POLS ON THE STREET: Fattah Facing Strong Foes

by Joe Shaheeli

ONE OF three Democratic competitors for US Senate, Joe Sestak, took time to greet Sue & Hal Rosenthal and Linda Richardson at N. Phila. Candidates Meet & Greet organized by Malcolm Kenyatta, Grands as Parents and Uptown Development Corp. Photo by Wendell Douglas

To those in the know, politics remains local – maybe not so much to the average voter who gets his political knowledge from television tidbits, but to the rank and file and leadership of both parties in this city and state.

That’s why now elbowing the political machinations of the national presidential candidates in Pennsylvania are local primary races, notably in the 2nd Congressional Dist. and the 5th State Senatorial Dist.

Incumbent Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-Phila.) is facing a minimum of four other challengers and possibly one more in the April primary. These include Ward Leader Dan Muroff and State Reps. Dwight Evans (D-N. Phila.) and Brian Sims (D-S. Phila.), and Lower Merion Township Commissioner Brian Gordon.

Muroff has launched a gun-violence tour in a district where a high rate of gun violence has plagued constituents. His first stop was on the 8300 block of Gilbert Avenue, where Leotis Martin was shot and killed, and two of his friends were wounded, during an Eagles-watching party on Dec. 21, 2015.

“There isn’t a neighborhood in this city that hasn’t been impacted by gun violence. How many more shootings have to take place before our leaders stand up and say, ‘Enough is enough’?” stated Muroff. “It’s well past time that we address gun violence for what it really is – a crippling and devastating public-health crisis.”

“It’s shocking the NRA is willing to fight against sensible legislation that would prevent people on terrorist no-fly lists from purchasing guns, but they stand firmly against federal funding for research on gun violence. In Congress, I won’t be afraid to take on the NRA, and other special interests, that put gun sales ahead of protecting the American people,” Muroff said.

As the most-recent past-president of CeasefirePA, Muroff believes he is uniquely qualified to address the growing problem of gun violence in Pennsylvania’s 2nd Congressional Dist. Additionally, Dan has served as the president of East Mt. Airy Neighbors, president of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania and secretary of Mt. Airy USA.

Fattah’s name recognition is well over 80% in his district. Despite facing legal problems shortly, it is believed any publicity will only serve to bring out voters favorable to the long-time Congressman.

Making a dent and possibly taking away much of the organized Democratic Party support is Evans, whose position as Appropriations Committee Chair in the State House enabled him to do well for voters and the communities in and around his 203rd Legislative Dist. in Olney and Oak Lane, all within the 2nd Congressional Dist.

Sims, whose 182nd Legislative District lies in Center City, at this reading is not expected to gain much traction, since he needs to concentrate on defending his state seat, in which he is also filing, as a hedge. He faces serious challenges.

In the money race from Oct.1 to Dec. 31, Evans led in fundraising. He raised $359,479, spent $56,467. On hand, he has more than $303,000. Congressman Fattah raised $14,270, spent $9,654, and obviously needs more than the $7,673 on hand in this primary to win reelection, though again we believe his name recognition is solid. Muroff has raised $95,249 and has $208,569 left to use in campaign. Sims is doing well with $230,420 raised and with $181,320 on hand. Brian Gordon, a Lower Merion Township Commissioner, raised $26,325, and has more on hand, but not much more.

With these odds facing the beleaguered Congressman, insiders are wondering if he should avoid the primary all together and concentrate on resolving charges against him.

Bloody War Seen For 5th Senatorial

ENJOYING fundraiser for State Sen. John Sabatina, Jr., at Ladder 15 in Center City were Allen Lowenstein, Robert Lipschutz, former mayoral candidate Tom Knox and Sabatina.

There is no denying the intensity flowing from both camps in the 5th State Senatorial Dist. Democratic primary. It’s the Boyles vs. the Sabatinas and it has been brewing on the backburner long before most politicos thought there might be a primary challenge. Now it has reached a bloodletting stage, since control of the Northeast Democratic wards is at stake.

State Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-Northeast), backed by his brother Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-Phila.), whose 13th Dist. encompasses the war zone, hopes to create a Camelot for the Boyles in the Northeast. Father and son John Sabatina are deeply entrenched in Senior’s 56th Ward, one of the stronger in voter turnout in that district. They feel John, Jr.’s incumbency should be respected.

Rep. Boyle this week charged Sen. Sabatina with claiming union endorsements he did not have. The Sabatina campaign said he did not have his facts straight and would confirm the union endorsements it does have in time for next week’s issue.

Boyle’s 172nd Legislative Dist. is in Northeast Philadelphia and Montgomery County. He was elected in 2010 and is currently serving his third term in office.

Supreme Court Backs Kane Into Tough Corner

The State Supreme Court ruled last Friday it will not reinstate Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s law license, clearing a path for a potential Senate vote to remove her from office.

Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) moved to have the full Senate vote on the removal of Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane yesterday. It did not provide the super-majority needed to do so. The outcome was obvious. The State House reportedly will consider legislation initiating an investigation to see if Kane is liable to impeachment for misbehavior in office.

Regardless of what the General Assembly thinks, she will not go done without a fight and will take it to the courts, charging the Capitol crew has no power to unseat her, nor does the Governor – who needs to worry a bit, setting a record of having possibly two budgets not passed come Jul. 1.

Hoping to successfully challenge Kane in the coming primary is Montco CommissionerJosh Shapiro, who announced the support of three prominent officials from Pittsburgh: former Allegheny County Coroner Cyril Wecht, State Rep. Dan Frankel and Pittsburgh City Councilman Dan Gilman.
“Josh Shapiro has a record of reform and a history of standing up for progressive Democratic values,” said Wecht. “He’s taken on Wall Street money managers to protect taxpayers and ran Pennsylvania’s third-largest county, where he’s cleaned up a fiscal mess and worked to expand civil rights. I’m proud to be for him, because he’ll always be for hardworking Pennsylvanians.”

“Josh Shapiro will be an Attorney General who stands up for progressive values to protect the environment, be a watchdog for consumers, and he’ll never be afraid to stand up to big, powerful interests on behalf of working Pennsylvanians,” Frankel added.

“Throughout his life, Josh Shapiro has been a reformer who helped pass the strongest ethics law in generations,” stated Councilman Dan Gilman. “Josh will be an Attorney General who will hold public officials to the highest level of integrity while reforming and modernizing the office so it’s an advocate for people.”

COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE Derek Green, Esq., was interviewed by host Bonnie Squires on “The Marketing of Business” at WWDB-AM (860 AM), sponsored by American Advertising Services.

Gov. Ed Rendell cited Josh’s work as a reformer who will restore integrity to the office of Attorney General and take on the big fights for every Pennsylvanian.

Shapiro’s chief opponent is Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala, so this show of Pittsburgh support is an attempt to dismiss the East vs. West narrative of the contest.

Zappala’s campaign was the first in the race to file nominating petitions, with nearly 2000 signatures for the office of Attorney General.

“This is an exciting moment for me. As the District Attorney of Allegheny County I have stood up to the most powerful people, politicians and corporate special interests who have the money to hire an army of lawyers – so that our working and middle class families, like the 2,000 people who have signed my petitions to date, know the system isn’t rigged against them. I have never cared what your income is, what your zip code is, what you look like or who you love. You get treated fairly by my office, period. That is the kind of leadership I will bring to the Attorney General’s office and to the people of Pennsylvania,” said Zappala.

Zappala, who is in his fifth term as Allegheny County District Attorney, has practiced law for 35 years. He has personally tried both civil and criminal cases and his office, with more than 125 attorneys working in 16 criminal courtrooms and 50 District Magistrate offices, has delivered more than 275,000 convictions during his tenure.

Also eyeing the seat is veteran Northampton County DA John Morganelli.

Despite these pressures, Kane’s office continued to function without a hitch. This week it warned Pennsylvanians of a new “phishing” email scam in which scammers have misrepresented themselves as being affiliated with the Social Security Administration.

The Federal Trade Commission recently reported these emails are allegedly sent with the subject line “Get Protected.” When opened, the emails state the SSA is offering new features to help taxpayers protect their personal identification with a link to an outside website. Recipients who click this link are then vulnerable to viruses and spyware, according to the FTC.

The link may also take consumers to a website designed to look like the one managed by the SSA. Scammers may ask for bank account numbers, Social Security numbers and other personally identifiable information. At this time, the SSA is not offering such a program.

Woodard Forgoes 3rd Sen. Dist. Race

BOOSTING State Rep. Angel Cruz’s reelection bid in Hunting Park were Daisy Pacheco, Kate Clarke, Marnie Aument-Loughrey, Natha Davis, Cruz, George Pérez, Donna Aument, Campaign Mgr. José Giral, David Rodríguez and William Cartagena. Photo by Wendell Davis

Omar T. Woodard, 32, will not pursue the open 3rd Dist. Senate seat, currently held by retiring State Sen. Shirley M. Kitchen (D-N. Phila.). Woodard is one of the winners of the #BlackVotersMatter nomination campaign, and recently recognized by Billy Penn as one of 17 young people shaping politics in Philadelphia.

Woodard said, “As a North Philadelphia native, serving my neighbors and fellow community members would have been among the highest honors of my life. My ambition never was to be a politician. I am committed to improving the lives of families like mine in high-poverty neighborhoods in the 3rd Dist. and across the City of Philadelphia. I will remain focused on ending deep poverty in North Philadelphia, and on increasing voter engagement in our communities.”

Instead, he is joining the GreenLight Fund as its new executive director. The GreenLight Fund is a nonprofit venture-capital firm whose mission is to transform the lives of children and families in high-poverty neighborhoods.

Woodard will remain an adjunct faculty member of the Fox School of Business at Temple University. Prior to joining the GreenLight Fund, he was policy director and campaign surrogate for State Sen. Anthony Williams (D-W. Phila.).

Judges To Pick ZBA Member

The Board of Judges, comprised of members of the Court of Common Pleas, has qualified candidates to choose from when voting to fill the one vacancy in the Board of Revision of Taxes. Topping the list are two ex-board members: Barbara Capozzi, who resigned to run for 2nd Dist. Council seat, and Joe Russo, who charges he was unfairly terminated as a result of unproven allegations from which he is now vindicated.

Dems’ Legislative Seats Unchallenged

SMALL-BUSINESS leader Darryl Thomas did well at his Super Bowl Party at Franchize Sports Bar in W. Phila. He was firing up his team to power his petition drive as he seeks 190th Legislative Dist. seat.

We learned energetic and likeable State Rep. Leslie Acosta (D-N. Phila.) won the unanimous endorsement of the 197th Legislative Dist. ward leaders as their favorite Latino Representative. Looking around, we also learned all other incumbents in both the House and Senate races also won endorsements. This makes it a hard row to hoe for challengers.

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