Marc A Scaringi, former aide to Santorum, is first to announce challenge to U.S. Senate incumbent Bob Casey for 2012 election

HARRISBURG, PA — Marc A Scaringi, Republican, started his political career as a volunteer and then staffer on Rick Santorum's campaign for U.S. Senate in 1994. With Santorum's victory Scaringi went to Washington as Legislative Correspondent in Santorum's Senate office from 1995-96. Scaringi then served as Coalitions Director on Mike Fisher's campaign for state Attorney General in 1996, and later as Fisher's Executive Assistant until 2001. In 2001 Scaringi resigned from politics to practice law with his wife, Melanie Walz Scaringi, in a family-owned firm in Newport, PA. The couple now has offices in Harrisburg and Newport, where they practice general law.

Scaringi is already at work sharing his campaign message and seeking support. One particular area of interest is Marcellus Shale and the economic opportunity it could bring for Pennsylvania.

Scaringi says that his time at federal and state government levels is instrumental in his campaign.

"But it's as a business owner," says Scaringi, "that I'm seeing first-hand how out of hand Washington has become in creating policy that is harming free enterprise here in Pennsylvania.

"The Obama administration-supported by Casey-has gotten my attention. I feel compelled to re-enter politics on a course of fiscal responsibility."

Scaringi notes his interest in the Tea Party movement too." The Tea Party is the best thing to happen to the Republican Party since Reagan changed his voter registration from Democrat to Republican and became our nation's 40th president. Tea Party groups across Pennsylvania-and the country-are critical to helping restore our country to principles of our Founding Fathers."

Scaringi says Reagan was instrumental during his presidency in returning the country's focus to its foundational roots, but "those roots need revitalized.

"We have a President and his allies in Congress who are trying to transform an independent, prosperous people into dependents and wards of the government," Scaringi says. "Casey is one of those."

Scaringi's "Speak Out. Step Up." campaign is meant as a call to action to capture the essence of what the American people delivered with their recent vote against the administration. Scaringi looks to take this ground swell of concern into the 2012 elections and says citizens must play a big part.

"I'm pledging myself to be a voice of reason and conservatism in entering this race," Scaringi says. "The days of overreaching government must end."

The campaign has a Facebook page: Scaringi For U.S. Senate 2012.