POLS ON THE STREET: Clinton Strategy Worked in Philly, But Not Pa.

by Joe Shaheeli

REPUBLICAN City Committee HQ staff were elated at the local wins of State Reps. John Taylor and Martina White, while Donald Trump went over top in the Penna. vote. Photo by Bill Myers

It’s more obvious than ever, Philadelphia and its neighboring counties do not relate to Pennsylvania, other than finding some kin in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Scranton and Allentown, where there are strong Democratic political operations with hefty registration numbers.

Wisely, Hillary Clinton doubled down on Philadelphia with rally after rally, ending election eve with a gigantic all-day-and-night series of rallies attended by thousands anxious to see President and Mrs. Obama, Bill Clinton, and be entertained by Bruce Springsteen and Elton John.

It worked in Philly! Thanks to her several thousand “volunteers” from around the country who pestered local voters, but more likely to the efforts of the city’s Democratic Party Chairman Congressman Bob Brady’s field forces, she rolled up what seemed to be an insurmountable 82.18% of the 680, 227 Philadelphia votes, according to an unofficial tally with 98.75% of the vote reported. That figure came to 560,542 for Hillary Clinton and only 105,418 for Donald Trump.

But when the results were finally tabulated, and Pennsylvanians everywhere else voted to overcome that lead in almost every other county with hefty Republican majorities, we figured even the Commonwealth’s deer population had come out to vote for Donald Trump.

Though the Trump magnet did pull along US Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who squeaked by Kathy McGinty on roughly the same margin that Trump had, it failed to wrest the State’s row offices for the Republican Party. Philadelphia’s Democratic majorities did save the day for Attorney General-Elect Joshua Shapiro, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale and Treasurer-Elect Joe Torsella.

Shapiro, in fact, ran an impressive race against the Trump tide. He led the Democratic statewide ticket with 2,957,096 votes. It is clear that many independent-minded voters picked through the deluge of campaign ads for a myriad offices, noticed Shapiro’s message – and bought it.

ENJOYING the pre-election turnout were host State Sen. Vincent Hughes, Gov. Tom Wolf and Congressman-Elect Dwight Evans at Park Avenue. Photo by Wendell Douglas

Throughout his career, Shapiro has been cited as having aspirations for higher office than whichever seat he holds at the time. These suspicions will doubtless follow him into the AG’s office, which has often proved a stepping-stone to more-powerful statewide positions. At 43, he is young and can hope for a long career in elective office.

DePasquale, in contrast, suffered an odd but not fatal slump in Philadelphia support, falling 25,000 votes behind the other Democratic row-office candidates.

Trump had coattails in other races and they gave the state’s Republican congressional delegation a welcome mat back to “the DC swamp.” His majorities in many legislative districts led to an increase in the Republican House majority to 122 members, according to initial results, with the addition of three seats. Expected back as leaders in the House in the new session will be Speaker Mike Turzai of Allegheny County and Majority Leader Dave Reed of Indiana County.

House Republican Campaign Committee Chairman State Rep. Mark Musto (R-Allegheny) noted the 122-81 advantage over Democrats will give his party control of the House for a fourth consecutive session.

LIKE FATHER, like son! The Street name continues on in Philly politics as Mayor John Street accepts congratulations from a voter on the news his son Sharif Street easily was elected to retiring State Sen. Shirley Kitchen’s senate seat. Photo by Robert Mendelsohn

Kudos must go to State Rep. John Taylor (R-Northeast), for years Philadelphia’s lone voice in Harrisburg, who bucked the citywide tide for Hillary. Taylor beat Joe Hohenstein, 13,824 to 11,239, with 55% of the vote. All the wards in his 177th Dist. went for Hillary Clinton, and yet he won all the wards handily.

State Rep. Martina White (R-Northeast) won re-election in her 170th Dist. over stiff opposition from Matt Darragh, 13,891 to Darragh’s 11,705, for 54% of the vote. It was a battle that pitted unions against each other. Taylor and White will continue to be the Philadelphia voice in the State House of Representatives.

Let’s not forget being a Republican ward leader in this city is like being left in the middle of the Sahara without food or water. Despite this, three of them did win for Trump in their respective wards.

Leading the trio is Terry Dintino’s 26th Ward, who for years has kept the Republican political image alive in South Philadelphia, despite the fact her Democratic opposition is Register of Wills Ron Donatucci. She credited her committee people with giving Trump 51-49% majority. John Taylor’s Chief of Staff Mark Collazzo brought in the 58th for Trump, as did Eddie Stine in the 66th.

There were no other surprises in Philadelphia races. State Rep. Dwight Evans (D-N. Phila.) will move now to Washington, D.C. as the 2nd Dist. Congressman. 1st Dist. Congressmen Bob Brady and 13th Dist. Brendan Boyle (both D-Phila.) romped home after facing token opposition and no opposition respectively.

A distinguished political career in the State Senate is wrapped up for Shirley Kitchen (D-N. Phila.), who is retiring. She will be replaced by Sharif Street, who ran unopposed.

L-R, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, Laborers’ political maven Kevin Washington and N. Phila Realtor Julie Welker were there for Derek Green AT HIS FUNDRAISER AT Tiki in Center City. Photo by Wendell Douglas

Organized labor played a major role in the Philadelphia turnout. More than 100 local unions participated in the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO’s Labor 2016 program by knocking on doors, making phone calls, talking to union members at worksites and sending mail to their members.

“Working people have been leading the fight in Philadelphia to elect Hillary Clinton and Katie McGinty because we knew they would champion pro-worker policies in Washington. The dedication of our labor volunteers in Philadelphia brought out the big numbers,” said Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO President Pat Eiding.

Since the program began, he reported, volunteers and staff in the city logged over 12,000 hours on phones and at doors, talking to voters. Over 227,000 doors were knocked city-wide, with over 80,000 knocked in the last four days. Over 126,000 phone calls were made, with over 14,000 in the last four days.

Government-union leaders poured nearly $8 million into Pennsylvania races, according to the latest campaign finance reports. U.S Senate candidate McGinty, Gov. Tom Wolf’s former chief of staff, was the biggest beneficiary — totaling $4.4 million. State attorney general candidate Shapiro was the second-largest recipient at $216,523.

“The American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees leads all government unions in PAC spending at just under $3 million, followed by the Service Employees International Union at $1.6 million and the Pennsylvania State Education Association at $1.3 million.

In total, government unions have spent nearly $8 million on Pennsylvania 2016 elections so far.

Brian Fitzpatrick’s victory in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional Dist. meant the Fitzpatrick name continues to be a force there

New Pittsburgh Ethics Board

Another Ethics Board has arisen, this one in Pittsburgh. So we caution Allegheny County politicians to make sure their financial closets are clean. Otherwise, like their Philadelphia counterparts, they could wake up finding they must face fines. The appointment of the nine-member Ethics Hearing Board is a result of legislation that was passed by City Council last year to reconstitute Pittsburgh’s long-dormant ethics board.

Previous to the legislation sponsored by Councilman Dan Gilman (Dist. 8), the members were appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the members of City Council, and had only met a few times between 2010 and 2014.

Bucks County NAACP Honors Johnny Doc

Bucks County NAACP honored International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98 leader John Dougherty, Jr. for improving race relations and increasing job opportunities for minorities. He received the award at their meeting at Parx Casino in Bensalem.

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