Category: Election 2015

GOP Committee Taps Democrat Campaigner

The committee members of the 161st District of the Pennsylvania State House, tonight, May 28, overwhelmingly tapped a man who six months earlier had been actively fighting to get a liberal Democrat in the State Senate. GOP Committee Taps Democrat Campaigner -- Mullen is the president of the county's AFL-CIO. He actively campaigned for Democrat John Kane last fall against Republican good guy Tom McGarrigle in the 26th District State Senate Race. In 2010, he supported Democrat Joe Sestak against Republican Pat Toomey.

Four-fifths of those in attendance reportedly voted for Paul Mullen to be the party’s nominee in a special election Aug. 4 to replace Republican Joe Hackett who resigned claiming he wanted to return to law enforcement.

Mullen is the president of the Delaware County AFL-CIO. He actively campaigned for Democrat John Kane last fall against Republican good guy Tom McGarrigle in the 26th District State Senate Race. In 2010, he supported Democrat Joe Sestak against  Republican Pat Toomey. Would he support Sestak again next year if there should be a rematch? That question was apparently not asked. The only question asked of him reportedly involved real estate taxes and his answer was he did not have one.

The nomination is expected to become official next week.

The only other person interviewed by the committee was Lisa Esler, who unlike Mullen, holds a public office namely Penn Delco School Director. In  the May 19 primary election, Mrs. Esler was the top vote-getter on both Republican and Democrat ballots to retain her seat. She has developed a reputation for tackling the cronyism prevalent in state politics.

Could that be the reason four-fifths of the committee members voted against her?

 GOP Committee Taps Democrat Campaigner

 

Paul Mullen Sestak Supporter

Paul Mullen Sestak Supporter
This photo of Paul Mullen and Joe Sestak appeared in an article in an IBEW newsletter which featured a strong endorsement of liberal Democrat Sestak by Mullen in the 2010 U.S. Senate race. Mullen wants to be the Republican candidate to replace State Rep. Joe Hackett in the 161st District special election for the State House.

Paul Mullen, who is among those seeking the Republican nomination to replace Republican Joe Hackett as the 161st District’s representative in the Pennsylvania State House, is an outspoken supporter of former 7th District Congressman Joe Sestak.

Sestak is a Democrat who leans strong to the left and sought the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Pat Toomey. He is seeking the Democratic nomination for a rematch in 2016.

“With Joe, the communications lines are wide open,” Mullen said in a union newsletter. “. . . He sands tall with the IBEW.”

Mullen is president of the Delaware County AFL-CIO and business manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 654. Last fall, he supported Democrat John Kane in his bid for the 26th District State Senate seat against  Republican Tom McGarrigle.

Hackett resigned saying he wants to return to law enforcement.

A special election to replace him has been scheduled for Aug. 4.

Paul Mullen Sestak Supporter

John Linder Loses In Chester

One of the more regrettable occurrences in yesterday’s Democrat primary was the defeat in Chester of incumbent Mayor John Linder by Thaddeus Kirkland, whose tenure as state representative for the 159th District has been marked with hackery and pandering. John Linder Loses In Chester -- One of the more regrettable occurrences in yesterday's Democrat primary was the defeat in Chester of incumbent Mayor John Linder by Thaddeus Kirkland, whose tenure as state representative for the 159th District has been marked with hackery and pandering

The vote was 1,755 to 697.

Linder was making a sincere effort in trying to solve some bad problems and appeared to be on the verge of success.

Kirkland faces former Republican nominee and former Mayor Wendell Butler in November.

Good luck, Mr. Butler.

John Linder Loses In Chester

Primary Election Results 2015

Republicans Judith Olson, Michael George and Anne Covey will face Democrats David Wecht, Christine Donohue and Kevin Dougherty for three seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Nov. 3. Primary Election Results 2015

With 95 percent of the precincts reporting Ms. Olson, George and Ms. Covey have 284,242, 282,824 and 265,024 votes respectively far higher than fourth place Cheryl Allen who has 171,569 votes. Rebecca Lee Warren and Correale Stevens have 146,974 and 136,288 votes.

On the Democrat side Wecht has 359,838 votes; Ms. Donohue, 350,573 votes and Dougherty, 349,994 votes. Following them are Anne E. Lazarus with 271,447 votes, Dwayne D. Woodruff, 190,708 votes and John Henry Foradora with 112,096 votes.

Democrat Alice B. Dubow will face Republican Emil Giordano for the lone Superior Court seat while Democrat Michael H. Wojcik will face Paul Lalley for the lone Commonwealth Court seat.

The 15-member Superior Court is the intermediate appellate court for civil and criminal cases from county Common Pleas Courts. Commonwealth Court is a nine-member body that is the intermediate appellate court for issues involving taxation, banking, insurance, utility regulation, eminent domain, election, labor practices, elections, Department of Transportation matters, and liquor licenses

In the Penn Delco School Board race, anti-corruption activist Lisa Esler is leading on both ballots with 100 percent of machines reporting according to the Delaware County website. She has 425 votes on the Democrat ticket and 1,273 votes on the Republican ticket. Six people are contesting five seats and school directors are allowed to cross file. Lewis Boughner has been eliminated from the Republican ticket but remains on the Democrat one. Leon Armour remains on the Republican one but is off the Democrat ballot. The votes from both party ballots will be tallied together for the candidates. It is possible for a candidate whose name appears on both ballots to lose, it should be noted.

In another race of interest,  Joe Gale has won the second spot on the Republican ticket for the Montgomery County Commissioner race according to the unofficial figures on the county website. With one precinct left to report he leads party-endorsed Scott Zelov 16,071 to 15,071. The top Republican vote-getter is Steve Tolbert Jr. at 19,099. They will face Democrats Jose Shapiro and Val Arkoosh who received 30,507 and 25,728 votes respectively.

While State Sen. Dominic Pileggi and Margaret Amoroso appear to have failed to win on the Democrat ballot in their bids to become  Common Pleas Court judges, Anthony Scanlon, who was recently appointed to the bench, appears to have not according to the most recent figures from the Delaware County website.

Larry Abel of Haverford Township was the top vote-getter among Democrats getting 10,021 votes. He was followed by Scanlon with 8,759 votes  and G. Lawrence DeMarco of Nether Providence at 8,114. Pileggi was fourth wtih 7,624 votes and Ms. Amoroso of Middletown was fifth with 6,711 votes.

Three seats on the bench are up for election.

Pileggi, Scanlon and Ms. Amoroso were the only candidates on the Republican ballot with Pileggi at 22,868 votes; Scanlon, 21,647; and Ms. Amoroso, 20,520.

Filing errors kept the names of Democrats seeking County Council seats off their primary ballot. However, as only 250 write-in votes were needed for a candidate to be placed on November’s ballot and 8,722 write in votes have been filed, it seems there will be a race.

Primary Election Results 2015

Pennsylvania Primary Election 2015

Tomorrow, May 19, is Primary Election Day for 2015 which will determine who will be the party nominees for the general election  on Nov. 3 for the judicial and municipal offices which include school boards and county offices.  Pennsylvania Primary Election 2015

It’s a low turnout race so one’s vote is very important.

We are generally going to go with the Republican Party recommendations albeit we are going to pick state Montour County District Attorney Rebecca Warren, for state Supreme Court in lieu of one of the endorsed candidates who are Adams County Common Pleas Court Judge Mike George, Commonwealth Court Judge Anne Covey of Bucks County, and Superior Court candidate Judy Olson of Pittsburgh. All are good choices, however, as is Superior Court Judge Cheryl Allen of Pittsburgh. Judge Allen is black, for those whose priority is diversity.

We encourage all Penn Delco residents to vote for Lisa Esler for school board and that all Montgomery County residents hit the button for Joe Gale for Montgomery County Commissioner. Fresh blood is definitely needed in that once Republican stronghold.

Pennsylvania Primary Election 2015

 

Pileggi Mask Comes Off On Pension Reform

Pileggi Mask Comes Off On Pension Reform
A switch by Sen. Dominic Pileggi on pension reform would certainly explain why the PSEA is pushing for him for Delaware County Common Pleas Court judge in the DEMOCRAT Primary.

State Sen. Dominic F. Pileggi is now actively opposing pension reform, we have been told.

The former Majority Leader who represented the 9th District since 2002 had long given lip service to the need but as he is now on the outs and looking for a Common Pleas Court judgeship, the mask has been removed.

Why?

Was it sour grapes at those who removed him from power? Or was it a a ploy for the registered Republican to win on the Democrat primary ballot for his judicial race hence obviating a campaign for November? Judicial candidates are allowed to cross file in Pennsylvania.

If the latter, it appears to be effective.  He has gotten a rousing endorsement from the PSEA, the teachers union that is biggest obstacle for real reform. The union is asking Democrats to vote for him.

But does it matter? To fail to see the need for drastic changes to our public pension system is political malpractice at the highest level. It is the very definition of injustice to ask a working class homeowner to ante up another thousand or two so someone can keep a $477,591 public pension.

How can anyone be so callous as to be unwilling to fight this corruption?

Pileggi Mask Comes Off On Pension Reform

 

Delco GOP Judge Candidates Highly Rated By Bar

Republican candidates Anthony Scanlon, Margaret Amoroso, and Dominic Pileggi have received the non-partisan Delaware County Bar Association’s highest rating of “Well Qualified” to serve as Judges of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, reports Andrew Reilly, chairman of the Delaware County Republican Party. Delco GOP Judge Candidates Highly Rated By Bar

“Scanlon, Amoroso, and Pileggi collectively have more than 90 years combined legal experience, making them eminently qualified to serve as members of our county judiciary,” said  Reilly. “We are pleased that the members of Delaware County Bar Association recognized their extensive legal background and experience and gave them the highest rating of ‘Well Qualified’.”

The ratings were released today by the Delaware County Bar Association’s Judicial Selection / Retention Committee, which asked its bipartisan association members to rate the qualifications of the candidates for the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas. Scanlon, Amoroso, and Pileggi will be on both the Republican and Democratic primary ballots in the May 19  Primary Election.

The vast majority of respondents found all three candidates to be ‘well qualified’ or ‘qualified’ with Margaret Amoroso receiving 79 percent, Dominic Pileggi receiving 82 percent, and Anthony Scanlon receiving 85 percent well qualified or qualified votes.

While the Democratic candidates for judge refused to submit their qualifications for evaluation by the membership of the Bar Association, Democrat Lawrence DeMarco did participate in the process in 2011. Only 5 percent selected him as “well qualified” and just 19 percent found him “qualified” for a combined total of just 24 percent. His running mate this year, Lawrence Abel, just applied to become a member of the Delaware County Bar Association this month, which would have made him largely unknown by the Bar Association had he taken part in the process.

“It is insulting and hypocritical that DeMarco and Abel refused to have their qualifications judged by their peers but they want to sit in judgment of others on the bench,” said Reilly. “But considering that DeMarco’s previous rating was so poor and that Abel just applied to the Bar Association for membership, it’s no wonder they didn’t want their qualifications evaluated.”

While the Democrats’ refusal to take part in the process was disappointing, the Republican candidates were still pleased with their individual evaluations and ratings.

“I am honored to receive the highest rating of ‘well qualified’ from the membership of the Delaware County Bar Association,” said Scanlon, a former District Justice who was appointed to complete an unexpired term on the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas last year.

“It is always encouraging when your fellow attorneys recognize that you have the experience and qualifications to serve as a member of the judiciary,” said Pileggi. “It’s a great honor.”

“I appreciate the support and confidence of the members of the bar association,” said Ms. Amoroso. “I think these ratings serve as a guide for voters when evaluating who is best qualified to serve as a judge.”

Delco GOP Judge Candidates Highly Rated By Bar

Dem Judicial Candidates Refuse Bar Review

The Delaware County (Pa) Republican Party, today, April 27, called the refusal by Democrat judicial candidates Lawrence DeMarco and Lawrence Abel to share their qualifications with the members of the non-partisan Delaware County Bar Association “insulting and disappointing.” Dem Judicial Candidates Refuse Bar Review

The Delaware County Bar Association has long asked its members to evaluate the qualifications of judicial candidates who are seeking to serve on the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas.

After reviewing their qualification, the members of the Bar Association are asked to rate candidates as “Well Qualified,” “Qualified,” “Not Recommended,” or “No Opinion.” While the Republican candidates for judge, Anthony Scanlon, Margaret Amoroso, and Dominic Pileggi each submitted their qualifications, Democrats DeMarco and Abel refused to submit their qualifications and take part in the process.

“Voters should be concerned by the lack of experience and qualifications of Democrats Abel and DeMarco if they refuse to even submit their background for review and evaluation by the non-partisan Delaware County Bar Association,” said Andrew Reilly, chairman of the Delaware County Republican Party. “Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Demarco only joined the Bar Association a couple years ago and Abel’s application to join the bar was only submitted a few weeks ago.”

“Delaware County residents deserve and expect better from their judges than the partisan games that DeMarco and Abel are playing,” said Reilly. “It is hypocritical that they refuse to have their qualifications judged by their peers but they want to sit in judgment of others on the bench.”

Each election for Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, the Delaware County Bar Association’s Judicial Selection/Retention Committee asks the bipartisan members of the bar association to rate the qualifications of each judicial candidate. To ensure a non-partisan and fair process, the Judicial Selection Committee is led by two co-chairs, one attorney and bar association member who is a registered Republican and one who is a registered Democrat.

Dem Judicial Candidates Refuse Bar Review

Wolf Budget Kills Delco And Pa For That Matter

State Rep. Bill Adolph (R-165), in a  terrifying talk, told the Springfield Republicans, tonight, April 15, that the tax hike in the budget proposed by Gov. Tom Wolf would be the largest ever imposed on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Wolf Budget Kills Delco And Pa For That Matter

He said the $33 billion proposed budget would increase spending by 16 percent and the ways he is proposing to fund it would add $8 billion in taxes.

Wolf wants to hike the personal income tax to 3.7 percent from 3.07 percent and raise the sales tax to 6.6 percent from 6 percent but the real devils are in the details. Adolph pointed out that Wolf is seeking to expand the sales tax to services such as day care and nursing homes. The callow cruelty of such a suggestion can only come from one who has never had to worry about such things which in Wolf’s case would be himself.

Adolph said that the property tax reform proposed by Wolf would benefit 96 of the state’s 500 school districts while burdening  the rest.

He said Springfield residents can expect to spend an extra $8 million in taxes under Wolf’s plan.

He said that the details are spelled out at TaxPayersThatPay.com

Adolph noted that there are more sensible reforms regarding property taxes and he expects them to come up in May.

Adolph said another significant but ignored point concerns how Wolf wants to handle corporations. Wolf’s idea is to require combined reporting businesses headquartered in Pennsylvania. This is a method of taxation that  treats a parent company and its subsidiaries as a single corporation for state tax purposes.

Adolph said he has been told  bluntly by several major businesses that they will move from Pennsylvania if this happens.

State Sen. Tom McGarrigle (R-26) also addressed the group and while his talk was much shorter it contained better news. He said the senate will soon pursue  pension reform in the way advocated by Sen. Pat Browne (R-16) who chairs the  Appropriations Committee. Browne wants  to change all state workers to 401-K type plans not just new hires. The existing defined-benefit plans are getting retired workers up to 80 percent of their salary and rising. This is unheard of in the private sector.

McGarrigle said such a change would likely be tested in courts but considering the existing pension fund deficit — it’s $50 billion — it’s in the self-interest of those with money vested in the program to go along.

County Councilwoman Colleen Morrone, who is seeking re-election, noted that the Marcus Hook refineries that were closed four years ago are now both open and that county policy played a part in saving them.

Mrs. Morrone is also CEO of Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County, Inc.

Township GOP Chairman Mike Puppio noted that the former ConocoPhillips refinery purchased by Delta Airlines is making a profit and is being expanded.

In political matters, Puppio said that the only race being contested in his bailiwick in the May 19 primary is Springfield’s 1st Ward Commissioner race and that the endorsed candidate is incumbent Ed Kelly.

He said he expects the Democrat County Council candidates to manage to get the 250 write-in votes needed in the primary to be on the ballot in November. The Democrat slate was knocked off the ballot after failing to provide the required documents to the proper people. Puppio said if they can’t follow those details they can’t be expected to follow the details in a $500 million county budget.

Springfield Commissioner President Jeff Rudolph of the 4th Ward said the new pool at the township Country Club is beautiful and has water jets for kids, lap lanes for adults, and a diving tank. He also praised the new lights on Saxer Avenue. He noted there was no township tax increase this year.

Wolf Budget Kills Delco And Pa For That Matter 

 

 

Joe Gale Seeks Montco Commissioner Seat

We met Joe Gale, a pro life conservative dedicated to ending politics as usual, at last night’s (April 6) meeting of the Delaware County Patriots. Joe Gale Seeks Montco Commissioner SeatJoe, who is 25 and a graduate of Temple, is on the Republican Party ballot for Montgomery County Commissioner.

If you live in Montgomery County hit the button for Joe on May 19.

Joe Gale Seeks Montco Commissioner Seat