POLS ON THE STREET: Special Election Expected For 192nd, 200th Dists.

by Joe Shaheeli

HOST of W. Phila. leaders gathered at The Enterprise Center for huge holiday get-together. From left are Tony Folk, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, Ward Leader Pete Wilson, State Rep. Jim Roebuck, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, Congressman Chaka Fattah, State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown, legislative candidate Morgan Cephas, State Sen. Anthony Williams and Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. Photo by Wendell Douglas

Mar. 15 is remembered by most of us who attended high school as the “Ides of March”, when Julius Caesar was warned to beware of events on that day. Sure enough, Brutus and fellow senators did him in.

So those aspiring to what could be a special election called for the 192nd Legislative Dist. seat scheduled for Mar. 15 need remember what happened to Caesar. The City’s Board of Elections has received a writ to go ahead with that election.

On hold, but expected to run concurrently with the 192nd, is the 200th presently held by State Rep. Cherelle Parker, now Councilwoman-Elect of the 9th Dist. She expects to resign by her swearing in on the 4th.

We suggest potential challengers heed this analysis of the 192nd.

At least three names have surfaced to replace State Rep. Louise Williams Bishop (D-W. Phila.), following her recent resignation from a seat she had long held. They include the 34th Ward’s 30-year committeeman Lynwood Savage, the 52nd Ward’s chair Steve Jones, and Councilman Curtis Jones’ high-ranked staffer Morgan Cephas.

Three wards make up the district, the 4th, 34th and 52nd. Of these, only the 34th is fully in the district.

Also, potential candidates need to know Congressman and Democratic Party Chairman Bob Brady (D-Phila.) is leader of the 34th Ward. This is Brady’s back yard, his home turf. Savage has put in years of loyal service, and good ward leaders always support the aspirations of their loyal committee people. And ward leaders in the District can understand why Congressman Brady should get his way.

Need we say more?

Look for primary fights in at least 10 legislative districts this Apr. 26 primary. We have been posting them here as we are alerted by challengers. The latest is the 195th, acquired by State Rep. Donna Bullock (D-N. Phila.) in a special election. She now will be facing challenger Judge Jimmy Moore, who has strong roots and support in the 32nd Ward and has the support of retired State Rep. Frank Oliver, now Democratic City Treasurer and leader of the 29th Ward, which in effect controls the majority of Democratic votes expected to turn out in that district.

Here Are Those On Stage For City’s 193rd Inaugural

James F. Kenney, 99th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia;

FANS of Roxborough attorney Sean Stevens gathered at Black Sheep in Rittenhouse Square to fuel his campaign for 194th State House Dist. From left are Fred Druding, Jr., Sean McGovern, Stevens, dad Jim Stevens, wife Janice Taylor and Paul McKenna; in front are Stevens’ children Will and Clementine.

City Council of Philadelphia: Council President Darrell L. Clarke (5th Dist.), Councilman Mark Squilla (1st Dist.), Councilman Kenyatta Johnson (2nd Dist.), Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell (3rd Dist.), Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. (4th Dist.), Councilman Bobby Henon (6th Dist.), Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez (7thDist.), Councilwoman Cindy Bass (8th Dist.), Cherelle L. Parker (9th Dist.), Councilman Brian J. O’Neill (10th Dist.), Allan Domb, Derek S. Green, Councilman William K. Greenlee, Helen Gym, Councilman David Oh, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown and Al Taubenberger;

City Commissioners: Commissioner Anthony Clark, Lisa M. Deeley, and Commissioner Al Schmidt;

Sheriff Jewell Williams; Register of Wills Ronald R. Donatucci;

In The Courts: Alice Dubow, Superior Court of Pennsylvania; Court of Common Pleas; Retention Judges: Tracy Brandeis-Roman, Glenn B. Bronson, Ann Butchart, Matthew D. Carrafiello, Amanda Cooperman, Charles J. Cunningham, III, Idee Fox, F. Lachman, Patricia A. McInerney, Walter J. Olszewski, Frank Palumbo, Lillian H. Ransom, Susan I. Schulman, Lisette Shirdan-Harris, Leon W. Tucker, and John M. Younge; Court of Common Pleas New Judges: Gwendolyn N. Bright, Scott DiClaudio, Michael Fanning, Abbe F. Fletman, Daine Grey, Jr., Christopher Mallios, Ourania Papademetriou, Mia R. Perez, Kenneth J. Powell, Jr., the Honorable Stephanie M. Sawyer, Kai Scott, and Lyris Younge;

Municipal Court, Newly Elected Judges: Christine M. Hope, Sharon Williams Losier and Joffie C. Pittman III;

Municipal Court, Retention Judges: Frank T. Brady, Patrick F. Dugan, Barbara S. Gilbert, Gerard A. Kosinski, H. Neifield, Dawn A. Segal, Craig M. Washington;

Scheduled participants: Mayor Michael A. Nutter; former Mayors John F. Street, Edward G. Rendell, Wilson Goode, and Bill Green; Hon. Kevin Dougherty, Hon. Susan Gantman, Hon. Marsha H. Neifeld, Hon. Rosalyn K. Robinson, and Hon. Sheila Woods-Skipper; His Excellency Charles J. Chaput, Rev. Terrence Griffith, Rabbi Jill L. Maderer, Reverend John H. Roberts, Sr., and Reverend John W. Swope; Nick Taliaferro, WURD (emcee).

The event will be held at the Academy of Music Jan. 4, 10 a.m.

Kenney Conducts National Searches

WORSHIPFUL Junior Grand Warden Donald C. Jones stands next to Sheriff Jewell Williams as he and members of Sheriff’s Bike Unit prepare to distribute toys to children in need at 1st Dist. Prince Hall Masons Christmas Party held at Prince Hall Grand Lodge at Broad Street & Hunting Park Avenue.

Mayor-elect Jim Kenney has been conducting a national search for the past several weeks for Prisons, Fire and Human Services Commissioners.

He said, “Our transition team has identified incredible, topnotch talent from right here in Philadelphia to fill many of the administration’s top posts. And, we also think it’s extremely important to look outside this city and consider what that external perspective could bring. The search process is going well, and we look forward to welcoming these new Commissioners to the City in the early months of my administration.”

He should be able to make those individuals known shortly after inauguration.

Congrats To Lauren Hitt Who Knows Press Needs
Mayor Jim Kenney’s announcement he has appointed Lauren Hitt as the City’s Communications Director is most welcome to us in the press. To us, we found her ability to generate news copy from the Kenney campaign for Mayor amazing … something like 15 news releases in a single day. We know we will get the same output in her new responsibility.

GOP Leadership Failed To Call Budget Vote

The Republican leadership of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives abruptly ended hopes for a budget by Christmas without calling a vote on the bipartisan budget agreement that would have ended the nearly six-month impasse.

The bipartisan resolution was led by Philadelphia Republican House member John Taylor. However, Republican Speaker of the House Mike Turzai and Republican Majority Leader Dave Reed stymied the compromise that had been reached by Gov. Tom Wolf, Senate Republicans and Democrats, and House Democrats by adjourning the House and leaving Harrisburg.

This has brought condemnation by members of the Philadelphia Democratic caucus.

In the latest Rasmussen Reports poll, taken right after the third and most-recent Democratic debate shows Hillary has lost crucial ground in the Democratic nomination battle.

Before the debate, Rasmussen had her defeating Bernie Sanders by 50-29 (a margin of 21). Now her lead is down to 16 points – 46 to 30. Her four-point drop in vote share is huge because it means a majority of the Democratic primary voters do not want to vote for her.

Sanders won 30 points in the poll, O’Malley got 7 points, 9% favored some other candidate, and 8% were undecided.

So 46% vote for Hillary and 54% don’t. Hillary has lost her majority.

In the previous Rasmussen poll, Hillary still had a majority of 50% while Bernie was back at 29%.

Once you lose your majority in politics, you are in trouble. Hillary is now in trouble.

Ominously for Hillary in the general election, Sanders soundly defeated Hillary by 53 to 33 among independents who said they would vote in the Democratic Primary — a prime target for the Republican candidate in November.

Hillary’s candidacy is also about gender. Men broke even between Sanders and Clinton while 55% of women supported Hillary.

The Rasmussen poll tends to favor Republicans.

Special Election Set For Pileggi’s Seat

W. PHILLY GOP made merry as usual at Ward Leader Matt Wolfe’s parkside home. From left are Ward Leaders Denise Furey, Wolfe, Annie Havey, Adam Lang and Walt Vogler; and State Rep candidate Ross Feinberg.

The Republican Party of Pennsylvania will help nominate the Republican candidate on the ballot for the upcoming Special Election in the 9th Senatorial Dist. It will do so at a meeting being called in anticipation of State Sen. Dominic Pileggi’s (R-Delaware) resignation as he assumes office as a Delaware County Judge on Jan. 4.

Due to the fact this State Senate District is made up of more than one county, the Rules & Bylaws of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania dictate that PAGOP preside over a conferee meeting to select a Republican nominee. The conferee meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan. 7, at 7:00 p.m. at the Concordville Inn, 780 Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills, Pa.

Each of the counties that comprise the 9th Dist. will be represented by their respective number of allotted conferees based on the votes received by the Republican nominee for President in the 2012 election. Conferees must be registered Republican electors that reside in the district.

There will be a total of 61 conferees: 35 from Delaware County, and 26 from Chester County. These conferees are selected in accordance with each county party’s bylaws.

During the meeting, each candidate will have the opportunity to make a presentation to the conferees. After each candidate has an opportunity to be heard, the conferees will vote to nominate candidates to fill the party’s position on the ballot. A nominated candidate must secure a majority of the votes cast to earn the nomination.

Any registered Republican who meets the constitutional requirements for this position may seek the party’s nomination.

Candidates interested in seeking the party’s nomination must contact Republican Party Political Dir. Cody Harbaugh by calling (717) 234-4901, ext. 142 or by emailing charbaugh@pagop.org by Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.

Philly Now Scores Diversity Twofer

The Philadelphia Chapter of the National Organization for Women has notched an unusual twofold advance in diversity with the election of new officers for 2016-2018.

Incoming President Natalie Catin-St. Louis will be the chapter’s first African American President. She succeeds Dr. Nina Ahmad, who is becoming the Deputy Mayor for Public Engagement.

Catin-St. Louis has appointed Malcolm Kenyatta as President of the Philadelphia NOW Education Fund. Kenyatta, a political consultant, is a member of Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club. He will be the second male officer in the chapter’s history.

Shirley Will Be Missed In Senate

State Sen. Shirley Kitchen (D-N. Phila.), known for her commonsense approach to tackling legislative and local constituent problems, will remain a force in City and State politics after she retires after completing over 20 years as an elected official, first as a State Representative and then as Senator.

She will be handing off her 3d Senatorial seat to attorney Sharif Street, whose face is familiar to voters and readers of this paper since he regularly appears in photos we publish.

He has the support of Laborers District Council, and no doubt will enjoy the support of other unions as a result. Ken Washington, recording secretary of Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, will be his campaign manager. Ken had been an early challenger for the seat, but respected the wishes of the leadership of his union, the LDC, which he has served in several capacities.

Sharif also has the support of Sheriff Jewell Williams, who is the leader of the powerful 16th Ward in the district, and with whose office the candidate has worked closely.

He’s well known throughout the city and in Harrisburg. Suggestion here to potential candidates is stay out of this Senate Democratic primary, which will carry this race. Street, the son of former Mayor John Street, will have the Force with him.

GOP House Members Just Don’t Understand!

Gov. Tom Wolf announced he will finally release emergency funds to school districts and social-service providers, saying, “We’re now at a point where I don’t want to hold the children of Pennsylvania hostage.” This decision comes six months after Wolf chose to withhold funds from students and the poor by vetoing a similar budget in its entirety on Jun. 30.
Wolf also has line vetoed significant portions of the General Assembly’s budget — which he termed “garbage” legislation.

Education spending is already at record levels and exceeds the national average by $3,000 per student at over $15,000. The General Assembly has compromised on Wolf’s goal to boost education funding above and beyond this record high, despite the lack of real reforms or accountability measures.

There is simply no appetite among the general public or in the Pennsylvania General Assembly — from either Democrats or Republicans — for the dramatic tax hikes required to fuel Wolf’s full spending agenda.

Senate Democrats provided the following reaction to Gov. Tom Wolf’s line-item veto of a Republican budget plan. The Governor released six months of emergency funding for schools and human-service programs, or $23.39 billion of the House Republican’s original $30.3 billion proposal.

Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said, “The Governor’s action will hopefully force House Republican lawmakers back to Harrisburg to finish work on a responsible spending plan. Legislators need to return to business and work toward the passage of the $30.8 billion budget framework agreement.

“The House Republican budget was $500 million out of balance. It does not address the $1.3 billion structural deficit that has hobbled State government and simply continued Corbett-type budgeting for another year. After the House Republicans walked away from a responsible budget plan last week, the governor had few options.”

Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-W. Phila.) noted, “The purposeful decision of House Republicans to repeatedly stonewall the agreed-to framework budget has left Pennsylvania’s school system on the brink of collapse, so I applaud the Governor’s decision to approve emergency funding for school districts throughout the Commonwealth.

“Our schools have gone above the call of duty to keep their doors open. They cannot continue to do that, nor should we allow that to happen.

“Pennsylvania’s financial situation remains an urgent one despite the Governor’s action today. Members of the House GOP need to get back to Harrisburg as quickly as they left and approve the agreed-to framework 2015-2016 budget because this is short-term help. Schools will close if the leadership in this lone caucus continues its bad behavior.”

Senate Democratic Whip Sen. Anthony Williams (D-W. Phila.) commented, “The organizations that operate in the shadows of Pennsylvania life are closing their doors because of House Republicans are willfully and callously ignoring their plight.

“Our human-service agencies needed a relief valve from the unfair financial burden being placed on them by one of the four legislative caucuses, and Gov. Wolf rightly gave it to them.”

State Sen. Shirley M. Kitchen (D-N. Phila.) remarked, “The Governor did what he had to do with the House Republicans’ sham budget by accepting those financial pieces that will help our schools and social services now.”

Kitchen realistically added, “Pennsylvania lawmakers must still approve a 2015-2016 budget even though the process for the 2016-2017 spending plan begins in less than five weeks.”

State Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D-Kensington) noted, “Lawmakers must take the next step and finish the job. Taxpayers, our children and Pennsylvania’s future are dependent on good work in the coming days, not more political parlor games.”

State Rep. John Taylor (R-Northeast), who along with Republican House leadership had helped craft a budget Gov. Wolf indicated he would sign (reluctantly), said, “While releasing emergency funds for schools is a positive and necessary step in this chaotic budget process, the Governor’s line-item veto leaves plenty of work to do and many decisions remain unresolved. We still face a massive structural deficit. We still need to provide the necessary funds for schools. We still need to fund nonprofit social services for a full year. We need to fund our four state-related universities.

“Finally, we have to decide how to pay for it. We need the original $30.8 budget that was agreed to by the Senate and the Governor – and for a shorter period, the House. We must make hard decisions on revenue.

“We must also study what exactly has been vetoed and what spending has been approved by the Governor.”

The Republican members of the House who said “no” to every budget proposal crafted by their leadership now see their walking-around money projects on the cutting floor. They haven’t learned to give now, then get later – something they will not be able to do when the full budget is passed.

State Rep. Steve McCarter (D-Montgomery) has echoed Wolf’s call for the General Assembly to return to session.

“The Republicans passed a fiscally irresponsible budget that increases the deficit and cuts education funding by $95 million,” McCarter said. “Gov. Wolf’s line-item veto rejects the Republican’s education cuts and out-of-balance budget, while still directing emergency funding for key services.”

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