Today, Republican John R. Chrin, a successful business leader and Lehigh Valley native, announced his candidacy for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 17th District.

“Washington is as polarized as ever,” Chrin said. “The 17th District needs a Representative in Congress with the practical business experience needed to enact real change and to bridge the divide to get things done. We need new leaders from outside the political system who are focused on serving the needs of the working families they represent.”

A true product of Pennsylvania, John was born and raised in Fountain Hill. He graduated from Easton Area High School in 1981. The first member of his family to attend college, John paid his own way at Lehigh University with loans, scholarships, and work. He is a firm believer that education and hard work are the cornerstones of success. “Providing access to affordable education and training programs is vital in attracting economic development and jobs to the district,” said Chrin.

John is a successful and well-respected executive in the financial services industry. He rose through the ranks, during his twenty year investment banking career, to become a Managing Director at JP Morgan Chase. In 2009, John decided to make a change and share with young people the lessons learned during the financial crisis. He returned to Lehigh, as the first Global Financial Services Executive-In-Residence, to teach business ethics and mergers & acquisitions in the University’s College of Business and Economics. After three years at Lehigh, John returned to the business world and joined Circle Wealth Management, an investment advisory firm founded by his wife, Maria Chrin.

“As a Congressman, making a difference in people’s lives requires more than casting votes in Washington. The district needs a true champion who knows how to attract new industries and employers to the region. Economic development is necessary to also relieve some of the tax burden on retired people,” stated Chrin.

Chrin graduated with honors from Lehigh University with degrees in Economics and Industrial Engineering and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration, with honors, from Columbia University. John met his wife Maria while they were students at Lehigh. They have been married for nearly 30 years and have three children.

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