This week’s edition of Chester County Leadership features a conversation with first-term United States Congressman Ryan Costello. Born in 1976, Costello served on the Board of Supervisors in East Vincent Township for six years, as the Chester County Recorder of Deeds for three years and then as Chester County Commissioner for three years beginning in 2011. When he was 38, Costello was elected to Congress in 2014.

VISTA Today spoke with Costello in early August about his love of sports, especially basketball, his determination to pursue a life in municipal service and politics while still in law school, his bi-partisan approach to finding solutions to vexing national issues and how a quote from a basketball t-shirt he wore when he was a kid keeps him mentally sharp and ready for the hardscrabble, bare-knuckle Washington political life.

Where did you grow up, Congressman?

I was born in 1976 in Phoenixville Hospital and grew up in East Vincent Township right outside of Kimberton in northern Chester County.  My parents were both West Chester University graduates.  At the time, both were teaching school in the Methacton School District in Montgomery County.  I lived in the same house the whole time I was growing up and went to elementary, middle and high school in the Owen J. Roberts School District.

What memories do you have from growing up during that period?

Growing up, my biggest memory is being outside – playing sports with kids in the neighborhood, building trees forts, riding bikes.   My brother, who is two years younger than me, was either my teammate or the kid I was playing against.

Sounds like being outside and sports was a big deal for you?

It really was.

What position did you play?

It depended what team I was playing on – for basketball, point or shooting guard, or small forward; baseball, shortstop and pitched; soccer any number of different positions.

Did you have any summer jobs?

I mowed lawns. Power washed decks. Painted.  Was a sports camp counselor.

What lessons did you take from your jobs or athletic experiences that stick with you today?

Well from an employment perspective, if you do a good job, there are often opportunities for other work from the same client, or from their neighbors. From an athletic experience, I would say that to be successful requires a lot of practice, and a lot of mental preparation – which, I would say, applies to what I am doing now in life, too.

You must have been easy to coach?

Not every one of my coaches would agree with that! I wanted to win, always, that’s something every coach I ever had would probably say about me.

What did you do after high school?

College (at Ursinus), then Law School (Villanova). I always enjoyed social studies class, American history and, in college, political science classes.  I spent the Fall Semester of my Junior year in DC and came back convinced I wanted to go to law school, be involved in municipal affairs and possibly go into politics. During my senior year in college and my first year in law school at Villanova, I started going to township meetings and becoming active in my community.

Becoming involved in local community affairs isn’t something a typical college kid does?

No, I’ll admit that, I’m not sure what people made of it at the time. But I was well-intentioned and diligent in attending and participating, and I think that sort of paved the way for me to ultimately run for Township Supervisor. The fortunate thing for me is that, unlike many of my friends at the time, I knew what I was interested in and what I wanted to do, which was government and public administration.  I figured out the earlier I immersed myself in what interested me, the more I learned, and the more opportunities I might come across.

You discovered you were cut out for a career in government?

I would say I can handle the schedule and some of the things that turn many people off to elective office. Whether I am cut out for it, at this point, is going to be a decision made very two years by my constituents (laughs).  If you accept the premise that we’re all put on this earth for a reason, for me I would say it’s to be a good husband and father, and professionally to work hard at making our government work for us efficiently and effectively. I should say that I did enjoy practicing law, particularly a lot of the work I did in Phoenixville during their revitalization over the past 10 years.

Following law school, who gave you your big break?

A lot of people helped me along the way. The two biggest were Jack Koury, the managing partner of the Pottstown law firm I worked at; he hired me fresh out of law school.

Skip Brion, the former Chair of Chester County’s Republican Party Chairman, he appointed me to various positions on the committee. Also, when the County Commissioner vacancy occurred when Carol Aichele resigned, I mentioned to him that I was going to apply, and he encouraged me to do that.

Val DiGiorgio I’ve been friends with for a long time. And at various points along the way he’s been supportive of my efforts, most recently when I announced for Congress.  He does a very good job as County Chairman, I might add.

What challenges and opportunities do you see on the horizon?

Some are issue-based, some are what I would characterize as cultural-based.  And the only way we are going to really solve the big, vexing issues is if both occur in tandem. By that I mean, we can’t solve the challenges of a confusing tax code, our costly and inefficient healthcare system, our overspending, or any of the other overarching challenges over the long term, and long term is the only way to go about solving them, without some level of bipartisan consensus. Our system is designed to essentially require it, absent a huge majority in the House and Senate, and as I’m learning, the U.S. Senate is basically structured to protect the voice of any one dissident Senator at any given time.

From my vantage point as 1 of 435 Members of Congress, I try to be someone who is respectful and accommodating of differing opinions, while still trying to stake a position and take a vote that moves things in the right direction. But I do get frustrated at the slow pace, and I wish more members subscribed to my way of thinking. Of course, some members would probably say they wished I subscribed more to their particular way of thinking.

Your bi-partisan approach is counter to our current Red-state, Blue-state political culture.

Sure is.  I happen to believe that many of the challenges the country is facing are not politically or ideologically based.  For instance making sure the VA works for a veteran is not a partisan issue.  The same with our convoluted tax code and regulatory environment; the United States regulatory and tax policy is anti-competitive relative to other countries.  We need to fix those issues before they become worse.  I say my job isn’t to find excuses to vote ‘no’ or find fault with another’s solution, but instead find common ground and get things done, because there’s no shortage of challenges that needs addressed.

Finally Ryan, what is the best piece of advice you ever received?

Well, I’m certain I couldn’t boil it down to just one, because there’s been hundreds, probably thousands of times in my life where someone has given me advice, and I felt I was receiving the single-most prophetic set of words that I had ever heard at that given moment.

The most recent one has been this past year, after getting sworn in, Members would say remember that the most important thing is your family –  Not being a Congressman, and not what anyone is writing about you on Facebook, or in a newspaper article, you’re not as bad as they say you ever are, but you’re not as great as anyone says, either. There are others, though, too. “Don’t let your temper cloud your judgment.” “Treat others as you’d like to be treated.” “There’s no substitute for hard work.”

I remember a saying on a basketball t-shirt growing up that has stuck with me to, and it’s stuck with me for 25 years. It said: “Somewhere, someone is practicing, and when you play them one-on-one, they’ll beat you.” The thing about that quote, it sort of lets you know that you’re nothing special, and do the best you can, and if you give 110%, you won’t have to regret anything. So not to throw cold water on all these quotes, but I think there’s something to be said for having as one of your guiding principles be one that reminds you that you’re not invincible.