Ex-Eagles tackle to formally announce run for Congress

Republican congressional candidate Jon Runyan held forth for about an hour on the issues Wednesday managing to say little more than what he's for or against.

Runyan, a former Eagles tackle, plans to formally announce his candidacy Thursday night.

He's generally against government spending but supports spending for military operations and funding "legitimate" projects in the 3rd Congressional District which runs through Burlington and Ocean counties and includes Cherry Hill in Camden County. He didn't say what those projects would be.

With marginal opposition so far in the Republican June 8 primary, he hopes to run against freshman U.S. Rep. John Adler (D., N.J.) in the fall. He's secured endorsements from the three county Republican machines, thus avoiding a costly primary.

Many Republicans believe the bitter 2008 primary hurt the party's chances of holding onto the traditionally Republican district.

Runyan has chosen Eagles green, white and black for his campaign colors according to signs lining the walls of his campaign headquarters in a storefront at a Mount Laurel strip mall.

In addition to fund-raising, Runyan said he would use his own money to fund the campaign but wouldn't say how much.

On social issues, he opposes same sex marriage but favors abortion rights.

Marriage, he said "is between a man and a woman." Abortion is a decision between a woman and her doctor - - with restrictions, he said.

He said the bank bailout hasn't worked because banks aren't lending money to stimulate business growth. He said he would support a proposed consumer protection agency to protect people from unethical lending practices.

Health care, he said, "does need to be fixed" but not with the overhaul of the system being contemplated in Congress now.

"There are many simplistic ways to do it. The first is portability across state lines which will let more people in the system. That brings down the costs for everybody," he said.

He would allow people to buy insurance from out-of-state insurance companies.

Runyan noted that uncertainty about federal health care legislation is preventing employers from hiring workers.

"Part of the unemployment thing right now is the health care bill hanging over peoples heads. What are employers going to be mandated to do for employees? I think people are holding off and trying to see what the cost of employing someone is," he said.

But he could not say whether there would be an increase in hiring if the legislation were to fail. He said, though that "there's a level of anxiety that will go away."

Beach replenishment is "a huge issue," he said but did not say whether he would spend money to preserve the state's beaches.

Nuclear power "has a lot of bad history but recent technology has cleaned it up" he said adding that nuclear power would help the nation gain energy independence.

Runyan has spent most of his adult life working as a professional athlete and is running in this race as an outsider.

He said he had more research to do on the congressional district and its issues.

Contact staff writer Cynthia Burton at 856-779-3858 or cburton@phillynews.com.