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
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.
10 comments:
Sometimes I wonder if you believe the propaganda you write, David.
Evan-
If I start writing propaganda, I'll let you know.
Until then, I'm just commenting on news stories about the local candidates and highlighting what I find to be relevant.
Aren't you concerned that such a high percentage of the employees at supposedly non-partisan County departments are Republican (100% in some cases)? How about their connections with GOP committees, solicitors and fundraising?
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, there's going to be a lot of duck crap on your shoes.
I know this was an oversight, David, but you forgot to report the rest of the story:
Republican Delaware County Council candidates turned the tables on their Democratic opponent David Landau this week, charging him and running mates John Innelli and Ann O’Keefe with engaging in the same conflict-of-interest-style politics Landau has been lambasting the county courthouse for operating.
“Forty-eight hours after … Landau launched an attack on Election Bureau employees for their participation in the political process, (he) and his running mates created a new political committee to run their campaign with Gerald Lawrence, one of the three members of the Delaware County Election Board, serving as the campaign treasurer,” said Pete Peterson, campaign director for Republican county council candidates Christine Fizzano Cannon, Andy Lewis and Tom McGarrigle, in a release.
The other members of the election board are Chairman Carmen P. Belefonte, former president of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association and the Delaware County Bar Association, and former Prison Board President William C. Kelly.
Peterson threw Landau’s own words concerning political contributions from election-related offices in the courthouse back in his face in the release.
“When you start to be an active participant in partisan politics, that’s a problem,” said Landau of the contributions. “If there’s a problem (with an election), how can the people have confidence in the neutrality of (those offices)?”
Those words have much more relevance to Lawrence’s position with the Montgomery County-based “New Day for Delco ’07,” committee and the Democratic campaign he is now working for, said Peterson.
“This is the height of hypocrisy,” he said. “Two days after their attack on county employees, the Democrats have appointed as their campaign treasurer the same individual who Delaware County residents expect to fairly count the votes and impartially decide election disputes. If this is the type of decision these candidates make, imagine how badly they would govern if actually elected.”
Peterson also attacked Landau for exposing courthouse employees’ political donations to Republican candidates and committees when F. Clark Walton, an employee of NDI Inc., the engineering firm for Nether Providence Township, has contributed $2,500 to the Nether Providence Democratic Party and Democratic Magisterial District Judge Stephanie Klein since 2005. Landau is the party head in Nether Providence; Klein is his wife.
Pat-
Your "rest of the story" is not in the Delco Times story. Link please?
Peterson's "attack" seems to miss the point. He never denies the political contributions from election-related offices in the courthouse. His argument (if believed) seems to be that someone stealing hubcaps can't complain about someone stealing cars. Besides the scale difference in levels of abuse being alleged, the issue at the courthouse is a pervasive problem that covers ALL the townships and Nether Providence has suffered under GOP rule at the courthouse.
The GOP controls two of the three members of the election board and well as most of the judges (whose rulings have historically fallen against Democrats, particularly in keeping us off the ballots). Exactly what "power" does Gerry Lawrence have on the board? What kind of information or action can he expect from the 100% GOP Bureau of Elections?
However, the issue is partisan hiring at taxpayer expense to populate departments and hide the budget process.
Was there an open bid process for NDI's work? Did you know that NDI is also managing $2,600,000 worth of Addition/Restoration at Coopertown Elementary School in Haverford. (Coopertown also happens to be in the 5th Ward with you and Andy. How cozy.)
The TRUTH is that NDI does work all over, including GOP controlled townships like Haverford. Pennoni associates does work all over the area too and gives money to Republicans (and even some Democrats).
Was there an open bid process for NDI's work? Did you know that NDI is also managing $2,600,000 worth of Addition/Restoration at Coopertown Elementary School in Haverford. (Coopertown also happens to be in the 5th Ward with you and Andy. How cozy.)
What are you talking about, "cozy"? What is that supposed to mean?
As for the rest of your post, David, you've got an answer for everything, don't you? It must be really neat to be omniscient.
P.S. I don't have the link, nnd you can't search the Delco Times website, so I can't find it.
Pat-
Cozy? Well, just referring to the closeness of you and Andy on all things Haverford. There's the fact that Coopertown is right there in your's and Andy's ward, and that NDI is getting all that Haverford work.
Either you, Andy and the GOP think tank are hypocrites about NDI or you are completely unaware of who's doing work almost literally in your backyard. (or both)
By the GOP implying that NDI got a Nether Providence contract for any reason other than their Engineering qualifications, Andy's position on NDI working on a school in his ward becomes relevant. Does Andy think they are a quality firm? Are they good enough for GOP in Haverford but need to bribe Dems to get work in Nether Providence?
Pat, thanks again for showing the hollowness of the GOP County Council campaign.
I heard your candidates struck out at the forum last night, David. Tom McGarrigle put the health department in intensive care. HA!
Evan-
That's odd. I thought McGarrigle needs his own private health department on call to remove his foot from his mouth.
Earth to David: what are you talking about with this nonsense about Andy and I knowing nothing about the contractor that (you say) the School Board hired for the Coopertown School?
What's that got to do with the fact that that same contractor gave money to David Landau's party AND to his wife?
Are you totally delusional now? You've certainly got yourself wrapped around the axle on this one.
And by the way, I heard the same thing about the "Meet the Candidates" forum at the Delco Chamber on Thursday night--- from several people. I'll be looking forward to seeing the tape on Monday night!
Pat-
I'll "speak" slowly so you can get it.
The point is that there is NO BASIS to assume that an employee of NDI giving money to the Democratic Party and to Landau's wife had ANYTHING to do with NDI getting a contract in Nether Providence. This is becasue the quality of NDI's work is so high that the GOP controlled Haverford (township board AND school board) gave a contract NDI for work on Coopertown Elementary school.
Coopertown is a precious jewel in the Haverford 5th ward (your's and Andy's). So, if it has YOUR stamp of approval (didn't hear you or Andy complain), then you must clearly believe NDI does quality work.
Therefore, there is NO BASIS for you to assume that Nether Providence selected them for any different reason beside the quality of their work.
Granted, I've assume that you and Andy knew that NDI was doing work on Coopertown, but your statement:
he contractor that (you say) the School Board hired for the Coopertown School
As for my "claim" that NDI is working on Coopertown, here is the link:
http://www.ndieng.com/projects.htm
You'll also notice that in addition to Coopertown, they are also working on the Media Municipal Building and the Brookhaven Municipal Building, as well as several other schools.
You and the other GOP lackeys have failed to carry the ball forward on this phony story about an engineering contract awarded in an open bid process by a balance township board and an unrelated campaign contribution.
If you are going to persist in floating the story, let's pin you down with some facts and dates:
1) On what date was the NDI contracted awarded?
2) What other contractors bid on the work?
3) What were the difference in the price and scope of the work proposed?
4) What was the make of the Nether Prov. board at the time? (Was it ALL one party like you would have County Council be?)
5) On what dates were these supposed contributions made? And for what amounts?
I realize it's difficult for you to stick to the facts. Does the GOP spray or dip you guys in non-stick coatings before each election cycle?
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