Rob Gurtcheff last week announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in next year’s race in the 170th Legislative District.
In lieu of donating to his campaign, Gurtcheff asked supporters attending his Nov. 11 announcement at United Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd to bring a donation for the church’s food pantry.
Gurtcheff, 51, lives in Walton Park. He attended St. Martha, Archbishop Ryan and Temple, and is a former lay leader at United Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd. He’s a kidney donor and Army veteran who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and now works as a fraud investigator for a health insurance company.
Gurtcheff hopes to challenge Republican Rep. Martina White. Among those in attendance was Matt Darragh, who was White’s challenger in 2016.
White was unopposed in 2022 and ‘24.
“No office should go unopposed,” Gurtcheff said.
Gurtcheff and his wife of 20 years, Pam, have a son and daughter. He’s a Democratic committeeman in the 66th Ward, 17th Division. In the recent general election, he said he voted for Pat Dugan for district attorney.
Gurtcheff supports an increase in the state minimum wage, which is $7.25 an hour. The wage has not increased since 2009, when it rose from $7.15 to keep pace with the federal wage.
“The minimum wage has to be raised,” Gurtcheff said. “That has to happen.”
A higher minimum wage, Gurtcheff said, will give more dignity to work. He quoted Ronald Reagan, who said, “A rising tide lifts all boats.”
“But everybody has to have a boat,” Gurtcheff said.
The challenger said he received help for PTSD, and wants to make it a line-of-duty disability for first responders and those who deal with death every day.
In the campaign, Gurtcheff vows to knock on every door in the district at least three times. ••
