POLS ON THE STREET: Brian Sims Promotes A Midstate LGBT Leader

BY JOE SHAHEELI/ 

Brian Sims, who wrested the 177th Legislative Dist. seat from State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-S. Phila.) in the primary, is seen as the sure bet to win the seat in November, especially since the District is heavily liberal and Democrat. The openly gay candidate is already acting as if he were a Representative-Elect and has begun touting Chris Dietz, president of the Millersburg Borough Council, who is also the Democrat primary win for the legislative district in that area.

He said, “I also have a selfish reason for supporting Chris: When he wins, on Jan. 1, 2013 we will be sworn in together as Pennsylvania’s first openly LGBT state legislators. “When I go to Harrisburg next year, I really need Chris there joining me in the freshman class. Our Capitol needs more legislators who understand how to create economic growth at the community level. Our Capitol needs more legislators who understand that transparency in politics should be a given. Our Capitol needs more Democrats. More LGBT Dems.”

FISH and birthday celebrations are order of day at Lou & Choo’s last weekend. Enjoying birthday bash and fish-fry party in Tioga, is birthday boy State Rep. Mark Cohen, center, with Rev. Cleveland Edwards, Donald “Ducky” Birts, Sonja Thomas, Susan Rosenthal, Mabel Windham and Shirley Gregory. Rory McGlasson (c) 2012 / Public Record

TOMLINSON CHECKS IN WITH BUSINESSES

Hoping to connect with 150 local businesses from now until August ends is Republican state senatorial candidate Mike Tomlinson.

He says he has begun his campaign to unseat State Sen. Mike Stack by “discussing critical issues affecting small businesses, while exploring an environment that promotes growth and development of the business community.”

CASEY SHOWS SOME CONCERN

Though polls show US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) running ahead of GOP challenger Tom Smith by from 7% to 20%, he expresses some concern, since the polls show him “with less than 50% of the vote … a real warning signal for incumbent candidates.”

As a result, his campaign ads will focus on Smith’s being a coal baron, a Tea Party founder, and having a personal fortune of over $50 million. Casey, with about $6 million in campaign funds, worries also about how much of the $50 million Smith will spend.

LECTOR KRALLE ON SEX ABUSE

Republican Candidate for 169th Dist. Dave Kralle is a lector at Our Lady of Calvary Church. He believes the Sandusky and Msgr. William Lynn cases are a rallying call to Harrisburg to make easier the “prosecution” of those abusers.

If elected, he will work to remove the criminal statute of limitations for sexual abuse against children as well as civil-statute limitations; allow expert testimony; and introduce other deterrents.

Kralle had worked for former State Rep. Denny O’Brien in various capacities for over 10 years. Kralle is the former in-house baseball director at Calvary Athletic Association, and a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 17.

IMMIGRATION BILLS MAY BE VOTER FOCUS

The Supreme Court decision upholding key parts of Arizona’s controversial immigration legislation, according to Peter A. Brown, of Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, has boostred this issue in the public arena.

Brown believes “The Supreme Court decision upholding parts of Arizona’s law will make immigration even a larger issue in the 2012 presidential. In the longer term, the decision affirming states’ ability to pass some limits on illegal immigration makes it very likely many of them will be considering similar statutes when legislatures begin meeting next year.”

A Quinnipiac University national survey Apr. 20 showed 62% of American voters in favor of the court upholding Arizona’s immigration law. Hispanic voters were divided as 45% wanted the court to uphold the law while 43% wanted the law overturned. A Nov. 3, 2011, Quinnipiac University poll found 56% of US voters wanted their state to pass a law similar to Arizona’s immigration law.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY Seth Wil­liams came out to give boost to Democrat candidate for 177th Dist. William Dunbar’s campaign kickoff and headquarters opening. Photo by Kate Clarke

BRADY COMMENTS ON ARIZ. RULING

Congressman Bob Brady commented on the Supreme Court’s decision in Arizona v. the United States, saying, “I agree with the Supreme Court’s ruling that strikes down the majority of Arizona’s immigration law, but I echo the concerns of President Obama and a number of organizations including the Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities over the decision to leave in place the ‘show-me-your-papers’ provision and the mandate that police check the papers of anyone they suspect is in the country without legal status. This leaves the door open for court-sanctioned racial profiling. This ruling is a clear indication of why the Congress must expedite the passage of comprehensive immigration reform. This is a federal issue that will not be solved state by state.”

FIND LABOR ISSUES AT NEW WEBSITE

Joe Dougherty reports PhillyUnions.com has transitioned to PhillyLabor.com, featuring the PHILLYLABOR.COM PR NEWSLETTER, a public-relations resource that will provide Philadelphia-area unions, activist organizations and vendors the ability to promote important issues, agendas, events, announcements, products and services while at the same time providing the Philadelphia-area union community with an invaluable source for important news, information and resources.

S.C. APPROVES BIG-MONEY CAMPAIGNS

The US Supreme Court decision this week to overturn Montana’s election law, which outlawed unlimited campaign-funded ads, has raised a barrage of criticism.

Heading the list was American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, who said, “Now even states have no power to inoculate their own elections from the corrosive effects of unlimited corporate influence. America’s highest court has reasserted big corporations’ license to use their record profits to try to silence the voices of Americans who work hard every day serving our communities, teaching our children and healing our sick. “Instead of working to create jobs and build a better future for our children, big corporate donors are hiding their identities while they flood the system with hundreds of millions of dollars in an effort to pass an extreme agenda.”

STEPHANIE BELIEVES IN STARTING EARLY

City Commission Chair Stephanie Singer “beat the odds” and won her first time out. That was tough. This time around, she hopes to even the playing field or at least tilt it in her favor by beginning her election fundraising efforts early. Singer has sent emails out to the effect she will be “assembling the team that’s going to get our campaign back in gear.” She has already raised over $80,000 from over 530 supporters. Quite a start. She is also continuing her fight to void the Voter ID law.

MARC also held 7th annual Fundraiser at Curran’s Irish Inn on May 24. A good time was had by all including Councilman Bobby Henon, Lisa Deeley, Tommy Conway and 41st Ward Leader Connie Dougherty.

TEA PARTY CHIEF BLASTS SUPREMES

Teri Adams, President of the Independence Hall Tea Party Association, scheduled a press conference at Independence Mall today to  voice major objections over the US Supreme Court ruling on Immigration and, at the same time, announced a Thursday Press Conference (11 a.m.) on Independence Mall. “While we are still analyzing the full impact of the US Supreme Court’s ruling on Arizona’s immigration law, also known as SB 1070, we are very disappointed by the court’s decision striking down three of the law’s four provisions.”

He stated, “Justice Anton Scalia pointed out SB 1070 was not in conflict with federal law, the State of Arizona, being a sovereign entity, has every right to pass and enforce laws that complement – not conflict with – federal law.”

VOTER I.D. LAW A G.O.P. AID?

In GOP circles, it is believed the Voter ID law will benefit Republican candidates in November. Expressing that sentiment at the Republican State Committee meet last weekend was House Majority Leader Mike Turzai in a speech in which he said, “Voter ID will allow Gov. Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania.”

His spokesman Stephen Miskin translated that as meaning “Voter ID will provide a more even keel” for the GOP Presidential candidate.

Voter ID may not make much of a difference. In 1988, George W. Bush lost by over 144,000 votes, the closest of all Republican presidential candidates since then.

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