POLS ON THE STREET: Are Low Registrations A Sign Of Low Vote?

Working against a major Philadelphia turnout are the polls. All those, from the most-prestigious to the candidate-engineered polls, show the same thing … at least a 15-20 percentage lead for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf over incumbent Republican Gov. Tom Corbett. And the press reports on television and print media paint the same gloomy picture for Corbett. Many Democratic voters might decide voting is not necessary when such a poll spread favors their candidate.

Also, a small ballot with few local contests will work to dim the interest of Democrats in voting. The only statewide race is the Governor’s.

Even-numbered Philadelphia Senate seats are up for grabs, with only the 4th, now held by turfed-out State Sen. LeAnna Washington (D-Northwest), showing a turnout spike that could reflect interest sparked by a three-way race. It’s GOP Robin Gilchrist vs. Democrat Art Haywood and Independent Inez Reyes. Highly favored State Sen. Tina Tartaglione (D-Kensington) has a Republican opponent, John Jenkins. Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams in the 8th is unopposed.

In the General Assembly, almost half of the legislators, about equally divided between both parties, are unopposed. Philadelphia’s State House has 27 legislative districts; 26 are Democrats, almost all are without competition. The only Republican is also Chairman of the City Republican Party, John Taylor.

CHEF and 56th Ward Leader John Sabatina, center, shows art of serving up his annual famous big roast sandwiches at N.E. Democratic Ward Leaders’ picnic in Burholme Park.

STATE SEN. Anthony Williams wrapped up Summer of Peace basketball series with grand tournament at Kingsessing Rec Center on Labor Day weekend. Ready for action were, from left, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, State Rep. Jim Roebuck, Sen. Williams, State Rep. Jordan Harris and District Attorney Seth Williams.

THAT’S Deputy Joe Blake in hat trying to do Mummer’s Strut as Sheriff Jewell Williams leads group to music played by Pennsport String Band.

LINED UP to be introduced at Council President Darrell Clarke’s Community Day celebration in Strawberry Mansion were Clarke and Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and other VIPs.

WITH SMILING Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf early Saturday at Sheraton meeting of Democratic State Committee were former State Sen. Bob Rovner, Allegheny Co.’s Angie Gialloreto and Jim Harrity. Wolf is spending lots of time in Phila. looking for heavy turnout.

THESE FINGERNAILS read VOTE WOLF and belong to lovely Barbara Carroll who was sporting them at Democratic State Committee meeting.

ATTORNEY Ken Trujillo became second to announce for Mayor, following on heels of Terry Gillen. Trujillo will focus on education, jobs, safety and end of SRC. Surprise in his race is return of political consultant Ken Snyder, now based in Chicago, who is handling Trujillo’s campaign.

What is being reported is registrars on duty are being asked more and more to provide information on the coming councilmanic races.

In the 2^nd Congressional Dist., interest has fallen off with the passing of Aug. 11, which would have permitted the Democratic City Committee to name a replacement for Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-Phila.), had he resigned because of adverse publicity.

Already spiking up interest in next year’s mayoral and council races is Terry Gillen, former ward leader and former member of Mayor Michael Nutter’s Administration, one of the few Philadelphians he appointed and trusts. She’s the first to resign to run, coming in as an expected minor competitor when her name is posted beside the other entries expected to announce after the General Election. But she feels this race in her “gut”. She won’t go away and we’ll have more about her in following issues. Could she be the dark horse? For sure she won’t run city government the way Nutter did.

She says she will “spend the next eight months speaking with thousands of Philadelphians about my vision for our city’s future”. She is looking for donors and volunteers.

Another jumping into the Mayor’s race is Ken Trujillo, who announced yesterday morning at School District, 440 N. Broad Street.

Trujillo has served as City Solicitor and Assistant US Attorney, and two-decade Chair of Board of Congreso. He has served on President Obama’s Presidential Transition Team. He also is a Commissioner of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. He is a partner at Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis and an adjunct professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania.

TOMLINSON BELABORS US!

We received the following communication this week:

 “Dear Mr. Tayoune,

 “It is with frustration and dismay that I see that your publication has gone over the line with its bending the truth and actually reporting accurate facts. This comes at a time when I had just recently expressed my perspective on the Public Record’s fair presentation of my campaign and the race in the 173rd Legislative District. This misleading journalistic folly also comes just a week after you and I spoke on the phone and you interviewed me in connection with my door-knocking efforts. Your exact words to me, during that conversation, were ‘Mike, you are either going to win by a lot or lose by a little bit.’

 “The fact is that Mike Driscol, a well respected and honorable man, and myself are State Representative ‘candidates’. This is an open seat race. The person who held this seat, prior to the current incumbent, was a Republican – Rep. Fran Weston. This newly redistricted District makes this much less than what you have termed an ‘uphill race’ for me. This is a close race.

 “It must be the narrowness of the margin (yes we have polls too, Mr. Tayoune), in this race, that induces (or you have been persuaded) you to present the Democrat, Mike Driscol, as State Representative ‘Elect’, Mike Driscol, in your haphazard and one-sided reporting. I am sorry Mr. Tayoune, this is an outrage and a total and complete disgrace. You have and you are intentionally leading and misleading your readership. But, journalistic integrity does not seem to be the tenet of your Publication.

 “It doesn’t take a grizzled veteran of politics, like you, to know the difference between ‘candidate’ and ‘Elect’. You are induced, encouraged and persuaded, by the powers that be, to lead and mislead your constituency [sic]. This is a proud and honorable mission that you and your Publication, the Public Record, are a part of.

“Regardless of your slipshod presentation of the facts, Mr. Tayoune, the race will go on. And, I will campaign with dignity, respect, honesty, integrity and honor as the people want and expect from those who represent them. Yes, regardless of the trash that is reported as fact. This is what we have become. I will fight tirelessly and endlessly. And just for the true record and not your personal “Public Record”, there is and there will be no State Representative Elect until 8:01 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2014.

 “Don’t bother correcting the facts or retracting your inaccurate presentation. I am sure it will only bring more one-sidedness.

 “Sincerely,

Mike Tomlinson

State Representative CANDIDATE

173rd Legislative District”

 (ED. NOTE: Thank you, Mike. Mike Driscoll is spelled with two els, not one. There is no “e” at end of Tayoun. Tom Wolf will win big in Philadelphia and carry with him Mike Driscoll, even if Driscoll stopped campaigning and went down to Florida until election is over! It’s the nature of the beast we call politics, it’s tracks are discernable and one can predict where it’s going. No disrespect is intended to you, for grassroots accounts say you’re running a fine campaign.)

 WOLFE IN GOP RACE FOR CITY COUNCIL

Veteran GOP leader and attorney Matt Wolfe launched a fundraiser in Harrisburg Tuesday at $150 per person with backing of RCC State Chair Rob Gleason and City RCC chair State Rep. John Taylor (R-Northeast). It was well attended! So we see competition looming for Republicans in its two at-Large Council seats. Will Denny’s luck hold out in that primary as we see Councilman David Oh easily leading the PAC?

 PRO-CHOICE PAC ENDORSES MEGAN RATH

Republican Majority for Choice has endorsed Republican candidate Megan Rath in the race for Pennsylvania’s 1^st Congressional Dist.

 “Washington is in dire need of more-independent thinkers like Rath, who believe these basic platform tenets apply to all aspects of policy, from economics to social-policy issues like reproductive choice. She will be a welcome addition to the mainstream Republican caucus that will not be swayed by fringe-party politics,” said RMC co-chair Candy Straight.

 Republican Majority for Choice promotes pro-choice policies and Republican candidates.

 MORE AND MORE ABOUT VINCE FUMO

Daily media reports former State Sen. Vince Fumo is speedily building up a consulting business despite the Feds chewing their cud on how to hamstring him. Penn Warehousing & Distribution, a marine-terminal operator, and the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association are now on his list.

 Fumo knows the Port’s history and its machinations well. Expect more Port-related businesses to sign on to his lobbying business. One guess is the Wholesale Produce Center, suffering through period of slow business, will soon be a customer as well.

 PA. NURSES IGNORE OUR ’BURG CAUCUS

Registered nurses from the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association – Political Action Committee, representing more than 215,000 nurses in the Commonwealth, have ignored much of our General Assembly caucuses with their endorsements. “These candidates have proven their commitment to the inclusion of nurses at leadership and decision making tables,” stated PSNA CEO Betsy M. Snook, MEd, BSN, RN.

 House endorsements in the House went to State Reps. Steve McCarter – D-154; Brendan Boyle – D-170; Kevin Boyle – D-172; W. Curtis Thomas – D-181; Brian Sims – D-182; and Pamela DeLissio – D-194^th.

 In the Senate, the nurses picked Robin Gilchrist (RN) who is a Republican nurse, for the 4^th Dist. seat.

 G.O.P. HOPES WOLF’S TAXES WILL SWAY VOTERS

Pennsylvania Republican Committee Chairman Rob Gleason, State Sen. Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) and State Rep. John Maher (R-Allegheny) are calling on Pennsylvania Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf to release 10 years of personal and corporate tax returns. Their request comes amidst an ongoing refusal by Wolf to do so after initially promising to do so. The Corbett-Cawley campaign has been critical of Wolf’s calling for higher taxes on middle-class families and businesses despite his and his business’s paying less in taxes.

 In past races where efforts were to sidetrack a frontrunner on failure to report tax records, more often than not, the catch-up candidate won, especially if the voter knew the recalcitrant candidate was a rich person.