POLS ON THE STREET: Labor Was Key To High Philadelphia Turnout For Wolf

BY JOE SHAHEELI/ Glad we were not alone in predicting a low turnout. We predicted 18%, which was half of the 36.43% of registered voters who came out to vote. We were not alone, though that doesn’t offer us any consolation.

PRESIDENT Barack Obama seems to show a glimpse of his shy side as hordes of admirers rush to photograph him with their cellphones, during massive Sunday-night Democratic pep rally atTemple University. Photo by Bill Myers

We believe the efforts put into the Wolf campaign to make it victorious came from the concerted efforts of all the unions in this town to bring out the impressive turnout. The Philadelphia margin made the election an early one to call after the polls closed. Unions not only contributed big bucks, but put out their members on election day as well.

Democratic Party Chair Congressman Bob Brady (D-Phila.) worked successfully to get the massive dollars needed to fully oil up his huge get-out-the-vote apparatus. He modestly credited “help from Gov. Elect Tom Wolf in locating potential donors.”

LT. GOV.-ELECT Mike Stack offers tray of goodies to “soon-to-announce-for-Mayor” City Controller Alan Butkovitz during election-night festivities. They may be working together if Butkovitz wins mayoral primary.

Corbett fared poorly elsewhere in the state, compared to his fellow Republicans who did quite well. East of the Susquehanna River, Wolf dominated. Corbett lost marginal counties in the center and west that Republicans need to take when they win statewide. His vigorous backing of Marcellus Shale development did not help him in the wet-gas patch in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

It’s now “13th Dist. Congressman Brendan Boyle”, making it three Philadelphians in Congress. He’ll join Congressmen Bob Brady and Chaka Fattah, all winning in a runaway. His was a long, hard-fought campaign, making it look easy all the way. Brady and Fattah never noticed their opposition. Fattah’s recent blast of bad press only served to reduce his vote by 10,000 from what he received four years ago, in the last midterm election.

Philadelphia voters also swept in the entire Democratic slate for the General Assembly, giving 2nd Dist. State Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D-Kensington) with an 80% edge over Republican John Jenkins, 4th Dist. suburbanite Art Haywood over Robin Gilchrist and 8th Dist. State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams (D-W. Phila.) rolling along without opposition.

Every incumbent who was on the ballot returned to their legislative seats along with newcomers (173^rd) Mike Driscoll, (179^th) Jason Dawkins, and (197^th) Leslie Acosta. Republicans John Taylor (177^th) and Thomas Murt (152^nd) were unopposed.

The story was different in the suburbs and state, summed up by Republican Party Chair Rob Gleason who commented on the election results, “Republicans in the State Senate have made huge gains with 30 Republican Senators. Throughout the Commonwealth, voters took to the polls to voice their support for their Republican Senate candidates in a convincing fashion.

“I would like to congratulate all of our incumbents who were re-elected as well as Senators-elect Tom McGarrigle, Pat Stefano, Ryan Aument, Mario Scavello and Camera Bartolotta. Congratulations to Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi and every Republican member of the Senate for their work on behalf of our commonwealth, our party, and our candidates.

“I am proud all of our incumbents will return to Harrisburg to continue their good work and I would like to congratulate State Representatives-elect Barry Jozwiak, Parke Wentling, Brett Miller, Jason Ortitay, Ryan Warner, Cris Dush, Harry Lewis, Jr., Richard Irvin, Jeff Wheeland, Russ Diamond, David Parker, Aaron Kaufer, Craig Staats, Tom Quigley, James Santora and Jack Rader, Jr.

STATE REP. Maria Donatucci, Councilman Ed Neilson and Register of Wills Ron Donatucci are all smiles at annual breakfast at Union Pub in S. Phila. as they hear latest on big Democratic turnout for election. Photo by Maria Merlino

“I applaud the efforts of Speaker Sam Smith, Majority Leader Mike Turzai, HRCC Chairman Dave Reed and the entire State House Republican Caucus for their efforts to improve our Commonwealth and recruit great candidates who will make strong public servants.”

FLANKING Terry Gillen at her mayoral-race fundraiser at Racquet Club were Scott Wilds and Sandy Santello.

State Democratic Chairman Jim Burn saw it a bit differently. He said, “For the past four years, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and many across the state worked tirelessly to call attention to the direction Gov. Corbett was taking the Commonwealth. This victory for Tom Wolf is a culmination of those efforts and a testimonial to Mr. Wolf’s message, leadership and ability to move our state in a direction that is beneficial to all Pennsylvanians.”

With the House in Republican control as well, Governor-Elect Wolf will find he can’t blow away their house; it’s made of solid bricks and he will need to come knocking with gifts.

The city’s Republican Party candidates put up a good showing, though swamped by the Wolf tide. From local voter sentiment, unhappy over ever-higher taxes and fees, they need only put up candidates who have some recognition and history to make the citywide elections next year a free-for-all.

JASON DAWKINS IS THE MAN!!

To all intents and purposes, voters in the 179th only found Jason Dawkins on the ballot as the Democratic candidate election day. Court decision had long ago come down, which indicated, what we had printed in an earlier column, State Rep. James Clay (D-Kensington) is out.

RUMORED G.O.P. NODS FOR S.C.

Gov. Tom Corbett can move to make at least one State Supreme Court appointment. Rumor has it either of two Republican public-sector attorneys – David Heckler, Bucks Co.’s District Attorney, and Jim Schultz, the Governor’s top lawyer, are under consideration for the vacancy.

 ROADMAP FOR GROWTH ON A.A.C.C. AGENDA

COUNCILMAN Jim Kenney is warmly welcomed to Democratic 39B Ward, his home base, at its EOM Club pre-election affair.

The African-American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ & DE is a supporter of the Roadmap for Growth campaign, which aims to capture new ideas from public and private sector thought leaders that can inform the candidates in the 2015 elections for Mayor of Philadelphia and City Council.

“Oftentimes, our members feel left out of the process, or are late to the process,” states Shalimar Thomas, executive director at the AACC. “This platform allows them to attend listening sessions with local elected officials, voice matters important to them as business owners, and ensure that it’s part of the agenda in upcoming elections.”

PERZEL, WASHINGTON VICTIMS OF ETHICS CODE

In political life, the first thing a victorious newcomer does after he or she is elected is to begin the process of selecting a staff. For the overwhelming majority, the search begins with those who worked closely with the candidate to achieve victory.

Only when the number of staff slots that go with the office still need filling, then the search goes outside the initial cadre of unpaid campaign supporters.

STATE SEN Shirley Kitchen, left, enjoys moment with Joe McFadden and Irik Robinson of Councilwoman Cindy Bass’ office at annual Fish Fry at Lou & Choo’s hosted by 13th Ward Leader Al Stewart.

So that staff works with its boss, grows into the system along with its boss, and eventually proves to be a competent, effective team, working toward and reflecting the goals of its boss. These employees have well-paying jobs and know what they do reflects on how well their boss is seen by the electorate, for it will soon be election time again. Time flies when you are productive, busy, and having fun.

So, who does the boss expect to help him run the reelection campaign? His key staffers! Who else? But in the cases of former House Speaker John Perzel and Sen. LeAnna Washington, the rules changed after they got into office. That sensible order of how things are supposed to work was altered by the demands of groups who never truly understood what it takes to be a candidate, then an elected official, and then back to being a candidate again.

They were pragmatists. Both were renowned in the contributions they brought to their constituency and to the Commonwealth. Perzel served time, lost his pension. Washington was able to escape both bullets, but can no longer be in politics. They are among the growing number of elected officials who fall into this entrapment set up by the various ethics committees that rule what they can or cannot do.

In the end, no one gains – neither the constituents nor the elected officials. And the cost to run for office continues to escalate as a result.

Don’t believe those “legislative” staffs used up horrendous amounts of electric, telephone and copying costs on “political” tasks. Don’t believe those staffs mailed huge numbers of voter material to constituents, especially when the Senate and House Post Offices routinely send out newsletters, glowing with their bosses’ achievements throughout their term of office and, even up to election time, at no cost to the candidate.

Once rules governing the conduct of elected officials were sensible. Now, these added tripwires are not. Yet they will persist.

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