CITY HALL SAM: Pa. Dems May Get New Chairman

SELF HELP Movement honored Deborah Beck, left, drug and alcohol consultant; and Lt. Gov. Mike Stack, 3rd from left. They are congratulated by Judge Faye Stack; Robert Dellavella, Esq.; Self Help president; and Joe Ruggiero, Self Help founder. Photo by Joe Stivala

The word on the street is that state committee for the Democrats will have a new chairman in the near future. JIM BURN, who withstood GOV. TOM WOLF’S efforts to install KATIE McGINTY, may now step aside.

The name of Montgomery county chair MARCEL GROEN has been floated in the media. The only problem with that choice is that Groen is not even particularly liked in Montgomery County, let alone by statewide Democrats.

The better choice would be the progressive STATE SEN. DAYLIN LEACH. He checks all the boxes for any state Democratic political organization in that he is unquestionably leftwing. In fact, he is so liberal that some liberals find him unsettling and too far to the left. But he has good organizational experience in serving as the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee’s finance chair and he knows and inspires all the progressives who are part of the grassroots organization that make up any formidable Democratic arm.

JOHN SABATINA, JR. was sworn in as Senator for the 5th Dist. The capital was overtaken by a number of well-known people from Northeast Philadelphia, including JOHN SABATINA, SR. and his lovely wife LISA. Also on hand was BLAISE SABATINA, the kid brother of the Senator, and John’s lovely wife EILEEN and daughter CAROLINE.

WARD LEADERS BOB DELLAVELLA, BILL DOLBOW, MIKE McALEER AND MIKE O’NEILL were also on hand to wish the new Senator well.

The Pennsylvania Senate chose not to confirm MARCUS BROWN as the State Police Commissioner this week. Although some Republicans voted with the Democrats for confirmation, the final vote was 26 to 22. Word on the street is the Governor may choose to appoint Brown Acting Commissioner for the entire term. PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE JOE SCARNATI, a conservative Republican from Jefferson County, reportedly has a friendship with LT. GOV. MIKE STACK, a Democrat. Scarnati has hosted 100-mile bike race of the last number years to support the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania. Now Stack has formed a partnership with Scarnati and the two will sponsor the 100-mile bike race. It’s known now as the Scarnati-Stack 100 and it will be for a great cause. In addition to raising money for sick children, it is also a demonstration of bipartisanship so badly needed in Harrisburg

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