POLS ON THE STREET: 13th Congressional Dist. Puts On A Good Show

BY JOE SHAHEELI/ None of the candidates in the 13th Congressional Dist. believes they have a lock on the Democratic nomination. So each is scrambling to find an edge in the eyes of Democratic leaders in Montco and the Philadelphia wards involved.

One of the ways is to pick operatives with great credentials as campaigners.

Former Congresswoman Marjorie Margolies did just that when she announced she has named the Saidel Team to head her campaign. That would create the impression well-thought-of former City Controller Jonathan Saidel was on board. But that’s not the case, as of yet.

It seems his name is the umbrella for a group of experienced campaign consultants. Don Jones is now her senior advisor. His 20 years include work on campaigns run by Congressman Bob Brady, Jonathan Saidel and US Sen. Arlen Specter; Pennsylvania Outreach consultant for Clinton-Gore; and Philadelphia Coordinator for Barack Obama, among others. He’s nicknamed “D.A.”, possibly because he makes a good case with the voters.

Jones said, “As I have crisscrossed the congressional district with Marjorie, I have seen how her call for a different set of voices to bring a new kind of leadership to Washington has connected with voters in Philadelphia. For many, her deciding vote for the Clinton budget has not been forgotten and remains a symbol of the political courage we need. I believe her message of hope and courage will translate into victory in 2014.”

Margolies also announced that joining Don Jones is Dylan McGarry, to help put together a district-wide field operation and manage day-to-day operations of the campaign.
In 2011 Dylan served as Finance Director for Kathy Boockvar’s campaign for Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court and Political Director for Maria McLaughlin’s successful run for Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia. In 2009 and 2010 he served as Chief of Staff on Jonathan Saidel’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor in Pennsylvania.

Marjorie Margolies is the President of Women’s Campaign International, a group that provides advocacy training for women throughout the world. WCI was the first international organization to bring Bosnian and Serbian women together. Its trainings in Africa led to the doubling of women in several parliaments on the continent. Marjorie’s career has been a career of firsts: one of the first women television journalists on the ground in Vietnam; the first unmarried US citizen to adopt a foreign child; the first woman ever elected to Congress from Pennsylvania in her own right; the first Democrat since 1916 elected from Pennsylvania’s 13th Dist.

In 1995, Marjorie served as the Director of the United States delegation to the United Nations 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing, China that created a global commitment to achieving equality, development and peace for women worldwide.

Marjorie is currently teaching at the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, Marjorie lectures at universities throughout the country.

In another Margolies campaign development, State Sen. Shirley Kitchen (D-N. Phila.), whose district includes the Olney section of the 13th Congressional Dist., has endorsed Margolies’ bid for Congress. Kitchen said, “Marjorie’s fight for women’s health clinics and to lower infant-mortality rates mirror my own efforts in the State Senate.”

UNION SUPPORT GROWS FOR BOYLE IN 13TH

State Rep. Brendan F. Boyle (D-Northeast) now has 18 union endorsements. The newest was provided by the American Postal Workers Union Local 7048.

“I am pleased to have the support of the American Postal Workers Union Local 7048. This marks the 18th union endorsement of this campaign. Postal workers across the nation provide a vital service, a service that more and more Americans are realizing as the postal service faces cutbacks, closures and reduced services,” Boyle said.

Local 7048 President Vince Tarducci added, “Brendan Boyle has a record of standing up for workers’ rights and the interest of working and middle class families. We are proud to support a true economic progressive voice for working people. It’s with great pleasure we stand with him and look forward to working hard to send him to Washington DC.”

Boyle is also being supported by: IBEW Local 98, Sprinklerfitters Local 692, Plumbers Local 690, Steamfitters Local 420, Operating Engineers 542, Iron Workers 401, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Teamsters, Communications Workers Local 13000, Insulators Local 14, Bricklayers Local 1, Transport Workers Union 234, Boilermakers Local 1, Sheet Metal Workers 19, Unite Here, APWU Local 7098, PGW Local 686. In addition to those endorsements, FOP Lodge 5 and Congressman Bob Brady have also endorsed Boyle.

TRACY INITIATES TOWN-HALL MEETINGS

GOP candidate for City Controller Terry Tracy held his first Town Hall meeting in Northeast Philadelphia this week at the Holmesburg Recreation Center.

Addressing a crowd of anxious local residents, many of whom had first-hand accounts on how the deteriorating economic condition in the City had negatively impacted their lives. The event primarily became focused on the lack of employment opportunities for many of the local residents, the continued decline of education and how could the City Controller’s Office could help.

Tracy responded, “This campaign has to be about a commitment to developing a new path forward and we must begin with a commitment to getting our fiscal house in order. By electing a Controller who will focus on proven economic development policies and ensure education dollars are efficiently spent, we will be able to start to rebuild opportunities for our residents.”

Tracy will hold town-hall meetings throughout the City over the course of the campaign and is expected to hold another in the coming weeks.

CONGRESSMAN BRADY RATED 100% BY N.A.A.C.P.

He’s been there before, and continues to be at the top of the rating sheet compiled by the NAACP among Congress Members who support NAACP positions in legislation. Joining him with a similar 100% rating was Congressman Chaka Fattah. Surprisingly, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz received a “B” rating at 87%.

THE ONLY QUESTION? AN OPPONENT FOR HILLARY

Who will dare to run for the Democratic nomination for President against Hillary Clinton, who has enough baggage to make her an easy target – if someone will step forward?
If former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were to announce a candidacy for the presidency, she would be the clear frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. Clinton outdistances her closest potential opponent, Vice President Joe Biden, by almost five to one. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley are barely on the page.

According to The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, “The big question is whether she runs.”

Do Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents want a nominee who will continue President Barack Obama’s policies, or would they rather a nominee who will move in another direction? They divide. 46% believe it is more important to have a nominee who will move President Obama’s policies forward while 44% want someone with a new vision. 10% are unsure.