Dem Candidate Swings. GOP Pitch-Hitters Strike Out

In today's Delco Times, Council candidates come out swinging, we find quotes from a Dem Candidate, but ALL the GOP Candidates let others speak for them.

Democratic Candidate, David Landau, went after yet another ALL Republican department at the courthouse. This time it was the county controller’s office, run by County Controller Cynthia Leitzell. ALL 19 employees of this office are (drumroll please....) REPUBLICAN! Landau also noted that 45 percent of those employees — four of them Republican committee members — also donated to Republican campaigns and committees for a total $55,000 over the last five years.

In the most amazingly blatant and bull***t defense of patronage we've seen this campaign season Leitzell

supposed people working at the courthouse would be registered Republican because they agree with the philosophy of the party in power, but said she has never asked her employees their political bent or where they contribute money. [Um, you don't have to ask, the records are public, and some of them give to your own committee.]
"It may just be … that there are people who are interested in government that work for government," said Leitzell. She added denying anyone the ability to donate as they choose would disenfranchise a segment of the population from participating in democracy. [Apparently, choosing to donate to Republicans is how they get enfranchised.]

As to her also being the treasurer of the Upper Darby Republican Committee, where Landau said some of the contributions from her office went, Leitzell said she saw no conflict of interest. [We've gone from the Three Stooges, to the Three Monkeys: See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil.] The rules for financial disclosure have become so complicated, she said, it’s common to see a Certified Public Accountant such as herself at the financial helm. Leitzell was running finances for that committee before coming to the courthouse. [Gee, I wonder if that committee work got her there?]

Here's a shocker, CURRENT GOP CANDIDATE, District Attorney G. Michael Green also threw his support behind the GOP team. I bet no one everyone saw that coming! And here's another shocker, prosecutor Green was opposed to Landau's work on Civil Liberties 20 years ago.

Civil Liberties laws are meant to prevent over-zealous prosecutions or violations of due process. Landau did co-author a review of a proposed 1981 law during his tenure with the ACLU that "a government right to appeal sentences would conflict with the purpose of the double-jeopardy clause, which is to prevent the government from overreaching by limiting the prosecutor to one opportunity for conviction and sentencing."

Otherwise, prosecutors like Green could go on appealing and "fishing" for a judge/jury that would convict someone that had already been acquitted. This is the same mentality that prosecutors have against re-opening cases when DNA shows they convicted the wrong person. It's apparently more about having a high conviction rate than getting the right person or what a jury of one's peers think.

Even though we talk about the County Council race a lot, there are also TWO seats on the Court of Common Pleas on the ballot and two great Democratic Candidates: Frank Daly and Mike Farrell. I think Delaware County residents deserve some judges that can protect their Constitutional rights.

Saturday Feasts

This Saturday, the Delco Dems have three events to fill your appetites (for food, politics and meeting the candidates).

The day starts off with the 2007 Pechin Award Breakfast, where the Delco Dems will honor one of their own for his/her lifetime commitment. This year's winner is being kept a secret and even I don't know who it is (and I know everything). The breakfast is at 9:00 AM Saturday morning at the Towne House Restaurant in Media. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Information is in the link above.

In the afternoon, the Mid-County Democratic Committee is having it's Annual Garden Party:

Mid-County Democratic Committee includes Chester Heights, Edgemont, Middletown, and Upper Providence)

When: Saturday, Sept 29, between 2 and 6 pm
Where: at the home of Ann Guinan at 1487 North Middletown Road in Edgmont

Please RSVP to wthomas3@comcast.net or phone 610-565-4530.

To cap it all off, in the evening, there is a Beef and Beer Fundraiser for Mayoral Candidate Janice Oakey (Upper Darby).

When: September 29, 7 pm

Where: Knights of Columbus, 18 West Baltimore Pike, Springfield

Tickets $30 in advance, $35 at the door; discounts for 4 or more - click here for ticket ordering info.

Delco GOP Ventriloquists Speak without their Dummy Candidates

Aspiring GOP Ventriloquists, Michael Puppio and Pete Peterson were busy working overtime trying to defend Delco GOP hiring practices. They didn't even get a chance to do their routine where they drink a glass of water while their Candidates say: "The GOP Council is doing a great job. So will we. Yea us!". I hear they are planning to install a pull string on the back of each candidate to make them say something different each time.

In today's Delco Times, David Landau vows that a Democratic majority would institute performance audits to eliminate GOP patronage and no-show jobs, and return money saved to taxpayers. Landau also questioned if the revenue from the Harrah's casino was making its way back to the taxpayers.

Responding to Landau's previous attacks on the suspicious GOP hiring practices at the courthouse:
County Councilman Michael Puppio said "The management of county employees is the responsibility of supervisors and department heads. Performance is continually monitored to provide our residents with the most efficient service possible."

I suspect that "performance" may refer to "performance helping the GOP win elections or raising/contributing money" and making sure that when GOP party bosses call, they get quick service. Of course, I have little reason to suspect anything else considering the non-random distribution of GOP jobs.

The Delco Times asked Puppio directly, if there were any no-show jobs at the county courthouse. Puppio smugly responded: "Do you see any no-show employees walking around these empty desks? ... I didn't think so!"
[disclaimer: Puppio's actual quote was "Absolutely not.", but that isn't as funny as my pretend quote. I wonder if Puppio considers coming in to collect a paycheck as a yes-show job.]

Puppio also likes to repeat the mantra that the GOP hasn't raised taxes in three years (which was right after three of current Council got elected 4 years ago). Puppio conveniently ignores that we are already overpaying taxes, so holding the line on tax increases is not that hard.

Landau, O'Keefe and Innelli plan to reduce taxes by eliminating the waste that Puppio is unable to see (or admit).

Pete Peterson, campaign manager for The Three Stooges, was quick to confuse the issue on hiring practices by misstating Landau's history in Nether Providence. The GOP like to misrepresent a BID contract process that the 3D-3R used to select a Democrat for a job in the late nineties. Though Landau was NOT on the Nether Providence board at the time, the Delco GOP tells the story like Landau controlled the board and the GOP had no say. I think Peterson has confused himself with how GOP municipal boards are controlled by non-elected party bosses. An easy mistake to make, if you've never seen it done fairly.

Readers are asked to look at the statements made by the two GOP P's in a pod, and see if they can find ONE new proposal or plan for GOP candidates or a single explanation how departments are "randomly" filled with all Republicans. What readers will find is an attitude of "All is well.. Stay the course... And keeping the same high taxes."

Voters looking for change, now have a choice.

Who Shot Shilled the Sheriff? Did They Also Shill His Deputies?

In this weekend's Delco Times, David Landau put more pressure on his "Case Against the Courthouse", this time going after the Sheriff's Department, headed by Sheriff Joseph McGinn.

Landau "cited employment statistics showing 68 of 70 employees in the Sheriff’s Department are registered Republican, and 41 percent of those have contributed financially to the GOP.".

The Delco Times reported that (county rolls put total employees at 65), but did not dispute the extremely high percentage of Republican employees or of financial contribution to the GOP.

Delco Times: Landau has so far gone after the county Solicitor’s Office, the Election Bureau, Voting Machines and Voter Registration offices, as well as the county Executive Director and Chief Clerk offices for having high levels of employees registered to vote Republican or donating to Republican campaigns and committees.

While the GOP holds a slipping registration advantage, they certainly do NOT represent over 90% of the electorate (actually only 55%). So, why do Republicans hold more than 90% of the jobs in key County Departments (particularly in those that are supposed to be non-partisan)?

County Executive Director Marianne Grace defended the partisan GOP hiring practices by pretending that Landau was making personal attacks on law enforcement personnel. Is she claiming that the Sheriff's department is over 95% Republican by sheer chance? How stupid does she think the voters of Delco are?

In honor of our new local casino, I'll put this in gambling terms: If you had a pile of playing cards that were labeled 55% GOP and 45% non-GOP, what would you think if 68 out of 70 cards came up GOP? How about if next 31 cards for the "Election Bureau, Voting Machines and Voter Registration offices" ALL came up 31 GOP cards in a row?

At this point, any reasonable player would be calling for the Gaming Commission to examine the deck and arrest the dealers and casino owners.

The only way to stop the GOP machine from "stacking the deck" and "dealing from the bottom" is to elect David Landau, Ann O'Keefe and John Innelli to "inspect the cards" and deal with the voters fairly. It's long past time the voters stopped the GOP machine from gambling away our future.

Not So Sage Advice

In today's Delco Times, Gina "not so" Sage's Letter to the Editor repeats various Delco GOP talking points, many of which have been debunked here and elsewhere.

However, a little deconstruction should show how desperate they are becoming and how little they have to offer.

• Gina Sage's letter lacked the disclaimer than she is a Republican on the ALL REPUBLICAN Springfield Planning Commission. Springfield is the home base of Charlie Sexton and GOP Council Candidate Stooge Tom McGarrigle. Gee, no bias there folks!
  
• Gina falsely tries to imply that Ann O'Keefe doesn't either live here or pay her taxes by claiming there is no record.... This is a classic political deception. First of all, any of the thousands of Delco residents living in an apartment or renting a house would not have a record of paying property taxes (even though it is part of their rent). Ann O'Keefe lives in a house and shares in the taxes/bills/etc., however the deed to the house is not in her name. So, of course Ann would not be listed in the County records that Gina Sage is misusing to mislead the voters. (Can anyone explain how/why a Springfield Planning Commission can supposedly "search" every property tax record looking for a name, particularly for a Haverford resident? Is this information freely available to the public?)
  
• The attacks on David Landau are trite. Landau did some work for the ACLU when he was just out of school. Gina says that Landau opposed mandatory sentencing guidelines. Considering that GOP shills like Gina want to impose a life-sentence on people that support civil rights, Delco voters should be wary of GOP candidates opposed to civil rights, due process and Judges actually using their judgment. The point of a guideline is that is it not mandatory (otherwise it would be called a rule, not a guideline).
  
• Landau must really have the GOP worried, because Gina repeats the already debunked claim that: Landau has also received no bid legal work from Nether Providence, where he is a Democrat leader, and the Democrats control the government. The fact of the matter is that Landau won the legal work from a 3-Dem + 3-GOP board, did the work at half his standard rate at the time, the work was paid for by Insurance (not the township) and it was a case on behalf of the township against a GOP developer. Gina deceptively tries to confuse Landau's and the Democrats' current leadership in Nether Providence, with their role in the 1990's.
  
• Gina (through the Republican dis-information machine) keeps referring to John Innelli as solicitor in Darby Township. John is NOT the solicitor but rather the "assistant" solicitor (a position specifically recognized and permitted in the Borough Code).
  Gina disengenuously claims that John Innelli has received extensive legal work as a result of a no bid contract. Well, not only did John work at only 1/5 his normal rate, but his bills to Darby Borough averaged $3,000/year, which is less than the minimum dollar amount for any contract bid process in the county. Seems like the only extensive thing here is Gina's exaggerated claims.
  
• Finally, Gina claims that The candidates being put forth by the Democratic Party simply do not match the ideals and priorities of Delaware County voters.
  This is simply absurd, because 3 of 5 Delco voters picked Clinton, Gore, Kerry, Rendell, Casey and Sestak. Voters can rest assured that Ann O'Keefe, David Landau and John Innelli support those same candidates and beliefs. Those 3 out of 5 voters deserve 3 out of 5 Council members that will look out for the voters' values and priorities, for a change.
  

Nowhere is Gina's letter does she actually list a single specific Democratic proposal, but rather makes false/misleading attacks on the Dem Candidates' background or character. As far as the GOP, the attitude seems to be "stay the course", "all is well" and "nothing to see here folks".
Gina did make one statement with which I do agree: an examination of the facts will not allow voters to be misled [misled by the GOP that is]

BTW, a note to my GOP mortal enemies adversaries friends: This is some pretty weak tea you are brewing. You guys are putting me to sleep with these lame/same attacks. I guess if you have no record to run on, it must be hard to come up with topics.

Case Against the Courthouse: Why is Only One Party Allowed to Count Your Votes?

From today's Delco Times: Landau calls for more changes

In a further indictment of the cronyism at the Delco Court House, Democratic Council Candidate, David Landau, revealed the makeup of the 31 staffers at the Election Bureau, Voting Machines and Voter Registration offices:
Surprise! They are 100% ALL registered Republican. Six of those, including county Election Bureau Director Laureen Hagan, are also Republican party contributors, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State Campaign Finance Reporting Web site.

Can anyone image how a Bush-Gore Florida recount would have gone if only ONE party was doing the counting?

That's right folks, the foxes are not only guarding the hen house, but they are in charge of counting the eggs of the candidates they spent money to support. And, unsurprisingly, Andy Reilly responded that the contributions "are voluntarily made to support good government." That's great, Andy, but we are talking about GOP controlled Delaware County government, not good government. Gee, I wonder if anyone looks at the contribution levels when promotion time comes around?

How can any voter trust the fairness and integrity of an Election or the Voter Registration process, when the all the people in charge work for the party in power? There have been stories told for years of Democratic registrations "gone missing" or returned for minor things like writing outside of a box or supposedly unclear handwriting.

During the 2006 campaign, the Delco Republicans sent out so many Absentee Ballot Forms that there was a shortage when the Delco Democrats came to get their fair share of the forms. Now, who was in charge of figuring out how many to order and keeping track of the available stock? Oh, yeah, the Republicans running the hen house.

Did they set aside a portion in anticipation of the Democrat's needs? Nope. Or even worse, did anyone in an ALL GOP staff conspire with the Republican campaigns or County GOP Party to deny Absentee Ballot Forms to the Democrats? Was it intentional malfeasance or sheer incompetence (or just the amazing GOP luck of the draw that fell their way)? Do you think that based on the makeup of the office, they just plum forgot there even was a Democratic party?

But I digress...
Landau also went after county Solicitor John McBlain. In addition to his duties as Solicitor, the Solicitor is an Associate at the law firm of Council Chairman Andy Reilly.

McBlain, who Landau described as the "chief civil law officer of the county," is also the solicitor for the county Redevelopment Authority; county Economic Development Oversight Board; Millbourne Borough; Sharon Hill Zoning Board; and the Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau.
He is also vice president of Aldan Borough Council and Aldan Republican Party chairman.
According to Landau, about 15 employees in the county solicitor’s office have contributed $91,000 to Republican campaigns and committees since 2001. McBlain has donated nearly $6,000, according to the campaign finance Web site.
"Talk about politics infecting the legal department of the county," said Landau. "He's the treasurer and there are $91,000 in political contributions coming out of his office …This is what happens with one-party government in Delaware County."

Note: McBlain is treasurer of the county Republican Executive Committee.

Campaign Stage Stooge manager, Pete Peterson, brought up that Landau has made political contributions to candidates and committees. Hey, Pete, last time I checked, Landau wasn't in charge of running the election or counting the frigging votes. No Democrat was.

Peterson even stooped so low as to dredge up an incident from 20 years ago involving Landau's uncle. The Delco Times corrected Slippery Pete's implication and said that David Landau nothing to do with the operation of his uncle's business.

Just like with the current all GOP five member, voters can't trust the foxes to run the hen house. Voters need to elect Democrats David Landau, Ann O'Keefe and John Innelli to Delco County Council on Nov. 6th.

Spencer coming to the table empty-headed.

Gil Spencer was so desperate to do one of his infamous hatchet pieces on David Landau, that he didn't even give the candidate a change to respond. Landau was celebrating the Jewish holidays and unavailable for a quote. Spencer wouldn't even give the staff at Landau headquarters the opportunity to challenge any Gil's typical false assertions.

I can only hope that the Delco Times will give Landau an equal opportunity to respond.

In the meantime... I'll take a swing or two at Gil (with my blogger-bat).

Landau has correctly pointed out how Delco, presided over by 30 years of GOP Council monopoly, is similar to "Bush-style" government.

Gil, starts off with confusing Bush in Texas-style government (with VERY weak governor powers) to Bush as President and subsequent power grabs. Later, Gil fails to make his point by saying that "millions" of Democrats hold Federal jobs, but then he ignores the fact that Bush cronies hold the key Federal positions and that Bush had solid GOP majority in Congress and the Courts for six years. Then, Gil just gets silly by asking if Delco has invaded another county.
What a wit! (Note to self: replace "w" with "sh")

Gil was so wrapped up in his own imaginary cleverness, that he didn't realize he was making Landau's point. Look at how much the Bush administration has biased the government with partisan politics and personnel in only 6 years. The Delco GOP has controlled council without ANY Democrat for 30 years (they even changed the Charter to deny a guarantee of minority party representation).

The county courthouse is filled with GOP patrons, lackeys and cronies who are then expected to contribute to the party and/or buy tickets to events when "asked" (translation: told). Stories of abuse are common, but so is fear of reprisal and the unlikelihood of GOP prosecutors or judges taking action.

Gil makes the following accusation: As head of the Democratic Party in Nether Providence, Landau helped engineer his wife's nomination and election to a plum district judge position. Gil, how did Landau "help engineer" an election?

Speaking of wives and hypocrisy, can anyone tell me what's ironic in this context about a certain Republican Communications Coordinator?

Gil then goes after the Democrats' plan for a County Health Department. He parrots the GOP talking points about costs, and then dismisses the benefits as not worth it for improving county health. From yesterday's Delco Times: Delaware County has one [state health center], though it only has four employees there, responsible for all 550,000 county residents.

Sound's like Gil's health care is taken care of, so screw everybody else. The Democrats ARE looking out for everybody else.

Gil also claims a health department would create "dozens of new patronage hires", but seems to have forgotten John Innelli's statement (from the previous day's Delco Times): "consolidation of many of the other county offices (into the department) may in fact result in savings, cost savings" to county government. Sounds like Gil is more worried that the GOP may lose a few patronage jobs in the deal.

Open Space: Andy Reilly is on his way out. So, still a good Democratic issue.

Jobs: Trimming the fat and lowering the budget will allow for tax cuts. Infrastructure improvements and revitalization projects will also bring in new business. Better education and job training programs will help Delco residents qualify for better paying jobs. Switching no-bid work from out-of-county businesses to local businesses will not only help those businesses but keep more money from draining out of the region.

If Reilly does manage to open the dog park, I suggest that someone put a leash on Gil and take him for a walk. Maybe he can find somewhere else to urinate besides the editorial pages of the Delco Times.

Democrats: The Healthier Alternative

As reported in the Delco Times: Democrats reiterate health dept. need

The three Democratic Candidates are committed to providing a County Health Department for Delaware County.

At a round table discussion on Wednesday, David Landau and John Innelli explored the issue with researcher and professor of communications Dr. Pamela Poe and pharmacist and Chairwoman of the Board of the Delaware County Pharmacists Association Rosemarie Halt. (Ann O'Keefe was out of town.)

There are many opportunities to save public health costs through disease prevention and education, but you can't get the funding without a county health department.

Under various state laws, said Halt, the department would receive half its budget from the state government, plus additional money back per resident and grants for emergency preparedness....

Halt also cited several major instances wherein a county health department would have been useful over the last few years, such as a three-day loss of water at Riddle Memorial Hospital; a contaminated emergency room at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital; numerous sewer problems; and several contagious outbreaks including syphilis and influenza, and fatal cases of Tuberculosis and Meningitis.

And for those of who remember the flu vaccine shortages a few years ago or are worried about future outbreaks, a county health department is the entity we would need make requests for vaccines.

Pete Peterson, campaign director for the Republican county council candidates, and all around wet-blanket regarding progressive initiatives, claimed in an email (to the Times) that such health departments, at an annual cost of about $12 million, actually drain money from counties. But, later, when confronted with Halt's facts that most of the money would come from the state, Peterson whined [my choice of words] that a county health department could increase the annual budget by $4 million to $6 million.

Hey, Peterson, here are some clues for you:

• The all-GOP Delco council budget is $560 million. ($100 million more than Montco)
• An additional 1% of that for a county health department would amount to only a mere $10 per resident.
• But, said Innelli, "consolidation of many of the other county offices (into the department) may in fact result in savings, cost savings" to county government.
• The Democrats can easily trim more than 1% from the current bloated pork-filled budget you, the Delco GOP and your candidates refer to as "the same common sense approach to county government"

So, if voters are proud of Delaware County as having the third highest number of AIDS cases in the state, increasing rates of sexually transmitted diseases, and death rates from cancer and stroke exceeding those for all other Pennsylvania counties, then they should vote for the GOP's Three Stooges.

However, if Delco residents are interested in responsible Health Care investment and management by County Council, then DEMOCRATS John Innelli, David Landau and Ann O'Keefe are the team to elect in November.

Case Against the Courthouse and the Patronage Factory

As promised, some details backing up the charge of hiring and patronage based upon political party....

The Landau campaign released the results of their analysis of the Executive Director and Personnel Departments at the Delco Courthouse:

Of the 40 employees working in the Personnel and Executive Director's offices, 38 are registered Republican and 31 are Republican Committee people or local GOP donors.

Landau also pointed to contracts given to political contributors, including those for independent audits on county expenditures.
"Our supposed independent auditors are some of the largest contributors to the local GOP coffers in the County," said Landau, pointing specifically to one auditing firm which doled out nearly $50,000 to local Republicans.

The Delco Times also covered this story: They added that ...
Mingis, Gutowski and Co., which has donated nearly $48,000 to various Republican candidates and the Delaware County Republican Finance Committee since 2000, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State Campaign Finance Reporting Web site.
Last month, county council approved Mingis, Gutowski for various single audits worth a total $83,400. Gee, that's a pretty good return on "investment". Kind of suspicious that an "independent" auditing firm is contributing money to the party of the people hiring them.

The Times also clarified one of Pat's claims about Landau getting $136,000+ from Nether Providence a supposed. example of Democratic patronage. Turns out the Democrats weren't the majority at the time.

Peterson referenced IRS 1099 forms from Nether Providence Township showing law firms Landau worked for received more than $136,000 in legal work between 1998, when Peterson said Democrats took control of council there, and 2001.

But Democrats actually got a voting edge there late in 2005. During a January 2006 reorganization, they did bring on several firms employing or run by Democrats, such as Bruce Bikin’s firm, Montgomery, McCracken, Walker and Rhoads, which was appointed as special counsel on labor and personnel matters, and Frank Daly, of Daly, O’Brien and Bongaardt, who was appointed solicitor.
Between 1998 and 2001, Landau’s firms — Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP — racked up $113,006 from the township, and Hoyle, Morris and Kerr in 1998 received $23,381; a total $136,387 to the two firms.

But Sara Lynn Petrosky, former Democratic Nether Providence councilwoman and council president during that period, said council brought in all candidates for the various legal positions and reviewed them, Democrats and Republicans alike. Sometimes, she said, Democrats didn’t get who they wanted, just as some Republican council members didn’t get the people they wanted.

Back to Landau's press release:
Nepotism:
Landau also took exception to the high percentage of family members working in the courthouse. Eight of the 40 employees in Personnel and the Executive Director's office had family members working elsewhere in the county government.

Conflict of Interest:
Pointing to other potential conflicts, Landau noted that two executive county employees hold office in their local municipality.

And in Bucks County:
Sadly, this type of GOP behavior is not limited to Delco. In Bucks County, a study conducted by the Santarsiero & Marseglia campaign of
county-related Boards and Authorities in Bucks County found that patronage
and pay-to-play is prevalent to an embarrassing degree.

Breakdown of the partisan Development, Planning and Emergency Service Boards
and Authorities:

• 9 Republicans and 0 Democrats on the Bucks County Agricultural Land Preservation Board
  
• 5 Republicans and 2 Democrats on the Conservation District Board
  
• 9 Republicans and 0 Democrats on the Federal Lands Reuse Authority of Bucks County
  
• 11 Republicans and 1 Democrat on the Housing Development Corporation
  
• 5 Republicans and 0 Democrats on the Housing Finance Board
  
• 5 Republicans (chaired by Harry Fawkes) and 0 Democrats on the Industrial Development Authority
  
• 11 Republicans and 0 Democrats on the Local Emergency Planning Committee
  
• 3 Republicans and 4 Democrats on the Open Space Review Board
  
• 8 Republicans and 0 Democrats on the Parks & Recreation Board
  
• 8 Republicans and 1 Democrat on the Planning Commission
  
• 4 Republicans and 0 Democrats on the Redevelopment Authority
  
• 11 Republicans, 1 Democrat (a county employee) and 1 Other on the Solid
  Waste Advisory Committee
  
• 4 Republicans and 1 Democrat on the County Water and Sewer Authority Board
  Executive Committee
  
• 18 Republicans and 0 known Democrats on the Bucks County Economic
  Development Corporation
  

Sexton's Man, Reilly's Girl and Daddy's Little Boy

The Delco GOP Candidates (aka The Three Stooges) represent the weakest field of GOP candidates in recent memory. They have no message other than to pretend things are fine and to carry on business as usual. What little change they do mention is merely hollow rhetoric about increasing openness in government.

With Andrew Reilly running the campaign, the GOP machine hopes to extend its time on life-support and hold onto the cash-cow that monopoly rule as brought to the GOP, its patrons and its cronies (at the expense of the voters).

Weak Candidates:
The GOP candidates are suffering from a lack of broad support.
Tom McGarrigle is from Springfield (power base of Charlie "County Prison Board Deal" Sexton), and his campaign appears to have little appeal or funding outside of Springfield. Christine Cannon is Reilly's protege and represents what the voters want to change. Andy Lewis peaked when he became a Ward Commissioner in Haverford. Without "Daddy's name and/or money", he wouldn't even be in the race.

The Delco GOP machine is suffering some major breakdowns. This latest set of spare parts might as well have been made in China.

No Message, No Fiscal Responsibility:
More of the same is not a message. It is the absence of a message. From their campaign site: The candidates are committed to the same common sense approach to county government that has resulted in no tax increases for three straight years. The REAL REASON for no tax increases is that we are already taxed over 50% more than neighboring Montgomery County. See my previous Blog Post for details and a budget comparison.

Hollow Rhetoric:
On their site, the GOP candidate claim to want to increase transparency and openness in government through continued investment in new technologies.
New technologies? Since when does holding well-publicized public meetings at a convenient times require "new technology"? They can already publish a budget online, but making it clear where the money goes is another matter.
Besides, Andy Reilly is running their campaigns and already controls the council. If the GOP was really interested in open government or transparency we would already have it.

It's Unanimous: GOP Council Shares a Single Brain

At a recent press conference with the three Democratic County Council Candidates, David Landau pointed out the following:

"Since 2003, there have been 2,012 votes cast in council. Every single one was voted for unanimously," said Landau. "Every spending bill approved, every ordinance approved. Not once was a dissenting vote cast."

Has anyone ever heard of FIVE politicians that agreed on 2,012 votes in a row? I certainly haven't.

Since scientists haven't perfected brain-cloning, the most likely explanation is that someone else is calling the shots and that all five council members are little more than puppets doing as they are told. What is the point of having a 5 member council when 4 could leave and nothing would be any different?

Unless you've been a coma for the past 30 years, this scenario will not shock you.

In attempting to clarify why Council has voted unanimously in every vote since 2003, County Executive Director and GOP Spokeswoman, Marianne Grace, informed voters "It's not like council members are debating something that would require the partisan give-and-take found at higher and lower levels of government." Grace cited the War in Iraq and rubbish disposal contracts as two issues which were substantive enough to warrant debate.

"Amazingly Partisan" Grace seems to believe that all issues between "rubbish disposal" and the War in Iraq are not really topics for debate by GOP Council members. Well, it seems to me that this kind of thinking is the kind of rubbish we need to remove from County Council

If multiple contractors are competing for work, wouldn't you expect that at least once a member of Council might disagree with the other four? Oh, wait, I forgot. This is Delaware County where no-bid contracts are the rule, not the exception.

This lack of debate and fresh ideas is symptomatic of the stagnation in Delaware County and the aging GOP political machine that has mismanaged it.

And what of the new crop of GOP hopefuls hopeless hapless? Well, council boss Andy Reilly is running their campaigns (translation: attaching the strings for the next generation of puppets).

Ann O'Keefe, John Innelli and David Landau are diverse individuals, but unified by a real desire for truly open government:

• end No-Bid contracts
  
• disallow members or employees of pension boards to accept any gifts from money managers,
  
• call for a swifter process for making county records available,
  
• broadcast all council meetings on television, and
  
• require the text of all proposed ordinances to be made public before the council considers them for final passage.

Instead of paying FIVE GOP Council people for ONE set of weak ideas, voters can finally get their money's worth.

This November, Voters can end this cycle of monolithic incompetence and vote for change (for a change).

Delco Budget: Bulging, Bloated and ...Busted !

It seems Rocco's letter to the editor stirred up quite a bit of controversy (and nervousness among the GOP). The GOP likes to brag that they haven't had to raise taxes in three years. However, a comparison of Delco budget to Montgomery County's budget reveals that the Delco GOP County Council is spending 66% more per person.

In case the viewers at home want to play along... I have links to the two 2007 budgets: Delco Budget and Montco Budget (from the county websites).

Delco's 2007 budget is $304.8 million from the General Fund and an additional $260.5 million from State and Federal sources for a Grand Total of $565.3 million (I'll round down to $565 million.

Montco's budget is $269 million and an additional $194 million in grants for a Grant Total of $463 million.

• Montco spends $100 million less than Delco.
  
• The GOP tries to confuse things by claiming that we get more grant money from State and Fed, but that doesn't explain why we need $65.5 million more in state funds. On what (or whom) are we spending it?
  
• Delco's budget from the General Fund is nearly $36 million more than Montco's.
  
• According to 2000 census information, the population of Delco is about 550,000 and Montco is 750,000.
  
• Delco is spending about $1027 per person (about $552 of which from the General Fund). Montco is spending only about $617 per person (with only $359 coming from the General Fund.
  
• Delco spends $1027/$617 ==> 66% more per person. If we exclude the grant money from State and Fed then $552/$359 ==> 54% more per person.
  
• The Delco Republicans are bragging that they haven't raised taxes in 3 year. DUH! We are already paying above 50% more per person. and the State/Fed is kicking in TWICE as much per person.
  

Where is all the money going? Waste? Fraud? Nepotism? Patronage? Kickbacks? Total incompetence?

The GOP survives and thrives on keeping the facts hidden from the voters and maintaining the status quo.

What do "The Three Stooges" have to say about the budgets? The [GOP] candidates are committed to the same common sense approach to county government that has resulted in no tax increases for three straight years (2005, 2006, and 2007). (directly from their campaign website)

Translation: If the GOP collects at least 50% more person than Montco, we can pretend to hold the line on taxes by manipulating the unnecessary extra revenue. Shhh! Don't tell the voters.

Ooops! Cat's out of the bag now!

Looking for a Few Good Men

This is not a posting about Senator Craig!

Today The Hill reported that Rep. Sestak’s staffers keep jumping ship.

According to the article: Thirteen staffers have quit this year, say former aides citing public records.

Apparently the staff is expected to work as though they were in the military.

Aides are expected to work seven days a week, including holidays, often 14 hours each day, going for months without a day off. These are very long hours even by Capitol Hill standards
....
Sestak does not attribute staff resignations to problems of his own making.
... [however]....
The environment was so difficult for some aides that they quit without having found a new job.
Five former staffers who spoke to The Hill on the condition that they not be quoted cited excessive work hours and Sestak’s temper as reasons for their departure.

Sestak's district director, William Walsh [he was "Bill" during the campaign] said: "I don’t accept the premise that something is wrong systemically. We’re trying to create an environment that requires the same level of effort and effectiveness as" in the Navy. Bill William Walsh is a 30-year Navy veteran himself and used to these sort of hours.

However, the staffers are civilians, not military, and certainly not stuck on a ship in the ocean or subject to court martial. They can walk away (and have).

To be fair, Sestak is tireless and does work harder than everyone else, but that's his choice. If he also chooses to burn out his staff, he'll have to work even harder replacing and training them.

This one made me laugh at the irony:
"He's a very demanding guy, but he is pretty up front with his expectations," Clarence Tong, Sestak’s new communications director, said.

New! What happened to the previous communications director?

The reason I mention this is that during the 2006 campaign, Sestak's management style and "poor command climate" was frequently brought up by Weldon's supporters. Their contention was it made Sestak unfit for Congress. My reply was basically: Who cares if he is a bad boss? It would matter only to his staff, and they can walk away if they don't like it. In a free, competitive market, the problem would be self correcting.

My other point was that once elected, Sestak became OUR employee. He's already got a few dressing downs of his own from voters upset over his Iraq vote and his reasons against impeachment.

As regards the 2007 Delco County Races, the Democratic candidates can always use more volunteers (and they won't make you work 14-hour days). Even a few hours a week would be greatly and genuinely appreciated.

DelcoTimes editorial on Dem upswing

Phil Heron's editorial in today's Delco Times describes the Democratic surge (oops...maybe that's term reserved for GOP initiatives) in Delaware County, focusing on the race for the 3 open seats on County Council. John Innelli, David Landau and Ann O'Keefe are the Dems in this election.

Heron describes the long-running trend in Delco, moving from a completely GOP-dominated area to more balanced representation, saying, "Then something strange started happening. At least here in Delaware County. Democrats started winning elections. ... Now the Democrats have their eyes on the one prize that has eluded them: The Media courthouse."

The trend began from the top down in the 90s with Clinton winning in Delco, starting a long string of strong showings by Democratic Presidential candidates in the area. Of course, Joe Sestak's victory in 2006 set a new high water mark. And of course there are many Democratic local and state representatives with strong followings.

Heron says:

This very well could be a new day in Delco politics. Who would have thought that Democrats would be taken seriously, let alone considered a threat, in a race for county council?

Buckle your seat belts, voters. It’s going to be an interesting couple of months.

And we’ll all likely be better off for it.

It's true that the residents of Delaware County would be better off with 3 Democrats in there to bust up the Tamany Hall den of corruption that have cost the taxpayers of Delaware County millions of dollars in patronage jobs and crony contracts.

Put the Dems in and we get a shot a cleaning things up.

Keep that in mind when you pay that big County tax bill and get next to nothing in return!

Heron thinks this will be an interesting race. We hope the DelcoTimes provides good coverage of the election. But what would really be interesting would be if the DelcoTimes would do some investigative reporting on the issues. It's one thing to publish the accusations of corruption and the GOP rebuttals. It would be a much different (and interesting) story if the Times digs into these accusations.

Tips for the Delco Times: start with the County Prison, move to the contracts for various health care facilities, and see about the no-show jobs. And just for kicks and giggles, interview a few county employees who are directed to report for campaign duties.

That very well could be a new day in Delco political reporting!

Polidoro blasts GOP corruption in Delco County Council

Kudos to Rocco Polidoro for writing this letter to the editor, published in the Delco Times on August 6, 2007. Rocco was one of the 6 or 7 candidates who ran in May in the Dem primary race for County Council. With this letter, we can see the Rocco is working for the 3 candidates that won in the primary. I saw Rocco recently and shook his hand, not only for writing such a hard-hitting letter, but for his carrying on the spirit of party unity.

This letter is filled with the facts and figures the tell the story of how corrupt the (currently) Republican-led Delco County Council is wasting our taxpayer money. If you read this and still vote to continue the GOP hegemony, you just aren't paying attention. And you're voting against your own interests. This costs us millions of dollars every year.

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To the Times:

There is a very important election this November.

Three of the five county council seats are up for election. Based on my 25 years of business and political knowledge of Delaware County, I would venture to say that more than 95 percent of the residents do not know the following data.

County council will spend more than $500 million of your federal, state and county taxes in 2007 to run our county government. This county employs more than 3,600 employees.

For the last 32 years, there hasn’t been a Democrat elected to county council. All five council members are Republicans and all five are lawyers. There are 67 counties in Pennsylvania and other than a very small county in the northern part, we are the only county government in the state that does not have two-party representation.

If you view the Web site or the campaign material of the three Republican candidates this year, you would think they are fiscal conservatives and dedicated to smaller government. You would think these candidates — Andy Lewis, Christine Fizanno Cannon and Tom McGarrigle — had something to do with the fact that we haven’t had a county tax increase in three years, although they have all been selected and supported by the same group that has controlled the county in the past, they had nothing to do with that issue.

Not having a tax increase in the last three years is actually a smoke-screen. So if these three are elected this November, we will have “no change” in the way this county spends our taxes. And with the same group in control, we probably will have “no new direction” for this county for years to come.

Some would argue that the majority of the voters have elected these Republicans in the last 32 years. Do you really think a monopoly is good for local government? Who’s looking out for the several hundred thousand residents that are not registered Republican? Where are the checks and balances when our council is spending millions on no-bid contracts? In many cases the recipients of these no-bid contracts are also donors to the Republican Party. Are we getting the lowest and most responsible contract?

There should be a law that prohibits a contractor who bids for county government contracts in Delco from donating to political parties. We’ll never know with all five members from the same political organization if we are spending our taxes wisely.

Why have all five council members been awarded solicitorships on various boards and small government bodies within the county? I think it’s a great conflict of interest for elected council members to accept solicitorships while representing the people of Delaware County. You could only serve one master.

In addition to receiving $50,000 for the part-time position on county council, it is estimated all five members are also paid with more than 20 solicitorships within the county. And guess who’s paying for those positions? Is your town or school board paying any of the current council members?

Now let’s see how Delco’s spending compares to our neighbors. Bucks County has more than 50,000 more residents, according to the Census Bureau, but Delco will spend $112 million more than Bucks. The chairman of Delco council has said our county receives more state and federal grants than Bucks and Montco, and that we spend less on county taxes than our neighbors. Another smoke-screen.

We have to look at the total amount of taxes we are spending if we are to consider how efficient we are compared to our neighboring counties. After all, we are all federal, state and county taxpayers. Regardless of the county chairman’s spin, we are spending millions more than our neighboring counties.

When you look at where most of our taxes are going, you’ll see it’s on county jobs. And that’s what makes the Republican organization strong, patronage jobs. And you pay for it.

Delco employs 1,000 more employees than Bucks. And remember, Bucks has more than 50,000 more residents.

Compared to Montgomery County, Delco has 200,000 fewer residents, but yet spends $103 million more than Montco. Even though Montco is 40 percent larger in population, Delco employs 400 more employees.

Both Montco and Bucks include their prison employees in their total numbers, whereas Delco does not. And if you were to factor the prison employees back into these calculations, it would show that Delco is employing even more than our two neighboring counties. That’s because Delco employs an outside company to run our prison.

And what do Bucks and Montco have that Delco doesn’t? They have a two-party system running their governments.

It appears the organization that has controlled this county for 32 years with no “checks and balances” has taken advantage. The population figures, the number of employees and the budgets of the three counties are all posted online and available under the right-to-know law. The numbers speak for themselves.

This county is riddled with an over-abundance of patronage workers and you are paying big bucks for it. It is my opinion that we will probably get hit with a county tax increase in 2008. Do you want another four to eight years of the same political organization running our county government?

The chairman of council is also heading the election committee of the three Republican candidates, further proof that the same organization will control those candidates if they are elected.

Isn’t 32 years enough? Don’t we deserve to have the checks and balances in our local government that every other county enjoys in the state?

I am not saying replace all five Republicans on county council with five Democrats. But at least consider giving several Democrats a chance. It would be healthy to have a mix on council.

If you want to see change in our county starting in 2008, then please consider David Landau, Anne O’Keefe and John Innelli for county council in November.

ROCCO J. POLIDORO

Springfield
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