surprising development on the political scene in weeks, state Rep. Bryan Lentz Thursday finally said what everyone else has been saying for months.

He’s running for Congress.

It’s not the first time Lentz has looked to Washington. He actually was ready to challenge longtime 7th District Congressman Curt Weldon back in 2006, but he moved aside when Joe Sestak entered the race.

So Lentz instead trained his eye on Harrisburg, and in the process showed longtime state Rep. Tom Gannon, R-161, the door.

There are those who believe Sestak and Lentz are setting up the Democrat Party for a huge fall. I happen to be among them. It took Democrats 20 years to topple Weldon. Likewise, Gannon served the 161st District towns of Ridley and others for years.

Now the Democrats might be watching both seats slip away. Lentz should prevail in a primary against two challengers, setting up a heavyweight match against Republican Pat Meehan in the fall. Meehan is no stranger to Delco voters. He’s a former county D.A. and U.S. attorney who gathered a reputation as a crimebuster. Lentz will be the underdog, probably a hefty one.

It’s not Mission Impossible, but it will be an uphill fight.

In the meantime, it’s entirely possible that 161st District seat in the state House also falls back into Republican hands.

For now, Lentz, a former member of the 82nd Airborne Division who saw action in both Bosnia and Iraq, is saying he’s ready to go to battle for the “regular people,” taking a stand against “powerful interests.”

“I’ve been an Airborne Ranger, I’ve been a prosecutor and I’ve been a legislator,” he told a crowd gathered to hear his announcement at an Upper Darby VFW Post.

But is he ready to do battle with the Delco GOP in a countywide race? It likely will be his toughest fight yet.