Perry says medical experience has ties to many important issues

If a Democratic challenger runs against an incumbent Republican congressman in a historically right-leaning district, the one thing he can't do is stay quiet.\nDr. Paul Perry, who is seeking to unseat Republican John Hostettler from his House position, is sticking to that strategy in hopes of bringing the Democratic Party back to the 8th District.\nPerry's main campaign issue, by his own admission, is health care. In nearly all his ads and public appearances, he has stressed his medical background and the need for comprehensive prescription drug coverage and a patient's bill of rights. But he insists he's not a one-issue candidate and says he's prepared for the House of Representatives.\n"I don't think being a candidate for Congress is much different than being a physician," he said. "Being a congressman should be about listening to concerns of people and their problems, and that's what I do in my office."\nBut on health care issues, he said what Washington needs is someone with medical experience to write the laws.\n"I think when you decide you're going to run for Congress, it's important to know why you're the best person for this job," he said. "I got into (the race) because of health care issues. So many decisions are made in Washington, but not many (Congressional) members have any kind of medical experience. I have a specialized experience that's important to the job."\nJohn Hamilton, son of longtime representative Lee Hamilton and Perry's opponent in the Democratic primary, said Perry's expertise would be vital in drafting meaningful health care legislation.\n"This election is about health care, and in this race there is a clear choice for the voters between electing an out-of-touch D.C. politician or a doctor who cares about the issues," he said in a press release. "This race is not only important to Indiana but to the entire nation."\nIndeed, Perry said he sees many issues facing the 8th District through a doctor's lens.\n"You can talk about many issues where health care weaves through the issue," he said. "I see (the environment) through the lens of being a doctor. The reason people are sick has a lot to do with pollution.\n"That, in turn, impacts education -- fundamentally, when children need to be learning, we need to get them from birth to kindergarten healthily including medical insurance, providing children with medications and immunizations. (They are) integral to being ready and able to learn."\nThe 2000 election marks Perry's first foray into the political field, something he said has been a new kind of challenge.\n"It's been an incredible learning experience, one I've enjoyed immensely," he said. "I've met lots of new people that otherwise I wouldn't have met, and I've been intellectually challenged every step of the way."\nOne aspect of political life leaving Perry less than thrilled has been his opponent's campaign ads. Hostettler has released several TV ads that have attacked Perry's commitment to the district, as well as attacking his stances on health care.\n"I think it's a sad fact that Congressman Hostettler has been (in Washington) for six years, and instead of running on his accomplishments or achievements, he has decided to lash out and attack me in ways that are completely false," he said. "The voters of this district are smarter than that."\nFrank McCloskey, chairman of the Monroe County Democratic Party, said Perry is a good representation of the district's voters.\n"I'd say he's much more representative of the district than Hostettler," he said. "Hostettler is so far out of the mainstream. He's compiling a quite bizarre record. He voted to the right of Newt Gingrich to keep the government shut down a few years ago, against the then-Speaker's express wishes. He's on the extreme fringes."\nPerry said part of his motivation to run for Congress rests in his need to give back to the country.\n"As you might imagine, the process of becoming a physician involves a lot of higher education," he said. "I owe a debt to the country because I got government-guaranteed student loans. If I could do one thing to repay the debt to my country ... I would give families a tax break for college students. We need to invest in higher education (funding)."\nNow, in the final days of what could be his only political campaign, Perry is sticking to the basics and trying to reach as many people as possible.\nWe're still very much working on getting the message to voters," he said. "A lot of people are just starting to pay attention. We're encouraging everyone to get out and vote. And bring a friend."\nPaul Perry\n• Age: 36\n• Education: B.A., Miami University (OH), 1984: M.D. from Wright State, 1988\n• Professional Experience: \nphysician, Tri-State Orthopedic Surgeons.\n• Family: wife, Cindy, and five children