Category: Chesco Inquisition

Alex Rahn Likes Dems Too

Alex Rahn Likes Dems TooAlex Rahn Likes Dems Too — We reported, yesterday, that Republican-controlled Chester County’s new $86,470 per year director of voter services has been a strong supporter of liberal Democrats.

What we missed, though, is that Kara Rahn’s husband, the GOP chairman for Area 1, had also been giving to the Ds as well. It’s because William Alex Rahn wrote the checks with his rarely used first name.

Why does someone use different names to make political donations? Rahn has made donations as “William A. Rahn Jr.” “William Rahn” and as “Alex Rahn.” And why would someone sympathetic to Democrat causes become a Republican Party leader? And why would those whom he is leading tolerate it?

Anyway, under the name Alex, Rahn donated $3,100 to Citizens for Arlen Specter in 2010 after Specter crossed to the other side of the aisle. Under the name William, Rahn that same year gave $2,400 to Sestak for Senate.

You really must not like Pat Toomey, Alex. Or is it William? You know Toomey’s running for re-election this year, right? You think you can back him this time?

As Willliam, Rahn chipped in $1,880 in 2012 for the campaign of Democrat New Jersey Congressman Rob Andrews.

Since then he’s been a party boy, giving $250 to Congressman Pat Meehan’s campaign in 2014 as William — seriously cheap William — and $1,000 to Congressman Ryan Costello as Alex.

Costello is no Rob Andrews it seems.

Rahn also that year as William kicked in a grand for embattled, scandal-plagued RINO Congressman Bill Shuster on the other side of the state.

He has no donations recorded as of yet for 2016 under either name.

Rahn is reputed to be the mastermind behind the purge attempt of Republican grassroots activists from the Chester County GOP.

Which gets us to the latest. A hearing date for the planned purging of four “for the people” Area 19 committeepeople — including Chairwoman Jane Ladley — by the Lobby Lobby that controls West Chester now seems solid.

It will be 7 p.m., Feb. 11 at county Republican headquarters, 15 S. Church St. West Chester, Pa. 19382.

Alex Rahn Likes Dems Too

Kara Rahn Gets Voter Services Top Job

Kara Rahn Gets Voter Services Top JobKara Rahn Gets Voter Services Top Job — Correction. We incorrectly reported Kara Rahn’s salary in the initial story. It is not $82,000 but $86,470.

Kara Rahn, wife of Area 1 GOP Committee Chairman Alex Rahn, has officially made head of Chester County Voter Services.

Her salary is $86,470.

Kara has been a significant donor to liberal Democrats in past elections.

In other Chesco news, the county GOP will not make an endorsement in the 16th District congressional primary to replace Joe Pitts. It is giving recommendations to both candidates seeking the job — 13th District State Sen. Lloyd Schmucker and Lancaster County businessman Chet Beiler.

Kara Rahn Gets Voter Services Top Job

Val Blasts Philly Patronage, LOL

Val Blasts Philly Patronage, LOL
Val Blasts Patronage, LOL

Val Blasts Philly Patronage, LOL — Chester County Republican Chairman and registered lobbyist Val DiGiorgio blasted corruption in Philadelphia and its media enablers in a letter  in today’s (Jan. 29) The Philadelphia Inquirer which can be found online here.

Val wrote: The Inquirer and Daily News have expressed outrage over the corruption and patronage in Philadelphia government. Forgive me if I am skeptical.

Val wrote: But now The Inquirer – after decades of helping to create the one-party, corrupt dynasty of former Mayor John F. Street – is shocked to find corruption, patronage, and a good ol’ boys’ network of protection, support, and mock outrage. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

Wow. That’s telling them. Pot calling the kettle black. We like it. We betcha the city’s Commerce Department is just loaded with patronage jobs. Wonder if any patronage happens in the burbs. That would be something to look into. Let’s encourage the Inquirer to investigate!!!

Hey Val, did you see the letter below yours ripping Comcast? Better get on it. Can’t let these things fester you know.

Val Blasts Philly Patronage, LOL

Chesco Drama, GOP Rebellion Topics On WFYL

Chesco Drama, GOP Rebellion Topics On WFYLChesco Drama, GOP Rebellion Topics On WFYL — Steve Kantrowitz, who was the 2008 candidate for the 19th District Pennsylvania State Senate seat; Donna Ellingsen, a committeewoman from Elks Township, Chester County; and Larry Denver, the president of Pennsylvania Faith and Freedom Coaliton, were among the Jan. 26 guests of Kim Kennedy’s It’s a New Day program on WFYL 1180 AM.

The topics included the drama going on in Chester County in which government-class party bosses are battling grassroots activists interested in good government.

You can listen here:

Chesco Drama, GOP Rebellion Topics On WFYL

DiGiorgio Corrects Lancaster County As To Nominees

DiGiorgio Corrects Lancaster County As To Nominees — Well, that was interesting. Chester County GOP Chairman Val DiGiorgio had to correct his Lancaster hosts at last night’s (Jan. 26) Lancaster County Republican Party endorsement convention, regarding the 16th Congressional District’s presidential convention delegates.

DiGiorgio Corrects Lancaster County As To Nominees
Val knows ChesCo. Val knows LanCo?

Why?

Because the delegates for the district of which 80-percent plus lies in Lancaster County come from Chester County and the host announced the wrong people.

What’s even more interesting is that Chester County has not even had its nomination convention, which is scheduled for 6 p.m., tomorrow, Jan. 28 at West Chester East High School.

The matter as to who the party bigwigs want as presidential electors has obviously been decided behind closed doors.

And with regard to the 16th District the small tail of Chester County is wagging the big dog of LanCo.

For the record, the endorsed delegate is Thomas Chiomento with the alternate delegate being Rick Loughery.

And that brings us to the matter of who is going to get the GOP endorsement for the April 26 primary to replace the 16th’s retiring congressman Republican Joe Pitts who has held the seat since winning the 1996 election.

Moderate State Senator Lloyd Smucker (R-13) got the endorsement of the Lancastrian Republicans with 69 percent of the vote with Manheim-area businessman Chet Beiler getting 24 percent.

The funny thing is Beiler is the overwhelming choice of the Chester County committeepeople in the district.

So who will the Chesco party pick at tomorrow’s endorsement convention? Will the tail again wag the dog? Don’t count on it. The one who will get the nod is the one most willing to do the bidding of the government class. Hint: His first name starts with an L.

DiGiorgio Corrects Lancaster County As To Nominees

Chesco Nixes Lloyd Smucker

Chesco Nixes Lloyd Smucker  — Lloyd Smucker, the state senator from Lancaster with the surprisingly liberal voting record for the 13th District that he represents, is the man GOP party bosses are trying to anoint to fill the seat of retiring Congressman Joe Pitts. Chesco Nixes Lloyd Smucker

Pitts has represented Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District since winning the 1996 election.  The 16th District consists of most of Lancaster County, along with a chunk of Chester County and a small bit of Berks County.

While the Lancaster Republican committee contingent have given him the green light, 70 percent of those in Chester County  went for Chet Beiler, a Lancaster County businessman without connections to the special interests who pluck feathers from the public goose.

Val DiGiorgio, the lobbyist who chairs the Chester County Republican Committee, did not go to bat for his people. In fact, LancasterOnline.com is reporting that the Chesco Party will officially back Smucker.

And that is just one more reason why there is dissension in the ranks.

Question: How will Val strong arm the 70 percent who voted for Beiler to now support Smucker? What tricks will be played by Val at Thursday’s endorsement vote to uphold his promise to his fellow bosses?

Chesco Nixes Lloyd Smucker

 

 

 

Ellingsen Interview Podcast Available

Ellingsen Interview Podcast AvailableEllingsen Interview Podcast Available — Kim Kennedy’s interview of Elk Township Republican committeewoman broadcast this morning, Jan. 14, is now available and can be found here at WFYL.

 

Donna Ellingsen Kim Kennedy Kudos

Donna Ellingsen Kim Kennedy Kudos
Donna Ellingsen

Donna Ellingsen Kim Kennedy Kudos — Kudos to Kim Kennedy of WFYL for her just ended (7:30 a.m.) interview with Elk Township  GOP committeewoman Donna Ellingsen.

Donna and four other committeepersons are the subject of an inquisition with intent to remove by the Chester  County Republican establishment.

Yes, the goal is to remove this elected people despite any denials  the powers-that-be are making. Hearing dates have been picked without consulting the schedules of these volunteers. Initially, the four were not even told  what charges they would be facing namely violating GOP bylaws by opposing candidates supported by the party.

Donna did not address the specifics of the charges saying she wanted to wait until the  closed-door, any-thing-but-transparent hearing as to not jeopardize matters for the other three.

The hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 26 but the accused are attempting to change the date as it conflicts with matters to which they’ve already committed. One of those accused even has a long-scheduled out-of-the-country business trip. Donna has said the four are trying to find a list of alternative dates to offer the county powers.

Donna told Kim that she represents her constituents and her conscience, and does not blindly follow the dictates of her party boss who she pointed out is a paid lobbyist with numerous, and obvious, potential conflicts of interests.

She noted that the state Republican Party leaders are more than willing to almost suicidally  push through unpopular legislation to benefit the political class i.e. the Corbett Gas Tax but fanatically oppose popular reforms that would hurt it i.e. getting out of the liquor business.

She noted that with paid lobbyists controlling the allegedly fiscal responsible political side, ridiculous spending occurs such as $477,000 public pensions.

She said she got involved in politics because she loves her country. Presumably, she believed what the Republican Party claimed it stood for.

Donna Ellingsen Kim Kennedy Kudos

 

 

 

Alex Rahn Wanner Associates And Their Clients

Alex Rahn Wanner Associates And Their ClientsAlex Rahn Wanner Associates And Their Clients — As the onion unpeels in Chester County answers are revealed to questions that have long puzzled those in the “my-burden-is-hard-please-don’t-add-to-it” constituency as to why with our crushing government debt incomprehensibly bizarre spending choices are made.

For instance, giving millions in subsidies to rich horse owners.

And this seemingly drunken spending happens just as often when Republican voters give political power to those who campaign against such things.

Republicans controlled all branches of Pennsylvania government between 2011 and 2015. Why does Planned Parenthood still get money? Where is the desperately needed pension reform? Why do rich horse owners get millions from taxpayers?

Well, as noted the answers are being revealed.

Chester County remains a Republican stronghold and most of its voters can still be said to fall into the social conservative AND fiscal conservative categories. Val DiGiorgio, the man running the county GOP, however, as noted earlier, appears to have a close relationship with those running extreme-liberal Democrat stronghold Montgomery County.

His right-hand man Alex Rahn,  as also noted, has a wife who gives big to liberal Democrat causes.

Now, some might argue that this is not Saudi Arabia and one can’t control what one’s wife does and they’d be right.

Of course, that doesn’t mean they have to get her a county job either.

But enough about spouses as that is just the gravy and not the meat.

Alex Rahn Wanner Associates And Their Clients
Val DiGiorgio’s client list. Click to enlarge.

DiGiorgio is a registered lobbyist whose clients include well-loved and friendly Comcast and the Delaware River Waterfront Corp. started by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter in 2009.

Rahn is the Chesco GOP Area 1 chairman who is/was the reputed mastermind behind the purge attempt of Chesco committeepeople who don’t have their minds right. He is  a senior associate/lobbyist with Wanner Associates, a major Harrisburg lobbying firm. Their client list includes Standardbred Breeders Association of Pa., and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, a huge opponent of pension reform.

Residents of Area 1, ask yourself does Rahn’s interests lie in making you happy or his clients? It’s a fair question. Residents of Chester County, ask yourself if Val DiGiorgio is more likely to address your concerns or those of Philadelphia or Comcast? And who is more likely to have their phone call taken seriously by a legislator, you or DiGiorgio?

Now everybody, ask yourselves why the-powers-that-be always push for bonds and tax hikes to resolve fiscal problems rather than commonsense spending efficiency that might mean less income to the government-connected but more income for you?

Alex Rahn Wanner Associates And Their Clients

Donna Ellingsen Guest Of It’s A New Day

Donna Ellingsen Guest Of It's A New DayDonna Ellingsen Guest Of It’s A New Day — Donna Ellingsen, the Republican committeewoman from Elk Township who has become a target of Chester County’s powers-that-be, will be guest, Thursday, Jan. 14,  on Kim Kennedy’s It’s a New Day call-in program on WFYL 1180 AM.

It’s a New Day airs 7-9 a.m. and can also be heard online here.

Donna is a homeschooling mom of two teenagers, describes herself as a Christian Constitutional conservative and has held her seat for five years.

Donna Ellingsen Guest Of It’s A New Day