United4Delco Has Inaugural Meeting — Kudos to Joe Dychala and Wendy Willhauer for organizing the inaugural meeting of United4Delco held tonight, June 1, at warm and friendly Gatsby’s Bar & Grill, 4936 Pennell Road, Aston, Pa. 19014.
About 40 filled the banquet hall. Joe described his write-in campaign in the May 16 GOP primary for Aston 7th Ward Commissioner in which he got nearly a third of the vote against 16-year incumbent Mike Higgins.
The main speakers were election integrity activists Leah Hoopes and Greg Stenstrom, authors of The Parallel Election. While much of what they said would be familiar to readers of this site, Greg and Leah each described the very real personal costs they endured during their campaign.
The County can go a long way in easing legitimate suspicions regarding how it runs elections simply by not fighting right to know requests especially when arbiters rule against them, and by not ignoring requests for documents in bald rejection of the law.
How can one not be suspicious?
Oh, an update on this morning’s story: We have been told that Delaware County Director of Elections Jim Allen has contacted Greg along with GOP County Council candidate Joy Schwartz and agreed to allow them to count — and photograph — the ballot envelopes. That wasn’t so hard, now, was it?
Delco Refuses Count Of Mail-In Envelopes — Delaware County Pa. is refusing to let Republicans count mail-in ballot envelopes from the May 16 primary election spawning a request for intervention in Commonwealth Court; demands from John McBlain, who is the minority member of the Board of Elections; and a letter from Delco GOP Chairman Frank Agovino to County Election Director James Allen asking him what’s up.
“I cannot fathom why the county will not allow examination of the envelopes,” Agovino said. This is a pretty simple request. And, as (McBlain) has indicated repeatedly, this is in direct violation of state law. I cannot in good conscious abide by the county’s current position.”
Agovino told Allen to consider his letter a formal request to conduct a count on behalf of Katie Ford, the losing candidate in a special election to fill the 163rd District State House seat. A victory by her would have given Republicans control of the House.
The Commonwealth Court filing was made by County Council candidate Joy Schwartz of Drexel Hill along with poll watchers Greg Stenstrom of Glen Mills, Leah Hoopes of Chadds Ford and Paul Rumley of Springfield.
Thoughts On The 2023 Primary — I was drafted as a poll worker in Springfield for yesterday’s (May 16) primary and found my co-workers to be wonderful and dedicated and everything went smoothly. People in my Delaware County, Pa. precinct overwhelmingly voted in person, including Democrats. The in-person vote was 150 — high for an off year primary in a precinct with few contested races. It went about 60 percent Republican.
This seaons’s big race, which did not involve my precinct, was to replace Mike Zabel, the 163rd District state rep who resigned in disgrace in March putting in jeopardy the Democrats’ one-vote control of the State House.
Heather Boyd handily beat Katie Ford to keep the seat for the Democrats. The Democrat Party flooded the airwaves with endorsements from Gov. Josh Shapiro and fear-mongering to convince the world that the feckless Mrs. Ford was a heartless zealot.
Persons even appeared in my precinct looking to vote for her as the advertisements made it seem the race concerned all of Delco.
For the record, the district consists of Clifton Heights, Aldan, Collingdale and a big piece of Upper Darby.
The Delco GOP response to the D onslaught was — meh. They kept Mrs. Ford from punching back. They wouldn’t let her appear on the wise and sagacious Dom Giordan’s widely heard radio show. They made her take moderate positions rather than painting Ms. Boyd as the true radical.
And, of course, as always, this type of response lost.
Compare this to Philadelphia where traditional Democrat interests united to elect traditional Democrat — i.e. union-supporting, big government — Cherelle Parker over heavily promoted progressive Helen Gym. Yes, Ms. Gym was fairly painted as a radical flake and lost giving Philly a chance at life.
Will the Delco Republicans learn for November and give Joy Schwartz, William Dennon and Jeffrey O. Jones, the chance to beat Democrats Elaine Paul Schaefer, Monica Taylor and Christine A. Reuther in November?
They have ammunition. Two murders in a month in Upper Darby are things that once didn’t happen.
And, yes, most people don’t want mothers to die because they can’t get an abortion or a rape victim being forced to carry the child of her attacker, but they don’t want stuff like this either and that is what the Democratic candidates defend.
Congratulations to Joy who got the most votes in her uncontested primary.
And in Montgomery County, Joe Gale will end his career as councilman this January. I like Joe and was a big supporter when he came on the scene in 2015 but his two terms were a disappointment to the extreme. He seemed to be more about Joe Gale than stopping the spread of feudalism.
He attacked Republicans consistently and mostly ignored Democrats. I don’t have a problem attacking Republicans. I have a big problem with ignoring Democrats and so, apparently, do the Montgomery County GOP voters.
Joe overwhelmingly lost to party-endorsed Tom DiBello and Liz Ferry, who will take on Montco wokesters Neil Makhija and Jamila Winder in the fall.
Yes, they can win if they fight and don’t play “bullet-vote” games.
I met Tom and Liz at last week’s Phyllis Schlafly Eagle Awards Dinner and liked them.
They were guests, by the way, of Stan Casacio. That’s Stan Casacio, Joe. You know, the guy that actually goes head-to-head, face-to-face with the Montco GOP establishment even when it’s packing guns.
Hey Joe, some advice. Make up with Stan. I betcha he’d welcome you back.
In the state-wide State Supreme Court race, GOP-endorsed Carolyn T. Carluccio beat my gal Patricia A. McCullough and will take on, Nov. 7, Democrat Daniel D. McCaffery who defeated Deborah Anne Kunselman.
Timika Lane and Jill Beck defeated Patrick Dugan in the Superior Court Democrat primary wand will face Republicans Maria C. Battista and Harry F, Smail Jr., who ran uncontested.
GOP endorsed Megan Martin beat my choice Joshua Garet Prince in the Commonwealth Court primary and will face Democrat Matthew S. Wolf who beat Bryan S. Neft.
After long term Pennsylvania 108th District Rep Lynda Schlegal-Culver (12 years) won a special election on Jan. 31 for State Senate District 17, a special election was scheduled to replace her in the 108th.
It will be Tuesday, May 16.
Running are Trevor Finn (D), Michael Stender (R) and Elijah Skretching (L).
The district is In Montour and Northampton counties, including Rockefeller Township. It has been a Republican seat for about 60 years.
For possibly the first time ever in a Pennsylvania State House race, both major Party Candidates are firefighters.
Trevor Finn worked at Finn’s News Agency, the family business. He has been Commissioner of Montour County since 2004. He has been operations chief and facilities commissioner if the Montour County Emergency Management Agency. He has worked as an EMT and volunteer firefighter.
He lives in Danville with his wife, Betsy, a kindergarten teacher. They have two children who became teachers.
Michael Stender is a firefighter and a former emergency room technician.
Stender is a lifelong resident of Sunbury and he and his wife have three daughters. He is a Bloomsburg graduate and has done various volunteer work.
The Libertarian Candidate Elijah Scretching spent five years in the Marines. He lives in Northumberland Borough with his wife and daughter.
In a candidate’s debate, he said “I want the people to have the power, not the government”. He is in favor of having armed guards in the schools because “We have to stop being reactive and start being proactive.”
Incumbents William Morgan and Elizabeth Williams are facing challenges from Tamika M. Gibson and Fred Green in the Chester City Council in the May 16 Democrat Primary.
All participated in the League of Women Voters Forum available on YouTube.
“I hear a lot about plans that are supposed to be coming forward but you had six to eight years to put a plan in place and now because it’s election season, I hear what we’re planning to do,” Ms. Gibson said. “The plan has failed. We need a whole new administration to come forth to implement better plans to change the situation that Chester is in. The plans that you’ve already had don’t work. They haven’t worked. It’s time to get rid of the old and put something new in place so that we can move forward properly.”
There are a number of YouTube videos of Tamika M. Gibson.
Fred Green is vice-president of Chester Upland School District, and has been a Salvation Army Board Member, a community liaison to Mayor and Council. For more information, see the following websites;
Councilman and Deputy Mayor William Morgan has a bachelor of science in communication from the University of Rhode Island. He was appointed to City Council, when Natis Nichols resigned in September 2016. He had worked for TD Bank as a Financial Services Rep.
Councilwoman and Director of Public Property and Recreation Elizabeth Williams has an associates in Early Childhood Education from Delaware County Community College. She has worked in various capacities for numerous insurance companies. She is executive director for the Chester Democratic Party and vice-dhair for the Delaware County Democrats.
Animal-Loving Combat Medic Mom Battles Leftist Social Activist And Libertarian In 163 Special Election
By Bob Small
It’s rather ironic that three female candidates are running in Pennsylvania’s 163rd state legislative district special election to replace the disgraced Mike Zabel (D), who resigned March 16 due to allegations of sexual misconduct.
The election is May 16.
Katie Ford
The Delco-based 163rd consists of Aldan, Clifton Heights, Collingdale, and sections of Darby and Upper Darby townships. Democratic since 2016, Nicholas Miccozzie of the GOP served for a quarter of a century, from 1979 through 2014.
The Democrat in the race is Heather Boyd who was chief of staff for Representative Leanne Kruger and district director and chief advisor for Congressperson Mary Gay Scanlon. Boyd was a founder of Delco NOW and served on the Upper Darby School Board from 2015 through 2018.
Heather Boyd
Ms. Boyd earned a Bachelor’s n history from the University of Michigan in 1998 and a Master’s in art history from James Madison University in 2001. She resides in Drexel Hill with her husband Sean and their two children.
GOP candidate Katie Ford has an extensive resumé. She was a US Army combat medic for eight years, Penn State University Bachelor’s in family studies and human development, Master’s of Education from Arizona State University, and a certificate in foundations of infant mental health from the University of Pittsburgh.
Alfie Goodwin
Ms. Ford has worked as a children’s behavioral therapist. She has fostered and placed more than 40 dogs into their permanent homes. She and her husband, high-school sweetheart Stephen Ford, have three children and three dogs.
The anti-Ford ads have appeared during the local news, which means her candidacy is being taken seriously.
Alfie Goodwin, the Libertarian Party candidate, has a Bachelor’s from Thomas Edison University and a graduate from Lutheran Theological Seminary. Like Ford, she is a US Army veteran. She is also a retired police officer.
If the Ms. Ford wins, the Republicans will regain control of the State House.
Animal-Loving Combat Medic Mom Battles Leftist Social Activist And Libertarian In 163 Special Election
The mayor’s race in Upper Darby has had numerous twists and turns. Incumbent Barbarann Keffer was arrested on Jan. 26 and charged with driving under the influence.
Since then, she has spent time in an alcohol rehabilitation program. She believes her drinking problem began during her time at Harvard, where she earned a degree in government.
On Feb. 7, Council President Brian Burke, citing a provision in the Upper Darby Charter, declared himself mayor while Ms. Keffer was undergoing alcoholism treatment.
Burke was not successful in his claim.
Mayor Keffer, a Democrat, had long been battling Burke, also a Democrat, along with councilmembers Matt Silva and Laura Wentz, also Democrats.
The letter also criticized a perceived delay in the dispersion of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money.
It’s penultimate paragraph read: Ensure that Brian Burke, Laura Wentz, and Matt Silva do not hold elected office as Democrats again in Upper Darby Township
On March 2, Burke, a life-long Democrat, became a Republican to run for mayor.
Ms.. Wentz is on the primary ballot as an independent Democrat, battling Edward Brown, the endorsed Democratic candidate. Among her many accomplishments, Ms. Wentz has served as president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW). She graduated cum laude from Rider Univesity in 1993 with a B.A. in theater, and since 2002 has been a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local # 8. She is also a founding member of Delco Now.
The endorsed Democratic candidate is Edward Brown, president of the Upper Darby School District Board of Directors. An employee of Lockheed Martin as a Cybersecurity Engineering Manager. His masters degree from Drexel University is in Cybersecurity and Business Administration. He is the father of three children.
Crime is an issue in the race. On April 21, Michael Garr, a 15-year-old, 10th grader at Upper Darby High School, was fatally stabbed in 200 block of Bridge Street.
There’s a three way race for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Chester. Incumbent Thaddeus Kirkland is trying to hold off the challengers; City Councilman Stefan Roots and Realtor Pat Worrell.
The Pennsylvania Ethics Commission ordered him to pay back $2,000 to the state. He also received $15,000 in campaign finance contributions from individuals and entities connected to PFS V11 which has a parking contract connected with the City of Chester. There’s more but space is limited.
Kirkland, who was previously a state representative, is pastor of Community Baptist Church. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Cheyney University. He and his wife have five daughters.
Pat Worrell is owner and operator of the Worrell Real Estate firm. She is a member of the Chester Zoning Hearing Board and had served as chairwoman.
She has run for magisterial district judge (2011), state senate (2012) and County Council (2013). She has been endorsed by PMBR (Philadelphia Metropolitan Board of Realty), Frank Daly, Estate Attorney, and NAREB (National Association of Real Estate Brokers.)
Stefan Roots is familiar to many of us from his occasional columns in both the Delco Times and The Swarthmorean. In 2006, he launched the Chester Spotlight and currently edits the Chester Matters Blog
In January 2022 he was elected to Chester City Council. He has a bachelors degree in electrical engineering from Villanova. He notes his campaign was championed by Todd Strine, co-owner of the Swarthmorean, and part of the wealthy Strine family.
He is crusading to shut down the Covanta trash-to-steam plant, which brings the city $8 million per year of 15 percent of its budget. It also generates electricity for 48,000 homes
He is not impressed with Kirkland.
“I work with the man every day and I haven’t seen or heard any vision coming from him,” he said.
There will be a virtual candidate forum on Wednesday, April 26.
Yeadon, in Delaware County, PA, has seen an overabundance of confusion recently, and there is even some confusion in the Borough Council election. The Yeadon Borough Council removed the former police chief, popular with many members of the public, due to a charge of “overspending”. There were protests from both members of the public and dissenting council members.
There was also some controversy around Johanna McClinton’s choice as Pennsylvania’s first female African-American Speaker of the House.
Mark Rozzi, the previous Democratic speaker, stepped aside so that McClinton, whose 191st District includes Yeadon, could finally become speaker.
Yeadon claims to be the home of the original founder of Flag Day, though there are other contenders for that.
Yeadon boasts an all-female borough council. (Swarthmore, by contrast, has one token male borough council member.) For this election, there are three incumbents with five challengers, all of the Democratic Party persuasion. None of the challengers has a current campaign website, Facebook page, or any other electronic presence, which seems unusual in 2023. Nothing for the Yeadon Democratic Party either.
All eight Democrats were invited to a Yeadon Council candidate forum, but only two incumbents and two challengers attended. One would expect more energy from candidates running for vulnerable posts, but …
One of the challenger Candidates, Jessie Peets, said that after attending a Borough Council meeting at the urging of his social media feed, he “immediately saw that something was very wrong and he had to do something about it.”
Denise H. Stinson, also a challenger candidate observed that “You can agr3e to disagree but you don’t have to be mean about it.”
One might expect there to be more of a social media presence in this election but that may not be what wins elections.
Media Dem Incumbents Face Challenge From Environmental Activists
By Bob Small
It’s very rare that I find myself writing about one of my old “protest buddies,” and as one of them is now running for public office, I had to seize this opportunity.
In the Borough of Media, three of the incumbent Borough Council members are running again.
I find it curious that the candidates are not listed in any of the following three web sites.
The New Vision Democrats are running three candidates: Dell Jackson, Jen Malkoun, and Terry Rumsey. See their ten-point platform here:
Dell Jackson is a Penn State graduate working in property maintenance.
“The candidates who are eligible for re-election have a combined 55 years of service on Borough Council,” he says.
Jen Malkoun is the Delaware County Director of Programs and Partnerships with Greener Partners.
A graduate of Goucher College, Jen recently joined the Blooming Glen Farm crew as assistant farm manager.
“When we lack diversity — whether in the natural world, or in the lived experiences of our community members — it is to our own disadvantage,” she said.
Terry Rumsey is the founder and president of Green Seeds.
Terry and his wife, Robin Lasersohn, have been proponents for “green space” activism in Media, and are founding members of Friends of Glen Providence Park and Keep Media Green.
“Today the slogan ‘Everybody’s Hometown’ feels superficial to me. I am tired of watching developers cut down trees in our urban forest to build McMansions for the wealthy,”Terry said. “I am tired of watching predatory real estate speculators ‘flip’ houses once lived in by working- and middle-class families to reap stunning profits.”
Back in the 1980’s, Terry and I worked against US intervention in Central America as part of Delco Pledge of Resistance.
Terry was also the co-owner of the late lamented Jumping Cow Coffeehouse at the Swarthmore train station, As poetry director of the coffeehouse, I scheduled anti-Apartheid activist and poet Dennis Brutus, among others. We worked together well then.
Media Dem Incumbents Face Challenge From Environmental Activists
