CITY HALL SAM: Piecing Together The Dream Pennsylvania Supreme Court Ticket

The great thing about politics is there’s usually another big race coming up.

This next election cycle features the availability of three state Supreme Court seats. There was already going to be two vacancies due to the mandatory retirement JUSTICE RON CASTILLE and resignation of JANE ORIE MELVIN, but the unforeseen retirement of JUSTICE SEAMUS McCAFFERY has created three openings.

The court could swing to majority Democrat. And with this balance of power there is a sweepstakes mania. There are all kinds of proposed deals. Consultants and supporters are trying to come up with the perfect East-West combination.

ART HAYWOOD

Several Senators will be sworn in at Harrisburg on Jan. 6. Among the new senators is ART HAYWOOD, who is succeeding LeANNA WASHINGTON. Among those being discussed are FAMILY COURT PRESIDENT JUDGE KEVIN DOUGHERTY, SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE DAVID WECHT and JUDGE CHRISTINE DONAHUE combination. Donahue is an attractive Pittsburgh attorney and Dougherty is the brother of the well-known Local 98 leader JOHN DOUGHERTY. But there are plenty of others in the wings including Philadelphia Common Pleas JUDGE ALICE BECK DUBOW. And once again ambitious Common Pleas JUDGE ANNE LAZARUS, also from Philadelphia, will assemble a campaign that will be formidable.

The state’s highest court is very important in determining many issues. Among the most significant is redistricting and reapportionment. The court can literally lay the foundation for how all power is established in Pennsylvania. Look for plenty of wheeling and dealing and potential compromises being made – and for the landscape of the political judicial

JOHN McNESBY

system to change more dramatically over the next couple of years than it has in the last decade.

Hayward has already stepped in and taken positions one might perceive as anti-police. So he will have to be very careful not to stumble and make an enemy of a very-important constituency.

FOP head JOHN McNESBY continues to be active in vocal on many pro-police issues. He continues to have political ambitions and reportedly wants to be a State Senator as either Republican or Democrat from Northeast Philadelphia. But shrewd insiders continue to advise him to become even more powerful as a labor leader and kingmaker.

A recent favorable decision by the courts that allows the FOP to create a political action committee and raise money gives McNesby the financial base to challenge ED CORYELL of the Carpenters and John Dougherty of the Electricians for labor preeminence. What makes McNesby’s political base so unique and important is the high regard that the police generally are held in among Philadelphians. The police offer a base of support unique among labor unions.

In addition to State Sen. Art Haywood, STATE SEN. ANTHONY WILLIAMS will also be sworn in, for another term. But the real oath of office he is interested in taking is for Mayor of Philadelphia. The question still remains: Will COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL CLARKE run? If he does not, Williams will certainly continue to hold the frontrunner status.

The key to Williams’ success is to be the only African American candidate in the race. STATE REP. DWIGHT EVANS is a-flirting with another mayoral run. In Philadelphia mayoral primaries, a crowded field often favors the frontrunner.

(This article was revised Jan. 5, 2015.)

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