Kats gets GOP nod for 13th Congressional District

Attorney Marina Kats, a 46-year-old Ukrainian immigrant, will challenge U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District.

Kats of Abington won the support of the Montgomery County Republican Party, according to The Times-Herald in Norristown.

Kats was vying against Upper Moreland GOP Chairman Lee Falgoust for the party's endorsment.

Kats received 178 committee votes to 81 votes for Falgoust, according to reporter Margaret Gibbons.

Falgoust, a 46-year-old Upper Moreland management consultant, is expected to drop out of the race.

Today is the last day for candidates to withdraw nominating petitions for the April 22 primary.

Featured as one of Philadelphia's "Super Lawyers" (Philadelphia Magazine, June '04) and "Woman of the Year" (Real Philly Magazine, January '05) Kats was named "Consumer Advocate of the Year" for three consecutive years, according to her law firm's Web site. Kats was also named one of the "50 Best Business Women in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."

Kats is also president of the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce.

Schwartz, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary, is seeking her third two-year term in Congress.

Schwartz is heavily favored to win reelection, but at least Kats offers better competition than what the Republican Party could muster in 2006 when the GOP nominee was Raj Peter Bhakta, a Fort Washington businessman whose claim to fame was that he was a contestant on "The Apprentice" reality show.

Schwartz, one of the most liberal members in the House of Representatives, easily defeated Bhakta by a 66 percent to 34 percent margin.

The 13th District includes sections of Philadelphia and the following Montgomery County municipalities: Abington; Ambler; Bryn Athyn; Green Lane; Hatboro; Hatfield Borough; Hatfield Township; Horsham; Jenkintown; Lansdale; Lower Frederick; Lower Gwynedd; Lower Moreland; Lower Salford; Montgomery Township; New Hanover; North Wales; Plymouth; Rockledge; Schwenksville; Springfield; Towamencin; Upper Dublin; Upper Frederick; Upper Gwynedd; Upper Moreland; Upper Salford; Whitemarsh; and Whitpain.