POLS ON THE STREET: Will Stack Do What Rendell Did?

BY JOE SHAHEELI/ Under the name of every candidate seeking a statewide elected post is the name of the county from which he or she comes.

Almost from the beginning of political time in Pennsylvania, “Philadelphia County” has been a jinx label. Some of our Supreme and Superior Court candidates beat the jinx, but these winners are few and far between. Philadelphians striving to become the state’s Governor, Treasurer, Auditor General, or Attorney General typically fall victims to that jinx.

Breaking it, we trust for good, was Gov. Ed Rendell and he did it for the full two terms in which he served.

Now the question being asked around town these days is, “Will State Sen. Mike Stack (D-Northeast) win the Governor’s race?” The inference is he will easily take the primary for Governor if he enters that race. The reason is he would have the backing of the powerful chair of the Democratic City Committee, Congressman Bob Brady, who made known, as the only Philadelphian in the race, Stack would have the support of the city’s ward leaders, committee people, and hopefully its voters.

What preoccupies Stack right now is a search for the answers he needs to these questions:

1) He knows the other declared candidates will do well in their back yards. Can the Democratic City Committee reassure him it can turn out the amount of votes needed to par him with the others, so his totals in other counties can help put him over the top?

2) Can he raise enough money to get a stronger profile on television with state voters, knowing millionaire Tom Wolf has pledged $10 million of his own money for the campaign and Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, is bringing over $3 million in her campaign chest?

3) Will Katy McGinty, who has the Eleanor Dezzi team handling her campaign here, and State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery), the darling of this city’s liberal voters, be able to take away a sizeable number of Philly voters?

If he announces, be sure he’s gotten the right answers.

As of now, the latest Quinnipiac shows a trio of Democrats leading the Governor, whose job-approval rating and other numbers are upside down. Corbett’s bad numbers are driven by strong disapproval from women. State Treasurer Rob McCord is ahead 44% to 35%, Congresswoman Schwartz leads 47% to 34%, and former Congressman Joe Sestak has the widest margin, winning 48% to 34%.

RENDELL PRAISES BUTKOVITZ AS HIS PRIMARY CHOICE
The one Pennsylvania Governor who can still get voters to wave happily to him is this state’s version of President Clinton: Ed Rendell. His endorsement goes well with many Philadelphia voters. So carrying Rendell’s nod into the primary Democrat campaign for City Controller is incumbent Alan Butkovitz. Add to that the endorsement by Democratic City Committee and a host of labor unions. Butkovitz’s followers believe what’s left of this campaign is to guess what will be his margin of victory.

STRUGGLING TO EDUCATE VOTERS TO VOTE
City Commissioner Stephanie Singer continues her trek through the city, mainly visiting supermarkets and senior groups to educate citizens why voting is so essential. Just this Tuesday, she took her “Be The Boss – Vote May 21” show to Parkside ShopRite in West Philadelphia.

She says, “Typically, Philadelphia has our highest turnout in the Presidential election: on average over 50%. The other three years, the percentage of eligible voters casting their vote dips down to a whopping 10% to 25%. In a city that has over 1 million eligible voters, we can no longer afford to have so many of our fellow Philadelphians not participate.”

It’s been estimated here and elsewhere turnout May 21 will edge toward 18%. So she is right. She also offers businesses or organizations can get involved in spreading the word, by contacting her office at (215) 686-3460.

BOYLE WINS TEAMSTERS’ NOD
The Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters, which represents every Teamsters local union in the state and over 95,000 members, has officially endorsed Brendan Boyle for Congress in the 13th Congressional Dist.

Boyle addressed the conference this week about economic opportunity for all Pennsylvanians. Immediately after, President Bill Hamilton made a motion the Teamsters officially endorse Boyle for Congress. It carried unanimously by all members.

Teamsters President Bill Hamilton said, “Brendan is a fighter for working families. We are proud to endorse him and will work hard to see him elected.”

Boyle stated, “I am excited to have earned the Pennsylvania Teamsters endorsement. This is a campaign for working men and women who deserve the opportunity to live out the American Dream. That starts with supporting good jobs and ensuring access to a great education. The excitement we have gotten at the grassroots level for our campaign is truly overwhelming and this endorsement continues that momentum.”

Boyle, who currently represents Northeast Philadelphia and Montgomery County in the state legislature, recently announced his candidacy for Congress and has already received a flood of key endorsements. They include Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, IBEW Local 98, Sprinklerfitters Local 692, Plumbers Local 690, Steamfitters Local 520, Iron Workers Local 401, Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1, Operating Engineers Local 542, Communication Workers of America Local 13000, the Transport Workers Union, and Congressman Bob Brady.

PA. BAR RATES STATE JUDICIAL CANDIDATES
Judges Joe Waters, Jack McVay and Vic Stabile have one thing in common. Though elected by voters, they still merit the Pennsylvanian Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Commission’s rating as “recommended”.
Stabile is the Republican without a primary fight. Waters and McVay will vie in the primary for Democratic votes.

According to the Bar’s Judicial Evaluation Commission, a rating of recommended means: “Based on legal ability, experience, integrity and temperament, the candidate would be able to perform satisfactorily as a judge or justice of the court for which he/she is a candidate.”
The best rating possible is “highly recommended”, the lowest is “not recommended”.

STARTING YESTERDAY, ’70’ UP AND RUNNING
The Committee of Seventy urges voters to direct questions about the upcoming May 21 Primary Election to a national, nonpartisan hotline: 1 (866) OUR-VOTE. Volunteers trained by Seventy will field calls from all across Pennsylvania.

The 1 (866) OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) Election Protection Hotline is sponsored nationally by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and staffed in Pennsylvania by the Committee of Seventy for each year’s primary and general elections. “It’s a great resource for voters with any questions about elections,” said Molly Morrill, who is overseeing Seventy’s 2013 Primary Election Day program.

Morrill encouraged callers not to wait until the May 21 primary to get information about voting, including polling place locations, deadlines for absentee ballots and Election Day rules. “The earlier you get prepared to vote, the better,” she added.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the May 21 primary is Tuesday, May 14 by 5:00 p.m. Completed absentee ballots must be received by County Boards of Election by Friday, May 17 by 5:00 p.m. For absentee ballot application forms and contact information for County Boards of Elections, go to www.votespa.com or call 1 (877) VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772).

CITY COMMISSIONERS UPDATE WEBSITE
The City Commissioners’ website, www.phillyelection.com, which already has much more information, now lists who is currently elected or appointed Judge and Inspector of Election in your division.

G.O.OP. SEEKS WHISTLEBLOWERS
The Right To Know Committee of the Philadelphia Republican Leadership Council says it is seeking out “stupidity in government at the city and state level. We want to know what you know. We want your input.”
Its online director is David Lynn, who asks he be called at (215) 821-1156.