POLS ON THE STREET: 197th Why State Rep. Leslie Acosta Need Not Resign

by Joe Shaheeli

STATE REP. Leslie Acosta

Despite the fact Democratic Party Chairman and Congressman Bob Brady asked State Rep. Leslie Acosta (D-N. Phila.) to resign her 197th Legislative Dist. seat, and the headlines have indicated she pled guilty to federal felony charges this year, the besieged legislator need not resign. Her term ends this December; that’s when she gets her last paycheck for that position. Other good reasons for her to hang on is those checks due her in October and November as well.

Though running unopposed for a second term this Nov. 8, voters may find they cannot vote for the popular Acosta. But that is an unlikely scenario at this read, since it is unlikely her name will be blocked out by any lawsuit demanding a court to so rule. The news of her guilty plea came out well after the deadline to replace her on the ballot. Running unopposed, she will win re-election, but will not be sworn in with House members in January.

Then again, she could be seated! That could happen only if it she had made a deal with the Feds to be a very cooperative witness and they agreed, in turn, to find her guilty of a misdemeanor and not a felony, allowing her to remain in office. That will be known officially when she is sentenced in January.

However, leaked charges now indicate a more serious verdict. So the move is on in Democratic ranks to find her successor should a special election be called to fill the vacancy.

The 197th Dist. includes all or portions of seven wards and these leaders: 11th Ward-Dwaine Lilly, 9 divisions voting; 16th Ward-Sheriff Jewell Williams, 5 divisions; 19th Ward-Carlos Matos, entire ward; 37th Ward-El Amor Brawne Ali, 5 divisions; 42nd Ward-Elaine Tomlin, 11 divisions; 43rd Ward-Emilio Vázquez, entire ward; 49th Ward-Shirley Gregory, 1 division voting.

Since this district has a heavy Latino population, coupled with the fact Vázquez and Matos are friendly and have shared the same side in turf wars, odds favor Vázquez to become the Democratic nominee in the special election. The Republicans will save their resources by not fielding any one in competition, since the registrations are overwhelmingly in favor of the Democrats.

To Debate or Not to Debate!

Fifth Senatorial GOP candidate Ross Feinberg has tried for some time now to engage Democratic incumbent John Sabatina, Jr. (D-Northeast) in a debate.

FLANKING Sheriff Jewell Williams for this birthday-photo memento are famed restaurateur Sid Booker and 56th Ward Leader John Sabatina, Sr.

Wisely, following the road incumbents take when so challenged by a challenger, Sabatina has ignored the challenge. Why give a relative unknown free press and possible momentum?

But Feinberg has gone and set up a debate date, picked Curran’s as the site, and gotten the Northeast Times political reporter to act as moderator – all without getting a commitment from Sabatina.

Feinberg’s press release indicates it is a done deal. But a look between the lines says it isn’t so.

To date, the campaign staff of Sabatina has not communicated with Feinberg about scheduling a debate, and has not indicated to Feinberg whether or not Sabatina will appear at the debate.
Steinberg may hope to get a picture of an empty chair on a stage into the Northeast Times for his efforts. But odds are still against Sabatina taking his bait.

Another Northeast Times debate seems likelier actually to take place. Democratic challenger Matt Darragh reports he has a date with State Rep. Martina White in the race for the 170th Dist. It will be held Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at Somerton Youth Organization.

Former GOP Ward Leader Wrestling Hall Of Famer?

Former 59th GOP Ward Leader Peter J. Wirs has been nominated to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame by his teammates. At the Veterans World Championships in Walbrzych, Poland, Oct. 7, Wirs will become the first American, the first male and the first wrestler to compete in a non-Paralympic sporting event suffering from the progressive and fatal mitochondrial disease.

Wirs is being nominated specifically for the Hall of Fame’s Medal of Courage, presented annually to a present or former wrestler who has overcome what appear to be insurmountable challenges, which may be physical, mental or other disabilities that make their achievements all the more uplifting.

Because of mitochondrial disease, Wirs, in medical terminology, is medically fragile and is clinically dying, according to his physicians. With his previously unknown variant of the disease, Wirs’ DNA chromosome is depleting his mitochondria, with the result that one day his muscles will become so weak that breathing will cease.

Fans including former Senator and PLCB CEO Joe Conti, Center City developer Ori Feibush and leading attorney Sharon Humble of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, are supporting to Wirs’ training expenses. Fundraising efforts to cover the airfare for Wirs and his coaches remain ongoing.

According to the latest information from the Polish Wrestling Federation, Wirs will be facing, in order of their world rankings and 2015 won-lost record, the current world champion, Bernd Radestock of Germany (4-0), Number 2 Mikel Grigorev of Russia (2-2), Number 3 Greg Archer of Indianapolis, IN (2-2), and Number 4 Zurab Japardize of Georgia (0-4).

Wirs’ new sparring partner is Michael Sussman, principal of Strategic Rail Finance, a Center City firm that provides executive and financial advisory consulting to rail-related businesses and the public sector.

Could Emails Be Factor in Pa. Senate Race?

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has released only 71 out of about 15,000 pages of emails from Katie McGinty during her tenure as his chief of staff. None of that has been considered campaign fodder to date by incumbent US Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) whom she is challenging.

Yet a poll taken by WMPT indicates 87% of those polled said the guv should release those emails.

They may not care enough to vote for Toomey, though. The latest statewide poll, by Muhlenberg College/ Morning Call, released Sept. 17, shows McGinty with a 5-point edge over Toomey. It is a well-done poll, with a good proportion of cellular respondents. A rolling average of several recent polls, however, shows the race to be essentially tied. Perhaps this means McGinty has seized that elusive “momentum” all candidates boast of, when victory is unsure.

On Nov. 8, of course, momentum won’t buy anyone a cup of coffee.

AFL-CIO Begins Aggressive, Weekly Direct Mail in Pa.

MILTON Street and his daughter Renee Street Topins flank GOP 2nd Congressional Dist. candidate James Jones at a rally at Berean Church in W. Phila., where Jones presented his “414” policy program. Photo by Wendell Douglas

Following AFL-CIO National President Richard Trumka’s visit to labor leaders in Philadelphia, the AFL-CIO dropped the first round of regular, direct-mail pieces that will reach voters across the commonwealth.

The program begins by calling out Donald Trump’s hypocrisy to tens of thousands of union members and their families in Pennsylvania. The AFL-CIO will send mail to union members in seven additional states including Ohio, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire and North Carolina every week until election day.

“Working people trust their union to educate them on how candidates would affect their livelihoods. With Donald Trump it’s clear that his me-first economy would be a disaster for working people across the Commonwealth,” said Rick Bloomingdale, president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.

“We are working every day to ensure that Hillary Clinton makes history and that Donald Trump never gets anywhere near the White House. Working people are leading that fight in Pennsylvania,” said Frank Snyder, secretary treasurer of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.

The first set of direct-mail pieces target Donald Trump’s “shady” business practices of failing to pay workers and outsourcing jobs to other countries. The persuasion mailers will also focus on down-ballot candidates who are on the wrong side of the issues affecting working families.

Local FOP Joins Trump Campaign

FOP Lodge 5 President John McNesby reports the Philly lodge, largest in Pennsylvania, would follow the lead of the national police union, which announced its endorsement of Trump. McNesby said the Philly FOP is bound by the national chapter’s decision. The local FOP’s support for Trump comes after endorsements of Democrats in local races, including Josh Shapiro for Pennsylvania Attorney General. So it’s a split-ticket series of endorsements on the police ballot.

For the past 20 years, the national FOP has tended to support Republicans. The last Democrat it endorsed was Bill Clinton in 1996. After supporting Republicans in 2000, 2004 and 2008, the national FOP didn’t endorse either candidate in 2012.

The Philly FOP excoriated Hillary Clinton ahead of the Democratic National Convention this summer for not featuring any speakers related to officers who died on duty.

GRANDS as Parents, a pioneer self-help group, hailed its 20th anniversary at the View this weekend with a strong turnout of well-wishers. Standing behind founder Jean Hackney, left, and State Attorney General candidate Josh Shapiro are State Reps. Vanessa Lowery Brown and Donna Bullock. Photo by Wendell Douglas

Teamsters Local 830 Pleased at Soda Suit

Teamsters Local 830 Secretary-Treasurer Daniel Grace said his “hard-working members are delighted the American Beverage Association filed suit against the City of Philadelphia to stop the discriminatory and unconstitutional Beverage Tax from going into effect Jan. 1, 2017. We firmly believe the ABA and the other plaintiffs in the case will prevail and this outrageous tax will be defeated.”

But Grace vowed vengeance against the soda tax’s author Mayor Jim Kenney. “Nothing, however, even the defeat of the tax in the courts, can curtail my members’ anger towards Jim Kenney for his blatant disregard for their livelihoods,” he stated. “We told the mayor repeatedly that the Teamsters would suffer significant job loss if the tax was enacted. And he simply didn’t care. Our membership supported Kenney for mayor – in contributions, votes and feet on the street. We will have to give serious consideration whether or not to offer our support for his re-election.”

We see this as another reason why many of the members of Grace’s local will be voting for GOP candidates this November.

Pa. GOP State Dinner to Feature Tom Cotton

Arkansas US Sen. Tom Cotton will be the featured speaker at the State GOP Fall Dinner at the Sheraton in Harrisburg tomorrow night.

Prior to his election to the US Senate, Cotton completed two tours of duty in the Iraq and Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division. During his military service, he earned a Bronze Star, and completed US Army Ranger School training.

   Send article as PDF