Lisa Esler, the Republican write-in candidate, for the vacant 161st District Pennsylvania House Seat, will be appearing on the The Behind The Mike Show internet radio program, 8 p.m., tomorrow, Aug. 2.
She and Leanne Krueger-Braneky, the official Democrat, will be appearing at a forum 2 to 4 tomorrow afternoon at Swarthmore Borough Hall, 121 Park Ave sponsored by Delco Debates.
The official government-party candidate, Paul Mullen, a union official endorsed by the GOP this time but until a fews ago had been supporting hard-left Democrats, has pointedly ducked all debates.
Gov. Tom Wolf will lead a rally for Leanne Krueger-Braneky, 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, Aug. 1, at the Swarthmore train station at Chester Road and Park Avenue.
Ms. Krueger-Braneky is the official Democrat in the special election for the vacant 161st District Pennsylvania State House seat.
The Republican-endorsed Democrat is Paul Mullen who gets a $130,000 salary as business manager of Local 654 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and by all accounts intends to keep it even if he should win the election..
Until a just a few short weeks ago Mullen had been campaigning hard for Democrats as liberal as Ms. Krueger-Braneky. In fact, if I lived in the district, I’d seriously consider voting for her. OK, I’d write in Mickey Mouse but, really, I would rather have her in the legislature than Mullen. She’d be far less of an obstacle to advancing the cause of the necessary reforms to keep the taxpayers from being crushed by the corruption, especially the legal corruption, rampant in our capital city.
Lisa Esler
Fortunately, in this round I would not have to vote for the naive leftist or write in Mickey.
There is an honest person who cares about homeowner, the parent and the elderly person on a fixed income.
Her name is Lisa Esler and she has launched a write-in campaign that has a fair shot at winning.
State Republican bosses are spending big in an attempt to get this Democrat-supporting union boss elected to the State House.
By Leo Knepper
Campaign finance reports were filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State last Friday, July 24. Although they are not yet available online, we spent some time reviewing the filings and wanted to pass on some interesting information to our readers.
GOP-endorsed candidate and union boss, Paul Mullen raised $52,700 directly from union-affiliated political action committees (PACs). He also received a $10,000 contribution from County Council Member David White’s PAC. White owns a union mechanical contracting company. The direct union PAC contributions represent over 50 percent of Mullen’s fundraising total for the report.
Mullen also benefited indirectly from the generosity of the House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC). The HRCC contributed $150,000 to the Pennsylvania GOP’s PAC. The GOP’s PAC then spent $88,825 on campaign materials provided by Hallowell and Branstetter, who are Mullen’s campaign consultants. Based on conversations we have had with folks in the 161st district the state GOP has sent at least 10 direct mail pieces to voters.
If you are a donor to the state GOP or the HRCC, you should be asking yourself if electing a union boss is how you want your money being spent. The argument that a Republican union boss is better than a Democrat certainly does not hold water. Having someone in the Republican caucus, who is likely going to continue collecting a paycheck from the union, will make closed-door strategy sessions meaningless. Mullen is opposed to moving state employees into a 401k style system; opposed to paycheck protection and opposed to enacting right-to-work laws. If the caucus is ever in a position to move those types of legislation, how likely is it that Mullen will not spill the beans to his buddies in the labor movement and keep his campaign promise to fight against these reforms?
If there are any further developments related to the Aug. 4 special elections, we will pass them along. Otherwise, we will let you know the election results as soon as they become available.
Lisa Esler wants to end the state-mandated school tax hikes.
A letter from an Aston GOP committeewoman in yesterday’s (July 30) Delaware County Daily Times blasted Lisa Esler, the Republican running a write-in campaign for the vacant 161st District Pennsylvania House seat, for being part of a school board that raised taxes in each of the last three years.
It ought to be noted that the votes by Penn Delco School Board for the tax hikes were overwhelming.
There is a reason for this. School boards in Pennsylvania are mandated by law to fund numerous things, pay expensive contracted raises to people who can negotiate without the concern of being replaced or removed, and pass a balanced budget.
It is not far off to say it is impossible for a school board not to raise taxes. In fact, you can even say the state legislature has passed the buck to make the boards — that are staffed by unpaid concerned citizens — do the dirty work in imposing unnecessary spending on property owners for the benefit of the lobbyists and special interest that are the true constituents of our political class.
Lisa Esler knows this and is running to change this. If ever-increasing property taxes are your concern she’s the one who should get your vote.
Her opponent, Paul Mullen, the county’s AFL-CIO President, is endorsed by the teacher union which has been the primary obstacle to educational progress in Pennsylvania. Quick quiz how often are bad teachers fired? The PSEA overwhelmingly gives to Democrats. That it is ignoring the D in this race should give one pause.
Sen. Pat Toomey is getting slammed by the people he is going to need next year for his endorsement in the 161st District house seat special election of the union boss who campaigned hard against him five years ago (and campaigned even harder against Republican Tom McGarrigle last fall.)
“We have come to expect the state Republican Party to offer an endorsement to anyone with an “R” behind their name. However, for Senator Toomey to offer his support to a candidate who would undoubtedly support the same types of policies he railed against when he challenged Specter and other big government Republicans as head of Club for Growth is beyond disappointing.says Leo Knepper of Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania in a column that can be found here.
It’s worth a read. The traditional Republican in the race is Penn Delco School Director Lisa Esler who is running a write-in campaign that is getting much traction. The election is Aug. 4.
Oh no, the big, tough, union guy is hiding. Is he afraid of the girls?
We think it’s because he doesn’t want to explain why he would keep his $130,000 salary as business manager of Local 654 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers while taking a $85,356 salary as a Pennsylvania legislator, and why exactly he quit Keith Crego’s Penn Delco School Board in July 2007 five months after his appointment.
For what it’s worth, Lisa Esler, the Republican write-in candidate, says she will work to end the automatic pay increases, which require no vote to take effect, and, in fact, try to cut legislative salaries. She also said she will not take a pension.
Mrs. Esler, and Leanne Krueger-Braneky, the official Democrat, will appear together, at a forum 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 2 at Swarthmore Borough Hall, 121 Park Ave sponsored by Delco Debates.
Congressman Pat Meehan (R-Pa7) at the Independence Hall Foundation’s (formerly Independence Hall Tea Party) Pro Blue Rally in January.
This is an open letter from Joseph B. Dychala, a resident of the vacant Pennsylvania’s 161st State House District, to Congressman Pat Meehan (R-Pa7) regarding the congressman’s endorsement of long-time Democrat-supporter Paul Mullen in the special election to fill the seat. Mullin’s Republican opponent is write-in candidate Lisa Esler, a Penn Delco school director and a traditional Republican.
Dear Congressman Meehan:
Your endorsement of Paul Mullen is indicative of everything that is wrong with the Republican party today.
Instead of inserting yourself into this local election you should be standing shoulder to shoulder with like minded representatives in the United States House who truly do represent real Republican values such as limited central government, low taxes and a strong national defense. Trey Gowdy, Louie Gohmert and Mia Love are those people.
We have very serious issues facing our country and our world, in President Barack Hussein Obama’s massive and unprecedented transformation of our great nation, that you were elected to help solve. Instead you feel it prudent to involve yourself in an election that We the people, the citizens of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania should have the right to elect our local officials without interference from those who are elected to represent us on the national level.
I would firmly yet politely ask you to seriously and publicly reconsider your endorsement of Paul Mullen. Mr Mullen actively and personally campaigned against Senator Pat Toomey by endorsing, both professionally and personally, his opponent Joe Sestak. If you are going to endorse a candidate in a local election I ask that you obtain all the facts before doing so. Until then sir, and I say this with all respect, I cannot in good conscience cast my vote for your upcoming reelection.
Sincerely,
Joseph B Dychala
161st Legislative District, Pennsylvania
The candidates are Democrat Leanne Kruegar-Braneky; traditional Republican Lisa Esler, who is running a write-in campaign; and Paul Mullen, who was endorsed by the county Republican Party but until a few weeks ago was an active campaigner for Democrats.
Click on the image and note which candidate answered all the question and which one answered none of them.
If you are a Republican, ask yourself which one shares your values.
Your endorsement of Paul Mullen is indicative of everything that is wrong with the Republican party today.
Instead of inserting yourself into this local election (161st District Pennsylvania House seat) you should be standing firm with the few senators in the United States Senate who actually do represent real Republican values such as limited central government, low taxes and a strong national defense. Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Tim Scott immediately come to mind.
We have very serious problems on the world stage and in President Barack Hussein Obama’s massive and unprecedented transformation of our great nation that you were elected to help solve. Instead you feel it prudent to involve yourself in an election that We the people, the citizens of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania should have the right to elect our local officials without interference from the Washington beltway. Have you become that jaded and out of touch in such a short time.
I would firmly yet politely ask you to seriously and publicly reconsider your endorsement of Paul Mullen, a man who actively and personally campaigned for your opponent Joe Sestak in your last election.
You should stand with Lisa Esler against Paul Mullen, as Lisa stood with you against Joe Sestak. It is the right thing to do. Until then sir, and I say this with all respect, I cannot in good conscience cast my vote for your reelection next year.
Sincerely,
Joseph B Dychala
161st Legislative District, Pennsylvania
LIsa Esler, traditional RepublicanLeanne Krueger-Braneky, official Democrat
We have just been informed that The Delco League of Women Voters has officially cancelled their planned Forum concerning the race for the vacant 161st District Pennsylvania House seat because the Paul Mullen Campaign never returned their phone calls or emails.
He is facing write-in candidate Lisa Esler, a traditional Republican who is a member of the Penn Delco School Board; and Leanne Krueger-Braneky, the official Democrat.
The election is Aug. 4.
The only debate/forum for the race is being sponsored by Delco Debates and will be 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 2 at Swarthmore Borough Hall, 121 Park Ave.
Mrs. Esler and Ms. Krueger-Braneky have committed to attend. Mullen has not responded as of yet. An empty chair will be set for him if he fails to show.
Kudos to Bob Small of Delco Debates for making it happen.
League Cancels Debate After Mullen Fails To Respond
Lisa Esler, the Republican write-in candidate, for the vacant 161st District Pennsylvania House Seat, will be appearing on the The Behind The Mike Show internet radio program, 8 p.m., tomorrow, Aug. 2.
