Montgomery County Board of Commissioners Chair Val Arkoosh announced her bid for U.S. Senate on April 5, jumping into a race that is sure to have national implications.
She’ll face stiff competition from state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, among others, in the Democratic primary.
The 60-year-old physician and mother of three enters the race with governing experience, name recognition in the always-key Philadelphia suburbs and the support of at least 30 southeastern Pennsylvania officials. The Philadelphia Inquirer, taking the temperature of Democratic officials and strategists a few weeks ago, labeled her “a formidable contender.”
“As a commissioner for six years, I have worked with commissioners from all 67 counties, large and small, and have a real understanding of the challenges Pennsylvanians are facing across the commonwealth,” Arkoosh said. “I have worked with commissioners of both parties to bring those challenges in front of our legislature on a bipartisan basis. It is clear through those conversations that there are many shared problems facing our communities, including outdated infrastructure that’s holding back economic development, inadequate access to mental health services, and the impact of extreme weather on our communities.”
Since the pandemic began, more than 65,000 Montgomery County residents have tested positive for the virus, and more than 1,600 people have died as of April 19, according to The New York Times.
Arkoosh faced vocal criticism from some parents over the Board of Commissioners’ decision to pause in-person education last fall, as reported at the time. But as the pandemic wears on and her campaign begins, Arkoosh told the Inquirer, combating the virus will remain her priority.
“I just want to be very clear, I’ve taken two oaths in my life,” she said. “The first was an oath to be a doctor. The second was as county commissioner and, in both cases, I always pledged to put the people I’m serving first.”
Arkoosh, a graduate of Northwestern University and University of Nebraska Medical College, moved to Philadelphia in 1986. She spent four years at Presbyterian University of Pennsylvania Hospital and Jefferson Medical College, and has spent years serving patients and students. Locally, Arkoosh taught at Jefferson, Drexel University College of Medicine and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and held a leadership position at the Hospital for Women on City Line Avenue, according to MONTCO.Today.
As her profile rose, Arkoosh took leadership roles with national medical organizations, serving as president for the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology and senior policy adviser for the National Physicians Alliance. In between, Arkoosh squeezed in a master’s in public health from Johns Hopkins University and raised three children with her husband, Jeff Harbison.
As she prepares to run for Sen. Pat Toomey’s soon-to-be-vacant seat, Arkoosh is finding inspiration close to home.
“There are a number of folks whose public service both here in Pennsylvania and elsewhere I admire, but more than any sitting politician or leader, my family, particularly my dad, and those I worked with in my medical training, have taught me so many important things — from being prepared to looking at the entirety of a challenge before jumping to conclusions,” Arkoosh said. “And in more recent years, the constituents I have worked with as commissioner have taught me about the importance of showing up and listening, and having the humility to know that no single one of us has all the answers.”
Arkoosh’s first bid for public office came in 2014, when she came up short in her campaign to represent the since-redistricted 13th Congressional District. She finished a distant third, behind Marjorie Margolies and the victor, Brendan Boyle.
Within a year, Arkoosh was back on her political feet, appointed to fill Josh Shapiro’s vacated seat on the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. Arkoosh was elected to a four-year term later in 2015, and reached her current position at a November 2016 election.
After spending years as a physician, she found that taking charge of the third-most populous county in Pennsylvania was a role that suited her well. In particular, Arkoosh is energized by issues related to the health of her 820,000-plus constituents.
“There are so many issues on Pennsylvanians’ minds, from the rising cost of prescription drugs and growing our economy, to getting out of this pandemic and rebuilding our infrastructure,” Arkoosh said. “And as we tackle those issues, we must never take our eyes off of building a more inclusive and just Pennsylvania and country that makes life fairer and more equitable for everyone.”
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April 23, 2021 at 08:00PM
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Val Arkoosh Join Crowded Race for Senate Seat - Jewish Exponent
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