Day: December 13, 2022

Montco House Incumbent Lost By 58 Votes

By Bob Small

In what may have been the closest Pennsylvania House race this year, Melissa Cerrato had 16,799 votes for the PA 151st   District, while incumbent Todd Stephens had 16,741.  Though the difference was only  58 votes, on Nov. 17 Todd Stephens conceded.

Todd Stephens was first elected in 2010.  In 2010 Pa. Senator Arlen Specter lost in theprimary, to “the Admiral”, Joe Sestak, who , in turn lost in the General Election.  And that’s how Senator Pat Toomey was first elected.

At the time, it was thought Cerrato’s election gave the Dems a 102 member majority in the House.  However, this is now being questioned.

Democrat State Senator Tony Deluca died on Oct. 9 and there’s a contention he should not be included in the 102 majority.

The special elections, so far, will also involve Austin Davis, John Gordner, and Summer Lee.

Todd Stephens graduated Widener University School of Law.  In 2004, he was appointed Special Assistant United States Attorney, later appointed to the Firearms Unit. When he resigned in 2010, he had achieved a 99 percent conviction rate with 1,500 convictions, including 18 homicide convictions.

According to Ballotpedia, there were over a hundred bills sponsored by Todd Stepherns;

This summer, he sponsored House Bill 2125 which would ban the criminalization of homosexuality.

Stephens said “Love should never be illegal”. This does not fit the stereotype of a conservative republican, as portrayed in the legacy media.

The 151st District is in Montgomery County and includes  Horsham and parts of Upper Dublin Township.

Melissa Cerrato had been chief of staff to PA State Rep Liz Hanbidge (D-61). Prior to that, she had been an elder caregiver and Uber driver, all the while being a mother to four children.  Her husband, John is a member of Steamfitters Local 420.

She has an extensive list of priorities (see the above website) but some main ones are affordable child care, clean air and pure water, decreasing drug costs, and living wage.

Montco House Incumbent Lost By 58 Votes