11/19/2025
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
In Run for Governor, Number of Contributors Creates "Social Proof": AK Podiatrist
Just under a year before Alaskans head to the polls to pick a new governor, the field of candidates is already crowded. With 14 candidates — including a dozen Republicans and two Democrats — and months to go until campaigning heats up in earnest, some in the field have their sights set on the mid-February fundraising deadline, when each will be required to report to the state who had given significant sums to their campaigns.
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Dr. Matt Heilala |
A large number of contributions can create “social proof,” said Matt Heilala, DPM, a podiatrist who is running for governor and has also given contributions to numerous GOP candidates in the past. A too-small number of contributors could be “embarrassing,” he said. “Any kind of support helps with credibility,” he said.
Source: Iris Samuels, Alaska Journal of Commerce [11/15/25]
11/08/2025
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
OH Podiatrist Joins Republican CGCN Group
Former Rep. Brad Wenstrup, DPM is joining CGCN Group as a strategic partner, adding another big name to the all-GOP lobbying and public affairs firm that has seen business grow significantly since Republicans won control of Washington. Dr. Wenstrup, a 67-year-old former podiatrist and Army reservist, retired from Congress in January after 12 years representing Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District. CGCN founder Steve Clark recruited Wenstrup.
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Dr. Brad Wenstrup |
Dr. Wenstrup told NOTUS he has no plans to register to lobby. Members of Congress are subject to a “cooling off” period that bars them from lobbying their former colleagues for one year after they leave office, although that does not prohibit them from providing advice and expertise to others who do.
Source: Taylor Giorno, NOTUS [11/6/25]
03/31/2025
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
NJ Podiatrist Runs for Assembly Seat
Podiatrist Eugene DeMarzo, DPM, a Republican has filed for an assembly seat in the LD-18 District (Middlesex), but it will be uphill sledding for him in the solidly Democratic district.
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Dr. Eugene DeMarzo |
Dr. DeMarzo earned his podiatric medical degree at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine and completed his podiatric residency at the St. Mary Medical Center.
Source: Zach Blackburn and Joey Fox, New Jersey Globe [3/25/25]
11/07/2024
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
OH Podiatrist Headed Toward 3rd Term as Wood County Commissioner
Republicans will continue to rule the board of county commissioners in Wood County. With 69 percent of the votes counted, incumbent Ted Bowlus, DPM appears to have defeated Democrat Philip Chrysler, according to unofficial results from the Wood County Board of Elections on Tuesday. Dr. Bowlus, who is 75 and has practiced as a podiatrist in Perrysburg since 1988, will be serving his third term.
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Dr. Ted Bowlus |
The votes were 36,857, or 62 percent for Dr. Bowlus, and 22,398, or 38 percent for Mr. Chrysler. Dr. Bowlus said he is looking forward to representing the commissioners on the board of the Addiction Response Collaborative, which works with the Wood County prosecutor to combat the effects and consequences of opioid addiction.
Source: Debbie Rogers, The Blade [11/5/24]
05/08/2024
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
TX Podiatrist Wins Seat on the Dallas Central Appraisal District BOD
P. Wylie Burge, DPM has won the race for the Place 1 seat on the Dallas Central Appraisal District Board of Directors (BOD), according to unofficial results. With 100% of precincts reporting, Burge took 66.48% of the votes, or 43,061 of the ballots cast. Dr. Burge will serve a four-year term.
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Dr. Patrick Wylie Burge |
Dr. Burge earned his podiatric medical degree from the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine and completed his podiatric residency at the John Peter Smith Hospital. He is affiliated with Texas Health Dallas and Texas Health Huguley.
Source: Community Impact [5/5/24]
05/02/2024
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
OH Podiatrist's Bill to Improve Economic Assistance for Veterans Passes House
The House of Representatives passed the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration Act, H.R. 3738, introduced by Rep. Brad Wenstrup, DPM (OH-02) and Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49). Currently, the Veterans Benefits Administration is responsible for all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits provided to veterans outside of healthcare and cemetery services. However, the bulk of staffing and resources have been directed toward the administration of disability compensation and pension claims, meaning other benefits such as transition assistance, vocational rehabilitation, and the Forever GI Bill, have received less attention.
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Dr. Brad Wenstrup |
"I believe our service members should have a plan from the day they enter the military to the day they transition out and beyond," said Dr. Wenstrup. "Our veterans are strong, dependable leaders, and by committing to economic opportunity programs, we can ensure they continue to make a difference in society after they return to civilian life."
Source: Highland County Press [4/30/24]
04/04/2024
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
NJ Podiatrist Challenges East Brunswick Mayor (a Gynecologist)
A gynecologist and a podiatrist will face off in November's general election for mayor. The two candidates – Democratic Mayor Brad Cohen, MD and Republican Eugene DeMarzo, DPM – are unopposed in their parties' June primary races.
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Dr. Eugene DeMarzo |
DeMarzo graduated from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. He has maintained his practice of podiatry in Woodbridge since 1989. He also assisted at Instep Podiatry in Highland Park over the years. DeMarzo unsuccessfully ran for council on two different occasions in the early 2000s. In 2012, he ran for mayor, but was defeated by David Stahl.
Source: Susan Loyer, My Central Jersey [4/2/24]
10/25/2023
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
NY Podiatrist Running for Monroe County Legislature Seat
On election day, Monroe County residents will cast their ballots. Joseph Carbone, DPM is running as a Republican/Conservative for the Monrow County Legislature in the 16th District.
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Dr. Joseph Carbone |
Dr. Carbone previously was owner/podiatrist at Rochester Foot Care Associates, and Chief of Podiatry at Rochester General Hospital. He was a Monroe County Legislator - District 16 (2013-2021) and Monroe County Legislature President (2018-2021).
Source: Rochester Democrat & Chronicle [10/23/23]
03/14/2023
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
OH Podiatrist Chairs First COVID Origin Hearing
Three years into the coronavirus pandemic, a new congressional committee set up by Republicans is trying to answer whether the virus came from a lab, or from an animal in China. “This question is fundamental to helping us predict and prevent future pandemics,” Ohio Rep. Brad Wenstrup, DPM (R, OH-2) said as he opened a hearing Wednesday.
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Dr. Brad Wenstrup |
Dr. Wenstrup, a former podiatrist who now represents southern Ohio as a Republican, is leading the effort as chair of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. “The truth is we don’t know the origins of COVID-19 yet, for sure. We don’t have a smoking gun,” he said. So, Wenstrup called a series of medical experts in for an initial hearing to assess where things stand.
Source: Taylor Popielarz, Spectrum News [3/8/23]
10/06/2022
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
MI Podiatrist is Running for 18th District House District
Recent redistricting changes have connected the Farmington area more with Southfield. Republican Wendy Webster Jackson, DPM is running in the November election.
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Dr. Wendy Webster Jackson |
Dr. Jackson specializes in podiatric medicine and previously ran for the city clerk in Southfield.
Source: David Veselenak, Hometownlife.com [10/4/22]
05/13/2022
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
CA Podiatrist Running for Senate Seat
What do a socialist, a billionaire, and a podiatrist have in common? They are all running to be a United States Senator for California in 2023.
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Dr. Myron Hall |
Myron L. Hall, DPM is a podiatrist and former naval officer who opposes pandemic mandates, is pro-life and backs the Second Amendment. In response to a query for an interview, a representative for Hall simply responded, “The goal is to win.”
Source: Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee [5/11/22]
05/06/2022
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
OH Podiatrist Wins Congressional Primary Election
For the Second District race, incumbent Congressman Brad Wenstrup, DPM unofficially won the Republican primary, defeating challengers James J. Condit Jr. and David Windisch. Wenstrup, who has served as a podiatrist and as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves, was originally elected in 2012. Rep. Wenstrup issued the following statement:
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Dr. Brad Wenstrup |
“During these challenging times in our nation, we need leaders who bring real world experiences to Washington. I’m proud to continue lending my voice as a doctor, veteran, and former small business owner to help solve America’s most pressing challenges. Ohioans right now are struggling to keep up with inflation, still suffering from the ongoing opioid epidemic, and are rightly concerned about America’s diminishing role on the global stage. These are issues I take to heart and am working every day to address in Washington.”
Source: Caitlin Forsha, The Highland County Press [5/4/22]
03/01/2022
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
TX Podiatrist Runs for 6th Term on Abilene School Board
Filings for local May elections were wrapping up Friday, with contested races emerging for slots on the board of trustees for the Abilene Independent School District and the Abilene City Council. Election Day is May 7.
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Dr. Danny Wheat |
The most recent candidate to file before Friday was Jeff Carr, seeking a Place 5 seat on the Abilene ISD's board. He faces incumbent Danny Wheat, DPM, who is seeking his sixth term. Dr. Wheat is a podiatrist and has served as the board's president.
Source: Brian Bethel, Abilene Reporter-News [2/18/22]
11/12/2021
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
Oh Podiatrist Introduces Bill to Block Vaccine Mandate for Fed Workers, Contractors
A congressman from Cincinnati has introduced legislation to block vaccine mandates for federal employees and contractors. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, DPM (R-OH) said the "Stop Vaccine Mandates Act" will "respect" people's decisions to not get vaccinated "without jeopardizing their livelihoods or our economy."
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Dr. Brad Wenstrup |
"Whether or not to receive a vaccine is a decision that should be solely up to a patient and their trusted doctor, and the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate violates the doctor-patient relationship," Dr. Wenstrup said. Biden's mandate requires federal employees and contractors to have their final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by Jan. 4, 2022 with exceptions only as required by law.
Source: Taylor Weiter, WCPO [11/9/21]
11/10/2021
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
OH Podiatrist Urges Biden to Fix Surprise Medical Billing Law
Neurosurgeons have thrown their support behind a bipartisan letter from 152 members of the U.S. House of Representatives that calls on the Biden administration to update the interim final rule by including a key section from the No Surprises Act.
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Dr. Brad Wenstrup |
The No Surprises Act specified an independent dispute resolution process that takes patients out of the middle of payment disputes. It allows providers and payers to support their payment offers by bringing relevant information for consideration, except for billed charges and public payer data. The Nov. 5 letter was spearheaded by Reps. Tom Suozzi, D-NY, Brad Wenstrup, DPM, R-OH, Raul Ruiz, MD, D-CA, and Larry Bucshon, MD, R-IN.
Source: Alan Condon, Becker's Spine Review [11/8/21]
11/03/2021
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
VA Podiatrist Seeks Re-Election to Augusta County School Board
In his 12 years as a member of the Augusta County School Board, John Ocheltree, DPM feels one of the biggest accomplishments of the board has centered around facilities. He has been part of a board that has closed elementary schools at Ladd, Beverley Manor, and Verona and replaced them with new buildings at Cassell and Riverheads. He believes those decisions, while not favored by everyone, made sense and saved Augusta County money.
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Dr. John Ocheltree, Jr. |
"I'm the kind of person that if I start a job, I like to be the one to finish it," Dr. Ocheltree said. "And that's probably a big reason why I wanted to continue on." Ocheltree is running for another term as Pastures representative on the school board. He's currently in his 12th year as a member of the board, but he's being challenged this year by two opponents.
Source: Patrick Hite, Staunton News Leader [10/28/21]
11/02/2021
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
AR Podiatrist Runs Unopposed for School Board Seat
Laurel Tait, DPM is running unopposed for a School Board seat in the Pulaski Special district. Dr. Tait, who will replace School Board member Brian Maune, is a mother to five, grandmother to 24, and a podiatrist.
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Dr. Laurel Tait |
Married to Veterans Affairs hospital physician Dr. John Tait, Laurel Tait went to undergraduate school at the University of South Florida and graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine.
Source: Cynthia Howell, Arkansas Democrat Gazette [10/31/21]
10/13/2021
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS - PART 1
OH Podiatrist Runs for Howland Township Trustee
James LaPolla, DPM is running for Howland Township trustee. Dr. LaPolla earned a doctor of podiatric medicine degree at the Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine. He has been practicing foot and ankle medicine and surgery to the people of the Valley for 30 years.
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Dr. James LaPolla |
Dr. LaPolla is President of the Trumbull County Council of Governments and is a past president of the Howell Rotary. He is a medical executive board member of Steward Health Trumbull and is Vice-President of Ohio Foot and Ankle Medical Association.
Source: WKBM27 [10/9/21]
10/13/2021
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS - PART 2
NJ Podiatrist is Uncontested in Re-election for North Brunswick Township Council
The General Election for two seats on the North Brunswick Township Council is uncontested. On the Democratic ticket, incumbents Cologero “Carlo” Socio and Will Lopez, DPM are running for re-election. Dr. Lopez is a 15-year North Brunswick resident. A podiatrist, he has also served on the council for four years.
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Dr. William Lopez |
“I take joy in helping the community and participating in moving North Brunswick into a prosperous future,” he said. “In the coming years, if re-elected, I look forward to helping North Brunswick grow in regards to business development, cultural diversity, and economic growth. I have been extremely honored to represent this beautiful community and look forward to doing so in the future.”
Source: Jennifer Amato, centraljersey.com [10/10/21]
09/24/2021
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS - PART 2
MI Podiatry Runs for Southfield City Clerk
In the general election Nov. 2, voters in the city of Southfield will decide the next mayor and clerk, and four seats on the City Council.The candidates for city clerk of Southfield include the incumbent, Sherikia Hawkins, and the challenger, Wendy Webster-Jackson, DPM. They are competing for one four-year term.
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Dr. Wendy Webster |
The challenger for city clerk, Webster-Jackson, 49, has lived in Southfield for 12 years and is a podiatrist, with a doctorate in podiatric medicine from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. “I am an educated business owner that has managed a medical office for over 20 years,” Webster-Jackson said. “I am well-versed in contracts, compliance, and deadlines. I understand integrity and honesty. I am detail-oriented, as well as a team player. I genuinely care about the residents of Southfield.”
Source: Andy Kozlowski, Southfield Sun [9/22/21]
09/24/2021
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS - PART 1
VA Podiatrist Runs for VA House Seat
Jeffrey Feld, DPM is the Democratic candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates District 81. His name will appear on the ballot on Nov. 2. Moving into the community nearly 20 years ago, Dr. Jeffrey “Doc” Feld has made his home and family in Virginia Beach, where he is a local podiatrist and his wife is a teacher in the public school system. As an active community member, he is dedicated to supporting local businesses, protecting the environment, and securing the 81st District’s future.
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Dr. Jeffrey Feld |
"When elected, I will focus on supporting children by ensuring equitable education, making healthcare more accessible, and creating new flooding prevention solutions to prevent property damage and potential loss of life," says Dr. Feld.
Source: Adrienne Mayfield, WAVY-TV [9/23/21]
08/06/2021
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
AR Podiatrist Runs for County School Seat
Laurel Tait, DPM, a mother to five, grandmother to 24, and a podiatrist, filed Tuesday for the Zone 7 seat on the Pulaski County Special district's board for a seat currently held by Brian Maune.
Dr. Tait said she is motivated to run by a desire to be more involved in helping students get a better education. "It seems like there is a lot of turmoil in the world and we don't want it impacting the kids in the schools if we can help it," she said. Married to Veterans Affairs hospital physician Dr. John Tait, Laurel Tait said she went to undergraduate school at the University of South Florida and then attended the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine.
Source: Cynthia Howell, Arkansas Democrat Gazette [8/4/21]
07/12/2021
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
IL Podiatrist Won't Run Again for Re-election as Mayor
Mayor Eric Jensen, DPM in the final stretch of his third two-year term as mayor of Carroll, recently said he would not seek re-election in November. His decision will bring to a close a decade of public service at City Hall. “I never wanted to be a career politician,” Dr. Jensen said.
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Dr. Eric Jensen |
A podiatrist and surgeon with McFarland Clinic in Carroll, Jensen won election to the City Council in 2011 in a contest with former Councilman Phil Phillips for an at-large seat representing the full city. Jensen faced no opposition in three races for mayor in succeeding former Mayor Adam Schweers. “Hopefully, I left the city better than I found it,” Jensen said.
Source: Carroll Times-Herald [7/7/21]
05/03/2021
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
Medicine and Science and Illness Should Not be Political: OH Podiatrist
“Medicine and science and illness, that should not be political,” said Brad Wenstrup, DPM, a Republican congressman from Ohio, who has personally administered coronavirus vaccine shots, both as an Army Reserve officer and as a doctor. “But it was an election year.”
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Dr. Brad Wenstrup |
Dr. Wenstrup said both parties helped foment some skepticism, though increasingly vocal moves by other Republicans amount to acknowledgement that GOP vaccine hesitancy is a growing public health problem — and potentially a political one.
Source: Will Weissert, Associated Press [5/1/21]
04/02/2021
PODIATRISTS AND POLITICS
VA Podiatrist Runs for VA House Seat
Jeffrey “Doc” Feld, DPM, a local podiatrist, has announced his bid to become Virginia’s next delegate in the 81st House District, which covers parts of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. He is the official Democrat nominee challenging Delegate Barry Knight (R).
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Dr. Jeffrey Feld |
Dr. Feld has lived in Virginia Beach for nearly 20 years, where he runs his own medical practice. He is married to a public school teacher and they have three kids who attend Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
Source: Daily Kos [3/31/21]
