POLS ON THE STREET: Sen. Williams Raises Big Bux
CITY COUNCIL Members turned out to support State Sen. Anthony Williams in his bid to win Democrat gubernatorial nomination. Williams thanks his backers Council President Anna Verna, Majority Leader Marion Tasco, DA Seth Williams, and Council Members Darrell Clarke, Maria Quiñones Sánchez and Bill Greenlee.
State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams is picking up strength here with voter awareness and by raising dollars to cover television ads.
Democrat ward leaders report there is a growing sense among their voters Philadelphians need to support their favorite son by turning out for the May 18 primary.
In the meantime, Williams’ campaign team reports he raised $2.7 million from Mar. 30 to May 3.
“During this campaign, we have made improving Pennsylvania’s schools one of the key components of our agenda for the state,” Williams said. “I believe that, in order to move our economy forward and create an attractive climate for job growth, we need to support schools that work, and give parents the power to get their children out of schools that don’t. That means supporting public schools while also encouraging magnet schools, charter schools, vocational schools, and every other kind of educational opportunity for students. And it means giving parents the power to choose the school that’s right for their children and letting the money follow the child. Our school choice platform has many passionate supporters and our strong fundraising is a reflection of their support.”
Adding their vote-getting strength to Williams’ goal for a big Philadelphia Primary turnout are Council President Anna Verna, Councilwomen Maria Quiñones Sánchez and Marian Tasco, Councilmen Darrell Clarke and Bill Greenlee, and District Attorney Seth Williams.
With educational disparities remaining as one of the last unresolved civil-rights issues of the nation, Williams traveled the state in one day last week stopping at three cities to lead rallies of students, families and advocates calling for reform efforts. They were Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.
Williams contends that dollars should follow the child, families should control those choices, and improved outcomes should be tied to both, no matter which outlet delivers the educational effort. But no child’s potential should be limited by their zip code or family’s income, he says.
Williams has made a pledge major donors to his campaign will not be eligible for contracts with the State. To date, he is the only candidate to take such a pledge.
By contrast, Allegheny Co. Executive Dan Onorato has taken thousands of dollars from donors who have been rewarded with lucrative contracts. For example, as a member of the Allegheny County Pension Board he has received tens of thousands in contributions from investment fund managers who have received hundreds of thousands in fees from the contracts Onorato and other board members award to them. Media reports indicate investment fund firms that give to board members have a 75% chance of being selected for a contract while firms that do not have a 14% chance of being selected.
COMMITTEEPERSONS PITCH ON INTERNET
Old City Democrats running for Committee posts in the 5th Ward have taken their campaign to the web, hoping they get the message to voters in their respective divisions.
No doubt, it makes some sense since their voters are a sophisticated breed.
But they should also try the age-old technique of knocking on doors and introducing themselves in person.
McCORD FILES SUIT AGAINST GAMING BOARD
Treasurer Rob McCord filed a lawsuit this week to force the Gaming Control Board to allow him to attend all of its meetings, including executive sessions, which he said the oversight committee has largely prevented him from doing since he took office last year.
The board has even tried to intimidate him from becoming involved in its meetings, the treasurer said during a morning press conference, citing a memo he received that he said included a veiled threat against him.
COUNCILMAN GREEN JOINS ONORATO TEAM
Councilman Bill Green endorsed Dan Onorato for Governor, joining Councilman Curtis Jones who had done so earlier.
Onorato has also received endorsements of State Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, Chester City Councilman John Linder, Chester City Councilwoman Portia L. West, and Chester Democratic Chair Olivia Smith. He also was endorsed by State Reps. Steve Santarsiero and John T. Galloway, and Bucks Co. Commissioner Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia in Basin Park. He has the support of Congressman Patrick Murphy, State Reps. Tony Payton Jr. and Brendan Boyle, and former City Councilman Angel Ortiz.
A lifelong Pennsylvanian, Onorato was raised in a working-class neighborhood on Pittsburgh’s North Side. He graduated college from Penn State and received his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Onorato has served as Allegheny Co. Executive since 2004 and was unopposed for reelection in 2007. Prior to being elected County Executive, Onorato served as Allegheny Co. Controller and a Pittsburgh City Councilman. Dan and his wife Shelly reside in the Brighton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh with their three children.
ROONEY WARNS SESTAK COULD HURT DEMS
The chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party issued a severe warning to members of his Party declaring that nominating Congressman Joe Sestak over Sen. Arlen Specter could have “cataclysmic” consequences for the Senate campaign this fall.
As polls show Sestak, a second-term House member, cutting Specter’s advantage to single digits, Chairman T.J. Rooney told Politico in an interview, “if we want to keep this seat in Democratic hands, the only person capable of delivering that victory is Arlen Specter.”
“I can’t say, honest and true, if the shoe’s on the other foot, that we’ll have the same race in November,” Rooney said. “The results could be cataclysmic.”
A Quinnipiac University poll showed Specter’s advantage – once a formidable double-digit lead – narrowing to just eight points. And by mid-week, the tracking poll sponsored by Muhlenberg College and the Allentown Morning Call showed Specter ahead by only five percentage points.
Rooney called Toomey a “formidable opponent,” predicting: “They will paint Joe Sestak as a far-flung lefty and Pat Toomey will gravitate toward the middle and we will lose our hand.”
RENDELL FREEZES JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS
Gov. Ed Rendell has agreed to a request from the State’s Chief Justice, Ron Castille, to freeze close to 30 vacant judgeships across Pennsylvania, because of the court system’s shaky finances. The freeze will have no immediate impact on the Philadelphia courts, because the governor is moving ahead with three recent Common Pleas Court nominations, now awaiting confirmation in the State Senate. But Castille sent a letter to Rendell last week asking him to leave more judicial seats open, to “achieve some short-term savings” and help alleviate the court system’s “precarious financial position.”
TOOMEY KEEPS MUM WHILE BANKING BUCKS
As all eyes are on the bitter Democratic primary race, Republican Pat Toomey is waiting in the wings, quietly raising huge sums of money. If one thing is for sure, Toomey is more than ready to take on either Sen. Arlen Specter or Congressman Joe Sestak.
Toomey announced Friday his campaign raised $1.05 million in April alone. He has $4.6 million cash on hand. Last quarter, Toomey raised $2.3 million, which was more than Specter or Sestak.
“It is because of our enthusiastic supporters that I am confident we will win in November,” Toomey said in a statement.
Toomey has a clear advantage over either Democratic candidate because he didn’t have a serious primary challenge. Specter and Sestak have been forced to spend a significant amount of their money on a television ad war.
