In The News
The Will Bunch Newsletter, Philadelphia Inquirer -- Tuesday, June 29, 2021
On Wednesday night of this week — that’s June 30 — Indivisible Philadelphia and about dozen suburban chapters of the Indivisible groups that popped up everywhere after Trump’s 2016 election are planning a big rally for 5 p.m. on Independence Mall near 5th and Market Streets. The purpose is to urge the Senate to pass the stalled For the People Act, which would bring sweeping federal election reforms such as expanded early voting and easier registration. The proposal — which also aims to curb the influence of so-called “dark money” in political campaigns — has been blocked by a GOP filibuster, so the activists are apparently hoping that rallies will spur balky moderates like West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin to consider filibuster reform. It’s all a reminder that in American politics, there’s always something that needs to be resisted.
Via the DelcoTimes:
The Delaware County Democratic Committee endorsed a full slate of candidates for county seats that will be on the ballot this year, from county council to the row officers to two Common Pleas Court judgeships.
“The Delaware County Demcoratic Committee met on Thursday in a hybrid convention – with the overwhelming majority of voters participating in a zoom call and electronic voting,” Colleen Guiney, chair of the committee, said. “A smaller number voted in person in a socially distanced, COVID safe environment. We are pleased with the endorsement of a highly qualified and dedicated team of public servants, and look forward to the opportunity to work to earn the votes of the people of Delco.”
For county council, the Democrats endorsed incumbent Councilman Kevin Madden and labor advocate Richard Womack.
“I am honored and humbled by the continued support of the Delaware County Democratic Committee,” he said. “The work that Brian and I began four years ago continues today, and I look forward to working with Richard Womack and my current colleagues on County Council to build a government that serves all its residents, not just the connected few, as it did for so long. Much work remains, and I am excited to complete the job.”
Madden of Haverford was first elected to council in 2017 and also serves as chairman of the Delaware County Jail Oversight Board.
In addition to an extensive career with the AFL-CIO and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Womack served as a Darby Township commissioner for 12 years.
“I am so honored and humbled to be endorsed by the Delaware County Democrats for my campaign for county council,” he said. “Thank you to the Delco Dems for organizing this convention in unprecedented times, and to all of the committee people for supporting me. I am looking forward to working with you, and my fellow candidates as we move onward to victory in November.”
Council Chairman Brian Zidek has chosen not to seek re-election for personal and business reasons.
Three other incumbents – Controller Joanne Phillips, Sheriff Jerry L. Sanders Jr. and Register of Wills Rachel Ezell Berry – also received backing from the committee.
“I ran for County Controller to build good government from the ground up. Serving the people of Delaware County is a great honor and a greater responsibility,” Phillips said. “I emphasize in my office that our number one priority is to work for our residents and safeguard our resources, and I have built a strong team that is dedicated to our mission. I am grateful to be nominated to run for a second term because I want to continue our work, especially when our community faces incredible challenges. I will continue to be a steady independent voice for the people.”
In addition to being the first Black row officer in Delaware County, Sanders also advocated on behalf of his deputies when he lobbied county council for a $5 an hour raise for them. His deputies did see a raise and the request led to the county engaging in a compensation study for its employees.
“I thank the people of Delaware County for the vote of confidence given to me in 2017,” Sanders said upon receiving the Democratic endorsement. “As sheriff of Delaware County, I have worked hard to live up to your expectations. I ask you for a second term to build upon what we started. “You are the wind beneath my wings.”
Ezell Berry was appointed to the Register of Wills position in March 2020 after Mary J. Walk resigned from that position to become the director of the Delaware County Office of Judicial Support.
“I’m honored to receive the endorsement. In less than one year on the job and during unprecedented challenges, I designed systems to probate over 2,000 estates and issue over 1,500 marriage licenses virtually; opened an e-commerce store; brought our records online; implemented innovative e-signature and print-at-home options that saved taxpayers thousands of dollars; and ran a budget surplus,” she said. “I’m running to bring the register of wills office into the 21st century and want to finish what I’ve started.”
The committee also made endorsements for two open Common Pleas Court positions.
Tinu Moss of Yeadon is an attorney who specializes in family, civil and criminal law with an emphasis on youth offenders.
“I’m honored to be endorsed by the Delaware County Democratic Party,” she said. “I know how much time and energy the committee members have put into this process, and I’m thankful to have their support. Together, we will bring more impartiality, diversity, and experience to the Delaware County Court of the Common Pleas.”
Magisterial District Judge Deborah Krull, covering the Media, Swarthmore and Nether Providence district, also received the support of her party.
“I am humbled and deeply grateful to have earned the endorsement of the Delaware County Democratic Party this evening in the race for the Court of Common Pleas,” Krull said. “To all the members of the Democratic Committee: I cannot express enough how thankful I am for the time you have devoted to listening to and evaluating all of us candidates. To all of the candidates who sought the endorsement: Thank you for your desire to represent our party and serve the residents of Delaware County.”
Earlier this month, the Delaware County Republican Party also announced their endorsements. They include Frank Agovino and Joe Lombardo for county council, Sherry Smyth for controller, Joshua Brown for sheriff and David Bartholf for register of wills and attorneys Deborah Truscello and Michael Ruggieri for the two open seats on the Common Pleas Court.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Why it’s important to vote on constitutional amendments
To the Delco Times: On May 18, Pennsylvania voters will go to the polls to vote in the primary election.
Normally, only people registered with a specific political party can vote in a primary. This year, it’s different.
There will be three questions on the ballot about changing the Pennsylvania Constitution. Independent voters can and should go to the polls to vote on these important issues. The first two ballot questions are designed to limit the governor’s powers in an emergency. These questions are: “Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law and increase the power of the General Assembly to unilaterally terminate or extend a disaster emergency declaration — and the powers of Commonwealth agencies to address the disaster regardless of its severity pursuant to that declaration— through passing a concurrent resolution by simple majority, thereby removing the existing check and balance of presenting a resolution to the Governor for approval or disapproval?” … and “Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law so that: a disaster emergency declaration will expire automatically after 21 days, regardless of the severity of the emergency, unless the General Assembly takes action to extend the disaster emergency; the Governor may not declare a new disaster emergency to respond to the dangers facing the Commonwealth unless the General Assembly passes a concurrent resolution; the General Assembly enacts new laws for disaster management?”
It’s critical that you vote no on both these questions!
Why? What’s at stake?
A Proclamation of Disaster Emergency is effective for up to 90 days. The governor can renew it if the emergency continues. The emergency disaster declaration gives the governor special powers to help individuals and communities after a disaster. This includes lifting regulations so mitigation can happen quickly, calling up the National Guard to help communities in their disaster rescue and recovery efforts, and expediting procurement of needed supplies and equipment.
Now, imagine your house is on fire. Professional and experienced firefighters arrive and proceed to put the flames out to save your property. But, there’s a law that says they can only put out one floor at a time. In between, they have to consult with your neighbors about how they’re allowed to proceed and get their permission. Your neighbors have questions of self-interest. How much water are they going to use and will it flood their basements? What kind of chemicals are they going to use and will it impact their immaculate landscaping? Why do you need all those floors anyway?
You wouldn’t want your neighbors who have no expertise in firefighting and may actually be antagonistic to your interests to be able to control your fire department’s ability to protect your property, would you?
These two ballot questions will do essentially the same thing to the governor’s ability to combat emergencies. The governor will only be able to declare an emergency for 21 days. After that, the State Assembly will have the say over whether or not it will continue. The same Assembly where members were repeatedly exposed to COVID-19 by other members who refused to wear a mask. The same Assembly that tried to open our State Parks to development as golf courses and amusement parks. The same Assembly that repeatedly prioritizes the needs of special interests over state citizens.
You wouldn’t want your house to burn down while your neighbors debate. Vote no on these two ballot questions. Let the governor make decisions during long term emergencies that are informed by science and expertise and in the best interest of the majority of Pennsylvania’s citizens.
The third question adds language to the constitution that protects residents’ equal rights. This is a good thing and we hope you will vote yes on Ballot Question 3.
Remember: Vote no on Questions 1 and 2. Vote yes on Question 3. And tell your family and friends.
PA 5 Indivisible Collective, Drexel Hill
December 19, 2020, Delco Times:
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Quinn has a lot of explaining to do
To the Times: “I don’t know how mistakes like this happen.”
So said state Rep. Chris Quinn, R-168 of Middletown, to Pennsylvania Capital-Star reporter, Stephen Caruso. Quinn was referring to the presence of his signature on the Dec. 4 letter – authored by 75 Republican state legislators – addressed to Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, calling for Congress to comply with the narrative of the Trump administration, rejecting the 20 Electoral College votes earned by President-Elect Joe Biden’s 80,000 vote lead in Pennsylvania.
The hypocrisy of supporting this position as a beneficiary of the very election that the letter purports to have been fraudulent notwithstanding, Quinn’s behavior demands extreme scrutiny.
To clarify, I am far from unbiased. I just spent the whole of 2020 working full-time–and most of 2019 as a volunteer–for Deb Ciamacca as her campaign manager. Deb was Quinn’s third Democratic challenger to fall short of victory in the heavily gerrymandered 168th District, never before won by a Democrat. I could easily harp on the fact that, by most metrics– voters contacted, funds raised, and an historic number of votes received by a Democrat – our grassroots campaign was the strongest in the state.
I could harp on Deb’s preeminence as a candidate: A Marine Corps Captain, businesswoman, high school teacher, and union president who spent the majority of her campaign serving the district’s people and small businesses disaffected by the pandemic, regardless of party affiliation. What’s more, I could harp on Quinn’s refusal to debate his opponent or appear at any public forum, the brutally dishonest attack ads authored on his behalf, or the near absence of a campaign altogether.
But the truth is, Quinn won. Call his campaign apathetic or misinformative, but we cannot deny the outcome of a fair and free election.
And whatever your party affiliation – or degree of vindication or rage you are feeling as you read my words–surely, you at least wonder how Mr. Quinn feels about this election. Because, as usual, we have no idea where he stands. In the weeks preceding the election, our volunteers received robotexts from the GOP touting Quinn as “bipartisan independent.” Yet, here he is walking in lockstep with party extremists, signing his approval of a conspiratorial attempt to subvert our Democracy to curry favor with Donald Trump. And now … he walks it back.
For me, this letter and his response thereof is the validation of myriad stories relayed to me by Quinn’s fellow legislators: He gets up to “go to the bathroom” or his “button doesn’t work” during the difficult votes. Or take his contrasting votes on bills versus their amendments (ie. HB671 regarding common-sense gun control), seemingly premeditated to allow him to slip to one side or the other when, say, a political opponent challenges his record.
I spent most of Election Day in the heart of Quinn’s electoral lifeline: Newtown Township, the most Republican municipality in Delaware County. Specifically, I greeted voters with Deb at Marple Newtown High School. Most Democrats had already voted by mail, so we had our work cut out for us. Women arrived in red, Trump jumpsuits; men revved the engines of their pickup trucks adorned with Trump flags; and I couldn’t help but wonder: What do these people think of Chris Quinn? Would they support a self proclaimed “bipartisan independent” whose ads defended his supposed record in support of gun control and environmentalism? Would they give him a pass for skipping the hard votes? Are they cool with his party having held $1 billion in COVID relief hostage from the small businesses that they claim to champion when they scorn Gov. Wolf for statewide lockdowns? Or is the “R” beside Quinn’s name good enough?
I’ll spare you the obvious points about partisan voting, and a lack of information about down-ballot races. My thesis is far more specific: Rep. Chris Quinn has a lot of explaining to do. Does he accept or reject the outcome of the 2020 presidential election? Does he support the Trump agenda, or is he a bipartisan independent? Does he believe in climate science? COVID science? Too much is at stake, as the 168th District potentially faces another two years without leadership in a pandemic – and economic recession – that is far from over. Democratic and Republican voters don’t agree about much, but we all want strong representatives in government who work for us; not for the sake of their careers.
And while the next two years will be tough, they will fly by; the 2022 election will be here before we know it. I, for one, will not forget the time that Chris Quinn sided with conspiracy theorists when our Democracy was under attack. I don’t know about you, but I’m going to guess that his signature did not materialize from thin air. Quinn reinforced precisely why we deserved a change in leadership, barely a month following his re-election.
But I’ll give him this: “I don’t know how mistakes like this happen” either.
David Brown, Haverford Township