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.Note: McBlain is treasurer of the county Republican Executive Committee.
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."
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.
5 comments:
Sorry David,
I find it hard to believe that 31 of 31 employees would all be registered Republican's. Where are the facts to support this? Has anyone researched to see if this actually true?
Evan-
Yes, it is quite shocking and also quite true. The Landau campaign researched this very careful. (You don't make a charge that something this problematic is 100%, without a lot of double-checking.) And, my understanding is that the GOP run courthouse fought tooth-and-nail to keep this quiet, but freedom of information laws forced their hand (they did do the maximum amount of foot-dragging allowed by law :-) )
For further information, contact George, the Landau Campaign's Communications Director, at 610-623-7402
I talked with George Madison at Landau office. He emailed me all the information and stuff but I'm still skeptical.
I talked with a few of my friends who work in the courthouse and are NOT committeemen] They are going to check a votersheet to see if Landau/Madison's info is correct.
They also told me the higher ups are planning to do a big response to all of Landau's accusations. They say McBlain is fired up.
Evan-
If course McBlain's fired up, he got caught in a situation that the voters are bound to dislike, and needs to cover/save his political ass.
If (when) the Democrats take charge of Council, McBlain's going to be Mc-Unemployed.
And, now that you mention it, why are the "higher ups" planning to inject themselves with a big response into a political race unless they are trying to save their cozy patronage jobs.
Yes... to "defend their honor" was another potential answer, but not the most likely one. If they had enough "honor" in the first place the employment ratios at the court house would reflect the party registration across the county.
"Can anyone image how a Bush-Gore Florida recount would have gone if only ONE party was doing the counting?"
You can thank Katherine Harris for that...
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