POLS ON THE STREET: Will House Effort Kill Traffic-Ct. Votes?

CONGRESSMAN and Party Chairman Bob Brady announces slate of endorsed Democratic primary candidates from stage at Sheet Metal Union Hall.

BY JOE SHAHEELI/ The city’s voters will have their say as to whom they wish to represent them in the Philadelphia Traffic Court races Tuesday.

At the same time, the Republican-dominated House is rushing through its Judiciary Committee Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi’s (R-Delaware) two bills which will forever eliminate Traffic Court. The Pileggi bills, if approved by the full House this coming week, will eliminate Traffic Court and transfer its duties to Philadelphia Municipal Court.

Three big questions need to be asked. Since our Senate caucus didn’t put up a fight against the passage of Pileggi’s bills, will our 26 legislators be on the same page in opposition? Second, will one or more of them take the lead and muster a last-ditch defense? Third, do they have enough chits owed them over the years to gather support and block the passage of Pileggi’s bills?

CAN JUDGES VOTE JOBS FOR THEMSELVES?

The Supremes are hoping they have enough clout to get the General Assembly to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution before retiring for the summer to raise the mandatory retirement age for judges in the Commonwealth from 70 to 75. Some may have to retire, including Supreme Court Chief Justice Ron Castille, if HB 79 introduced by State Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) passes both chambers. To become law, the amendment must receive a majority vote of two consecutive sessions of the General Assembly and an affirmative vote by the electorate.

ARE STATE’S BIG DAILIES IN COLLUSION?

We believe Judge Joseph Waters should be the state’s next Superior Court Judge. That goes for now in this primary and in the general election in November. Besides his eminent qualifications, it is obvious he is our favorite son and needs to be supported, if only for that reason.

But again the Inkie has teamed up with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to support his opponent, whose name we can’t recall. We wonder why our Inkie doesn’t understand the need to support a local son who has been recommended by local and star bar associations. See our editorial.

PROGRESSIVE GROUP OPPOSES MANDEL

It’s a case where the Mandel for Controller campaign team may have done its candidate more harm than good.

Its recent television campaign was found misleading by almost everyone, including a group of progressives. The TV commercial attempted to place the blame for the School District’s financial problems on the City Controller and not Gov. Tom Corbett, whose cuts in the education budget have led to the school crisis.

An ad hoc group of Philadelphia progressives have issued a letter recommending that progressives reject the candidacy of Brett Mandel for City Controller. “We were moved to circulate this letter after we saw Mr. Mandel’s misleading TV commercial which attempts to place the blame for our School District’s financial problems on the City Controller, not Gov. Corbett, whose drastic cuts in state support for education are the reason we have a crisis today. Mr. Mandel knows better. To deserve the support of progressives, a candidate has to join us in demanding Gov. Corbett adequately fund our schools, not cynically jump on the crisis in the schools while deflecting attention from the Governor’s failures,” added Marc Stier, a signer of the letter.

The letter is being sent via email to over 10,000 Philadelphia residents and is posted at a Facebook page, “Progressives Against Mandel.” It calls attention to budget and tax issues on which Mandel sided with the interests of the corporate rich rather than with the working people and middle class of Philadelphia.

“Mr. Mandel has for years supported budget busting reductions in business taxes that can only be paid for by cuts in public services and increases in property taxes. The burdens of cuts in both tax and services will fall on working people and the middle class,” said Stan Shapiro, another signer of the letter.

The Mandel ad also cemented teachers’ support for Butkovitz. “Contrary to the recent distortions of his record as City Controller, Alan Butkovitz has an exemplary record of advocating for and protecting the interests of Philadelphia’s public schools,” said Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. “Alan has always been a champion for Philadelphia’s public schools, a strong supporter of public education and a sharp eye when it comes to the school budget. Alan long ago sounded the alarm on our system’s troubled budget and blew the whistle on ethics and accountability failures in charter schools. When it comes to our schools, we don’t need political attacks distortions. We need the kind of strong leadership Alan Butkovitz brings to the Controller’s office.”

PLACE YOUR BETS! NEILSON OR SABATINA

State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams (D-W. Phila.) didn’t appreciate the State Supreme Court’s 6-0 affirmation of the new redistricting changes. He saw it as “part of a steady movement to marginalize certain populations by lumping them together and diluting their power.”  His 8th Senatorial Dist. will lose suburban areas such as Ridley Park and Glenolden but gain additional divisions in South Philadelphia wards.

Not so fortunate are State Reps. Ed Neilson and John Sabatina, who saw their districts merged into the new 174th. Neilson’s 169th is now the property of York Co.

Who will Northeast Philly Democrats support in that flare-up? On paper, the district looks better for 43-year-old Sabatina, who won his special election in 2006. That’s because 53% of the registered Democrats in the newly drawn 174th live in Sabatina’s current district. Neilson, 50, won a special election for his seat just last year and now finds only 25% of the registered Democrats in the new district are his current constituents.

But Neilson, who is closely aligned to the IBEW Local 98 union, will no doubt have the full support of this union’s considerable political clout. Ask Marty Bednarek, who was a favorite going into the 6th Council Dist. race against Local 98’s candidate Bob Henon. When Dougherty unleashed his forces, the outcome was inevitable.

Look for several meetings to occur between the rival campaigns under the mediation of Democratic Party Chairman Bob Brady, hoping to come to a peaceful settlement long before November. Both sides are revving up their campaigns, just in case a settlement isn’t reached.

COUNCILWOMAN Jannie Blackwell, left, treated W. Phila. committeepersons to lavish dinner and candidates’ night at 1st Dist. Plaza, where she welcomed companionship of her fellow Ward Leader Sonny Campbell, Common Pleas aspirant Timika Lane and State Sen. Anthony Williams.

BLACK CLERGY ANNOUNCES PRIMARY ENDORSEMENTS

The Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity, under the leadership of its President, Rev. Terrence Griffith, reports its Political Action Committee has endorsed for Common Pleas Court Derrick Coker, Sierra Street, Giovanni Campbell, Kenneth Powell, Dawn Tancredi, Timika Lane and Dan McCaffery. For Municipal Court, its endorsed candidates are Henry Lewandowski, Martin Coleman and Judge Fran Shields.

For Traffic Court, the endorsed candidates are Donna Laws, Omar Sabir and Donna DeRose. For Superior Court, the Black Clergy has endorsed Judge Waters.

The group has also endorsed Alan Butkovitz for City Controller and R. Seth Williams for District Attorney. Rev. Griffith, aware of the prospects of a low turnout, stated, “Black Churches over the years, from the earliest days of the Civil Rights Movement, have led the way in encouraging voter participation from church congregants and also from the community at large. We want to continue to carry the message voting is important and that all people need to go to the polls and cast their ballots for the candidates of their choice.”

Rev. Griffith is pastor of the oldest African American Baptist Church in Pennsylvania, the 203-year-old 1st African Baptist Church. He is a former Senator of the Grenada Parliament, the author of eight books and a member of the Governor’s Commission on African American Affairs.

Over 400 pastors are part of the BCPV. This year marks the organization’s 31st year.

SINGER CONTINUES VOTER-TURNOUT PUSH

The handwriting is on the wall: This primary could well set a record low for voter participation. It is possible the totals will fall below the average 18-20% primary turnouts for off-year elections.

One of the sure signs is the fact the Registration Commission reported only 960 absentee-ballot applications were made and as of two days before Tuesday’s deadline, only 291 were turned in. Commissioner Stephanie Singer has taken her staff with her on a tour of supermarkets to make voters aware of the need to participate in this primary.

JUDGE DEFENDS ORIE MELVIN HOUSE ARREST

Prison might be easier, states Allegheny Co. Judge Lester G. Nauhaus, who sentenced former State Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin to house arrest and soup-kitchen service. He said she cannot leave her home without his permission, except to attend church or fulfill her public service working in a soup kitchen

If she steps out of line, Nauhaus said he’s prepared to impose harsher punishment. “I don’t fool around. She will do what I tell her to do, or she’ll come back and see me.”

RANIA MAJOR IS FRIEND OF MICHAEL JACKSON

How could one go to North Carolina University when basketball star Michael Jordan was a classmate and not have remembrances? One of those was judicial candidate Rania Major, whose story in the Public Record last week erroneously indicated she didn’t know him.

On the contrary, they were good friends, and he continually singles her out of the crowd for a hug and some catching up. She hopes Michael Jordan fans will vote her into Common Pleas Court on Tuesday.

SUNDAY NIGHT, Lower Merion-Narberth Democratic Committee dinner hosted many candidates and officials. Seen here are, from left, Montgomery Co. Coroner Walter I. Hofman, MD; Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, candidate for Governor; and Marjorie Margolies, who may be running for her former congressional seat again.

STACK TO ANNOUNCE FOR GUV JUN. 6

We could guess wrong when we predict State Sen. Mike Stack (D-Northeast) will announce his intention to run for Governor at a fundraiser Jun. 6 at La Veranda, on the Delaware at Penn’s Landing. But for sure he will be running.

Democratic City Committee’s Monday gala at Sheet Metal Hall included a banner which indicated Party Chairman and Congressman Bob Brady (D-Phila.) had endorsed Stack for Governor. Kathy McGinty was in attendance, hoping to pick up support for her run for Governor. She has already hired the Garin Hart Yang Research group, who had worked for Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), as her political strategist and pollster. State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) was there shopping around, as was State Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Northeast), already blessed by Chairman Brady. Both will be seeking the 13th Dist. congressional seat.

LEADER LIVED UP TO HIS NAME

The 36th Governor of Pennsylvania, George Leader, who was only 37 when he took office over a half-century ago, has died at the age of 95. He held office for a term, from 1955 to 1959, limited to a one four-year term limit by the Constitution at that time. While in office, Leader overhauled the state’s mental-health system and increased funding to education. Leader was a fierce civil-rights supporter and became the first Governor to appoint a Black cabinet officer.

SESTAK MAKES IT OFFICIAL

Former three-star Adm. Joe Sestak is an experienced, independent leader who served in the Navy for 31 years and then as the highest-ranking military officer ever elected to Congress when he represented Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional Dist. 2007-2010. Now he has filed “Friends of Joe Sestak”, an exploratory committee for the US Senate.

G.O.P. CHARGES SESTAK WITH CASH VIOLATIONS

Taking aim at potential strong opponents to Gov. Tom Corbett, State Republican Party Chairman Rob Gleason has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission against Joe Sestak and his fundraising committees for violating provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 and regulations administered by the FEC. It charges Joe Sestak has been illegally amassing a war chest without filing a Statement of Candidacy or Personal Financial Disclosure Report.

According to the complaint, “Joe Sestak was obligated under the law to file a Statement of Candidacy on or before Feb. 24, 2013 – fifteen days after triggering candidate status on Feb. 9, 2013.” Furthermore, it states, Joe Sestak was obligated to file a federal Candidate Personal Financial Disclosure Report on or before Mar. 9, 2013 – 30 days after triggering candidate status.

AFTER ALL THAT I.D. FUSS – NOT THIS ELECTION

Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele urged voters to cast ballots in next Tuesday’s primary election and reminded voters they will again be asked, but not required, to show photo ID at the polls.

“This will be the third straight election in which voters will be asked, but not required, to show photo ID at the polls, as part of our continuing education efforts about Pennsylvania’s Voter ID law,” said Aichele, whose department oversees elections. “Poll workers will give voters without acceptable photo ID information on what IDs are acceptable for voting and how to get a free ID for future elections.”

Aichele reminded first-time voters, and those casting ballots for the first time at a new polling place, they must show either a photo ID, such as a Pennsylvania driver’s license, or a non-photo ID with the voter’s name and address, such as a utility bill.

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