POLS ON THE STREET: Fera Backs Onorato, House Races Start Popping
Mike Fera, president/business manager of Cement Masons Local 592, has announced his endorsement for Dan Onorato, Allegheny Co. Commissioner, for Governor in the Democratic primary scheduled for May 18.
Named this month, as the Philadelphia Public Record’s “Public Servant for 2010”, Mike Fera is a major player in the effort to insure pro-union candidates get elected.
His announcement is considered a signal the other unions making up the Building Trades Council in Philadelphia are likely to join him.
“I met with Onorato. He is strong in western Pennsylvania, has the funds to wage a great campaign, and it is my belief he is the only who can beat Tom Corbett.”
Fera believes this is the time for labor to make known its intentions, “whether they join behind one candidate or several, does not matter,” said Fera. “What counts is letting the candidates know early where they stand.”
Fera’s announcement may presage how the other Locals affiliated with the Philadelphia Building Trades Council will be going. These member unions are bearing the brunt of the economic recession. Many are reportedly leaning toward Allegheny Co. Executive Commissioner Dan Onorato, but only if State Sen. Anthony Williams, of Philadelphia, steps out of the race for Governor.
That is getting to be less likely as time goes on. Williams’ campaign team reports, though he was late announcing, the Senator has pledges of over $2 million, with more expected.
KEVIN BOYLE ENTERS RACE FOR 172ND
Kevin J. Boyle has announced his candidacy for the 172nd State House Dist. in Northeast Philadelphia. Boyle is the only candidate in the race with the educational, community and professional experience to effectively represent the District, he asserts.
Boyle holds a Master’s degree in education from Harvard University. During his studies, Kevin researched urban education policy, school funding issues and strategies to expand access to college. Much of Boyle’s research into greater accessibility to higher education was incorporated into the “Reach Scholarship” legislation, which State Reps. Brendan Boyle and Tony Payton introduced in the State House last year.
For the past three years, he served as Councilman Bill Greenlee’s legislative director, where he was directly involved in the drafting of some of the City’s most impactful new laws.
He joins teacher Dan Collins and Tim Kearney in the Democrat primary. Energy consultant John McDermott, a Republican, plans to challenge Perzel in the primary election.
POLITICS PA.: SPECTER HITS SESTAK ON STAFF’S PAY
Citing FEC financial-disclosure forms, Arlen Specter’s campaign on Thursday accused Joe Sestak of paying nearly half of his campaign staffers below minimum wage, a fact it says shows the Congressman is hypocritical about his professed belief that average families and workers make a living wage.
It also highlighted the fact Sestak paid three of his relatives, his brother and two sisters, more than the rest of the staffers on the campaign.
The Specter campaign calculated minimum wage to come it at $1,256 a month. It said it paid its staffers $3,800 a month on average in the fourth fiscal quarter last year.
“This is yet another example of Congressman Sestak’s thinking there’s one set of rules for him, and another for everyone else,” said Christopher Nicholas, Specter’s campaign manager, in a statement. “Sestak needs to explain why he thinks this is acceptable behavior, paying his staff so little that many of them qualify for food stamps.”
The Senator’s campaign recently has tried to highlight alleged problems with Sestak’s operation, including recent staff turnover.
Sestak has roughly $5 million on hand, money that is essential for the campaign to be aggressive with TV advertisements in the race’s final stretch.
In a statement, a spokesman sought to portray the people working for the campaign as hard-workers committed to electing a principled Congressman to the US Senate.
“We are thankful for those staff who have been with the campaign for the last four years, and for the sacrifices they have made,” said spokesman Jonathan Dworkin. “We have a great team and are thankful for everyone who has joined our effort this past year to ensure we have a Senator who will not run from a fight, hide from the public, make decisions based on pure political calculation to save his job and refuse to discuss the policies needed for Pennsylvania’s working families.
“Everyone on this campaign could be making a lot more somewhere else,” he said, “but they choose to work hard and make some sacrifices because they know how important it is to elect someone to the United States Senate who shares their principles.”
WARREN CO. TILTS TO WAGNER
The Warren Co. Democratic Committee has announced its endorsement of Auditor General Jack Wagner for Governor.
“We recognize Jack’s contributions as Auditor General and previously as a State Senator to the citizens of Pennsylvania and all political parties,” said Bernard Hessley, Chair of the Warren Co. Democratic Committee. “We are confident he will continue to put the Commonwealth’s priorities ahead of partisan political expediency. Jack Wagner represents what is honorable conduct by a public servant.”
Wagner said he was honored by the endorsement and excited by the momentum his campaign continues to build. “I look forward to working with Bernard and other local leaders on the important issues,” he concludes.
INGARGIOLA TO ENTER 195TH DIST. RACE
Make it four for sure now in contention for 195th Legislative Dist. seat long held by the dean of the Philadelphia House delegation, State Rep. Frank Oliver.
Entering the race as a latecomer, but complete with campaign and money-raising campaign teams in place, is Anthony Ingargiola. It’s a new move from being a consultant to civic and political groups and individuals, to becoming one himself.
He’s got a lot of competition. They include Oliver’s long-time aide and protégé Michelle Brownlee, Warren “Fuzz” Bloom, Chris Rooney and, until yesterday, Ken Greenberg.
Greenberg announced yesterday he had to reconsider, saying, “I’ve too much on the plate now to do any justice to a campaign.”
Ingargiola, who is 42, said, “I would not have entered if Rep. Oliver wanted to run again. I was surprised to learn he wasn’t, and that alerted me to the fact I know this District well.” He also says he has the support of District Attorney Seth Williams.
