Candidates Describe Democrats Law Enforcement Disaster In Delco — Maybe the most troubling thing revealed at last night’s, Aug. 3, United4Delco Candidates Forum was the unmitigated disaster Jack Stollsteimer has caused in Delaware County regarding law enforcment.
The incumbent district attorney, a Democrat, fired most of the long-time stable of county prosecutors including the fellow who handled the Arthur Bomar appeals said Beth Stefanide-Miscichowski, who is seeking to replace him.
Decades of institutional wisdom were lost.
Ms. Miscichowski has had a long career in law including time in the Delaware County D.A.’s office where she handled juvenile prosecutions, which was another thing about which she hammered Stollsteimer.
She noted Delco’s juvenile detention facility is closed so the juveniles are being incarcerated — at least during the daytime — at the county’s Intermediate Unit educational facility in Aston.
Aston Police are called there just about every day.
In response to a question, she described how crime is rocketing in once safe and sound Haverford, now a strongly Democrat town.
Ms. Miscichowski said Stollsteimer is indifferent to the needs of the community and merely sees the office as a stepping stone.
County Council candidate Jeff Jones warned of a looming 35-percent property tax hike courtesy of the present all-D council.
He said the county budget is now 421 pages. When the Republicans ran things just four years ago, it was 40 pages.
He said Republicans have to heal and come together to stop this stuff.
He gave a shout out to Dawn Getty Sutphin, the Common Pleas Court judicial candidate who was unable to attend. He described her long and respected career in law and noted that her opponent has held a law license for just seven years and never set foot in a courtroom.
He talked about the sad decline of his hometown of Upper Darby.
He said the County’s Veterans Affair’s Office has been the subject of complaints from veterans groups since the county took over. He said it’s only now gotten more responsive due to it being an election year.
County Council candidate Joy Schwartz also noted the looming tax headaches coming due to the present council’s policies. She also described the importance of elections trusted by the voters. She noted that Delco has more ballot dropboxes than any other county including Philadelphia and Allegheny. The boxes are suspect by many; expensive to maintain and unnecessary. Why would a drop box be needed when there is a mailbox just a short distance away?
Mrs. Schwartz was a William Penn history teacher for 20 years and coached the mock trial team which she took to state competitions.
County Council candidate Bill Dennon, who is mayor of Upland, said he expects his ticket to win.
“I don’t start anything to lose,” he said.
Also speaking were school board candidates for Rose Tree Media and Unionville-Chadds Ford.
The event was held at Gatsby’s Bar and Grill 4936 Pennell Road, Aston, Pa. 19014.
Candidates Describe Democrats Law Enforcement Disaster