POLS ON THE STREET: 2nd Redistricting Plan Stirs Up Problems In N.E. Philly

SWANKY SOIRÉE at Residences at 2 Liberty penthouse drew 75 supporters to fundraiser for DA Seth Williams, left. Among the were Brown's Family ShopRites owners Sandy & Jerry Brown.

BY JOE SHAHEELI/ No matter how the Supreme Court rules on the new redistricting map submitted to it by the Reapportionment Commission, there is no doubt a lot of contention will pit Democrat against Democrat in the 2014 primary for at least one of those House seats in the city’s far Northeast.

The latest and, hopefully, final redistricting map of the General Assembly now will be studied by the State Supreme Court, which rejected the first version approved by the legislature. The prime reason given for the initial rejection, which surprised just about everyone, was the plaintiffs’ claim gerrymandering remained much in evidence in the House and Senate boundaries offered in the 2011 version. Some improvement is seen in this new version. But, again, not in the northeastern quadrant of this city.

That version included the 169th Legislative Dist., long held by Republican Denny O’Brien, who had at one period risen to the ranks of Speaker of the Pennsylvania House. O’Brien, long a favorite of Republicans and Democrats alike and with a tenure that saw little competition in the primary and general election during his reign, resigned that seat to make a successful run for City Council at Large. Knowing he was vacating that seat, the Reapportionment Commission took the 169th out of Philadelphia and planted it elsewhere in Pennsylvania in the new 2011 map. This scenario remains the same in the revised plan.

Not delighted are State Rep. John Sabatina (D-Northeast) and his dad, John, Sr., who delivers a strong primary Democrat vote. Welcoming it is newly elected State Rep. Ed Neilson (D-Northeast), who campaigned with the knowledge his tenure might be short-lived, depending on how the 169th’s boundaries were redrawn and into whose districts they would intrude. Some farsighted political moves were involved, both on the Commission and among legislators, by vested interests. On the way to being approved by the Commission last Friday, an earlier proposed scenario had a good part of the 169th meshing into the 173rd Legislative Dist. seat, long occupied by State Rep. Michael McGeehan (D-Northeast). It triggered a strong pushback from McGeehan, who won that battle, forcing that remnant to be redrawn to include the 174th.

From now until the general election, Neilson is sitting in Harrisburg representing the voters of the 169th, filling the vacancy left by O’Brien’s departure. Come the November election, he will be facing Republican David Kralle for the seat. The victor will need to spend his time planning for another campaign. If it is Kralle, his opponent in 2014 will be Neilson or Sabatina, Jr. If it is Neilson, then Ed’s primary opponent will be Sabatina, Jr.

Then, again, this will depend on how ward and labor leader John J. Dougherty, Jr. decides to throw his weight. Both the Sabatinas and Neilson are well within his sphere of influence. But it is believed Neilson, who earlier had been a leader in Local 98, found his way into Gov. Ed Rendell’s cabinet and was financially powered to the special election win over Kralle, will get Dougherty’s nod. Pleased they are out of the mix and will have their party’s support in the 2014 primary are brother State Reps. Kevin and Brendan Boyle (both D-Northeast), who have worked their charm to ensure they continue to have a better grasp on their districts, managing to keep them basically the same as the 2001 version. With all the above, it is possible a court challenge of the whole plan wind up before the Supreme Court … to become Chapter 2 in the sage of “Northeast Confusion.”

State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) summed up the bitter feelings of many around the state by saying, “The final map is the product of a broken and bewildering process in which the public was ignored and negotiation was illusory. The map is a total disappointment.” He was the only Redistricting Panel member to vote against the new plan.

Of another opinion was Peter Wirs, Republican 59th Ward Leader, who said, “The Pennsylvania Legislative Redistricting Commission listened to us and put the 9th Ward back into the 4th State Senate Dist., and removed the 35th Ward. Under the Preliminary Revised Plan, Chestnut Hill was to be put into Vincent Hughes’ 7th Dist., while leaving the rest of the Germantown Avenue corridor in the 4th along with newly added Springfield Township. We argued Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy and Germantown were all historically and geographically linked, and it wouldn’t make sense to have most of Germantown Avenue inside the 4th, then detour while in Chestnut Hill, also to resume in Springfield Township.”

CORBETT APPOINTS 4 TO COURT HERE

As reported here last week, Gov. Tom Corbett had agreed to appoint four jurists to the city’s Courts. He nominated, for Senate confirmation this week, to Municipal Court, T. Francis Shields and J. Scott O’Keefe and to Common Pleas Court, Kenneth J. Powell, Jr. and Roger F. Gordon. We had earlier heard Ward Leader Sharon Lozier was in the mix, but was bumped by a well-known and well-liked former jurist Judge Gordon. Another appointment by Corbett included the reappointment of Attorney Susan M. McDermott to the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board.

TRACEY GORDON CASE SETS DEM STATE RULE

Tracey Gordon, of City Commission Chair Stephanie Singer’s executive staff, who won a court rule reinstating her as a Committeewoman in Democrat Ward 40B after the ward had ruled her out, thanks the Pennsylvania Democratic Progressive Caucus, for a resolution which it initiated at the State Meeting last week.

The resolution, adopted unanimously, mandates “only one process in effect for the election of Democratic Committeepeople and that the Committeeperson election process has guidelines set forth by the Pennsylvania Dept. of State and state election laws. The resolution makes it incumbent upon all 67 Democrat County Committees to follow this rule.

Gordon resigned her committeeship after winning her court battle.

Now, a committeeperson, duly elected by voters, cannot be summarily dismissed from the Ward Committee by the ward leader or the majority of committeepeople voting to do so within the ward.

BARBARA DEELEY CANDIDACY IN THE OFFING?

Though the Democrat City Committee has long lists of aspiring candidates, not many of them bring to the table with them the attributes of Barbara Deeley. Deeley, who climbed through the ranks in public service to become Philadelphia and Pennsylvania’s first woman Sheriff, has not only name recognition, but has a host of supporters and fans earned through those years. Expect a move to be made by her supporters in the next go-around for seats.

CASEY CONTINUES COMFORTABLE LEAD

A Franklin & Marshall College poll shows US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) holding a solid lead over Republican challenger Tom Smith. With 412 voters surveyed, Casey’s lead is two to one over Smith, 42% to 21%. Surprisingly, despite the lead, 30% said they did not know enough about Casey to form an opinion. Smith spent more than $3 million of his own money to win the Republican primary over a field of five. Despite that, his recognition is still low since more than 75% of those polled said they knew little about him. The same poll showed President Barack Obama with a 48% to 36% over Mitt Romney.

SANTORUM STILL PUSHES AGENDA

Rick Santorum continues to exert his efforts in getting Mitt Romney elected President. He is hoping to recruit 1 million members with conservative values to band with him as the “Patriot Voices”. He believes his 11-state primary wins show conservatives are on the march and looking for leadership. He hopes to use it to “mobilize grassroots troops.” To sign on, one need only go to www. patriotvoices.com.

BLACK REPUBLICANS NOW HAVE MOVIE

The premiere of a new documentary called Fear of a Black Republican will be screened tonight at 7 p.m. at the Pearl Theater at 1600 N. Broad Street. Tickets are $10. According to the synopsis: “Filmed and edited over a six-year period, Fear Of A Black Republican examines why there are so few Black Republicans and how this affects the US political system today. From the Civil War to the Great Depression, the GOP was the Party for many African Americans, but today, barely 10% of African Americans consider themselves to be Republican and urban areas are no longer considered competitive parts of America’s electoral map.”

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