McClinton Brings Passion For Justice

by Tony West

Joanna McClinton … passionate about her community.

A career in the criminal-justice system has whetted Joanna McClinton’s desire to right wrongs.

Her passion for uplifting her West Philadelphia community began early with her church life and education; led her to a career in the Public Defenders Association; then took her away to Harrisburg to craft policy for State Sen. Anthony Williams. Now, if voters approve in the Aug. 11 special election, it may seat her as their representative in the 191^st Legislative Dist., where she has lived her entire life.

“My decision to run is an extension of service, the fighting and hard work I have done in courtroom, church and community,” said McClinton. “My neighbors in West and Southwest Philly, in Yeadon and Darby deserve someone who is very passionate – and also able to build on the relationships I already have to get results for our neighborhood.”

Work as a public defender exposed McClinton to the crises of ordinary families. It also confirmed her commitment to good education.

“During that time I learned and saw the inequalities in justice in our system and the law, and how the school system has failed our children. Childhood is a pipeline to prison when the schools aren’t funded properly,” she asserted.

Expungement of criminal records is a cause McClinton has taken to heart. She has coordinated Williams’ successful expungement fairs, which have drawn 100 people at a time.

If McClinton wins on Aug. 11, she will report for duty on Capitol Hill the next day, where the House of Representatives is at war over the budget. School funding is a large part of this dispute; and no school district has more riding on the outcome than Philadelphia’s.

McClinton worked on school funding for Williams, who has a reputation for wangling education dollars out of the cautious grip of Republicans who now dominate the General Assembly. She has already established a working relationship with members of the House of Representatives on that issue, she said, and expects to further the Philadelphia delegation’s cause in this vital task.

Workforce training is another mission McClinton has adopted. “I want my office to be a hub for everybody to seek training programs,” she said.

She has received a rack of endorsements from organized labor: Laborers Local 332, UFCW Local 1776, Plumbers Local 610, AFSCME District Councils 33 and 47, UniteHere. And the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.

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