Montgomery County Democrats

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1 June 2011 Vol. 5, No. 2 Montgomery County Democrats The Newsletter of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee Shapiro, Richards To Head November Ticket Haaz, Austin Prevail in their Primary Both candidates easily outpace Republican crossovers County commissioner candidates Leslie Richards and Josh Shapiro celebrate Primary Election Night at McCloskey s Tavern in Ardmore with Lower Merion Township commissioners. (l to r) George Manos (Ninth Ward), Jane Dellheim (Eighth Ward), Brian McGuire (Thirteenth Ward), Leslie Richards, Paul McElhaney (Third Ward), Josh Shapiro, and Liz Rogan (Seventh Ward). Photo credit: Jill Stein Norristown, 18 May. Democratic committee people, candidates, and volunteers awoke to a rainy election morning, but undaunted, they headed to the polls, respectively, to set up, visit, and work to get out the vote on Primary Election Day. Across the county, Democrats turned out percent of the electorate. While a disappointing number, all twelve county wide Democratic candidates and two state wide Democratic candidates won their primaries. The Democratic ticket headed by commissioner candidates Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards, and including the eight row office candidates, D. Bruce Hanes (register of wills), Linda Hee (recorder of deeds), Walter I. Hofman (coroner), Will Holt (sheriff), Mark Levy (prothonotary), continued on page 2 Haaz pulls 18% of Republican votes in his cross over bid Norristown, 18 May. With slightly more than 13 percent of registered Democrats voting Tuesday, Rich Haaz and Cheryl Austin handily won their Primary election against two Republican challengers who had crossed filed in the race to fill two open Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas positions in the November General Election. Both Democratic candidates spent the Primary visiting polling precincts Haaz in Abington, Cheltenham, Upper Dublin, and Springfield townships, while Austin visited with voters in Abington, Lansdale, East and West Norriton, and Springfield. After surveying the final tallies, Haaz said he was heartened by the totality of the vote and though, he continued, more than 4,000 Republicans voted than Democratic voters, Cheryl and I outperformed the turnout, meaning that we were only a couple of thousand votes behind our oppocontinued on page 4

2 Montgomery County Democratic Committee June 2011 page 2 continued from page 1 Diane Morgan (controller), Jason Salus (treasurer), and Ann Thornburg Weiss (clerk of courts), was unopposed, and captured between 23,400 votes and 25,580 votes. In addition, our two candidates for county court of common pleas won their contested primary (see page 1 article Haaz, Austin Prevail ). At the statewide level, Superior Court candidate David Wecht was uncontested and received 26,319 votes, while endorsed Commonwealth Court candidate Kathryn Boockvar trounced her primary challenger receiving percent of the vote. Although it took a statewide recount of that race, there was no doubt the Montgomery County Democrats helped secure Boockvar s victory. Locally, Democrats were victorious in several magisterial district judge primaries against Republican opponents, as well as in a few cross filed contentious School Board races. The majority of our candidates for local commissioner, supervisor, and council were unopposed, and now look ahead to the work necessary to win in the fall. Municipalities with historically large Democratic turnout including Abington, Cheltenham, and Springfield, performed relatively well compared to the county turnout, respectively showing turnout percentages of 19.26, 20.10, and Unfortunately, in some other areas where a substantial Democratic turnout is the norm, our numbers were low, prompting candidates, committee people, and volunteers alike to re dedicate themselves to tried and true efforts of phonebanking, canvassing, and talking to voters about the importance of the election this November. Chairman s Corner By Marcel Groen, Chairman Montgomery County Democratic Committee Watching Pennsylvania s budget process over the past few months has been like watching a tsunami roll over the political landscape in slow motion. All we can do is watch in horror, and wonder what will be left after the wave passes. What will our public education system look like? How high will college tuitions go? Will critically important social services be available for the most vulnerable among us? Will the disintegration of our infrastructure escalate? Will unrestrained gas drilling destroy our environment? This isn t happening by accident. This is all straight out of the ultra conservative Republican playbook, and two incidents in the past month demonstrate that. First, Grover Norquist, the extremist right wing leader of the D.C. based Americans for Tax Reform, recently warned in a letter to Republican State Senator Mary Jo White, whose committee would have to approve any fees on Marcellus Shale, and to Republican Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, who favors a local impact fee, that any such fee would violate the no tax pledge signed by Governor Corbett and 34 members of the legislature and would be a betrayal of their constituents. Norquist, you may recall, uttered the now famous quote: "My goal is to cut government in half in twenty five years, to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub." Second, when Democrats urged that the recent $500 million windfall in revenues be used to ameliorate the projected cuts in the budget, House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, cited, among other things, that the money would be needed for the state's obligations to unemployment costs. Mr. Turzai apparently was oblivious to the irony of that statement since it is the Republican budget proposals that will create greater unemployment by firing or laying off teachers, police officers, firemen, social workers and thousands of others. Today s Republican Party is driven less by a desire for the common good, than for the good of their peculiar ideology that, above all, favors the few over the needs of the many. Besides the obvious effects the GOP budget proposals will have on local and county budgets, locally provided social services and our educational system, why is all of this so important to Democrats in Montgomery County? It is simple. We cannot begin to think about winning back the majority in Harrisburg without laying a strong Democratic foundation by winning this year s critically important county wide and local elections. Elections are won at the grassroots, and a Democratic victory in the third largest county in the Commonwealth is vital. That is why it is so important that we do not treat 2011 as an off year election, and that we work incredibly hard to elect our county commissioner team of Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards, our row office candidates, judicial candidates, and municipal candidates. We need to begin the process of rescuing our government from the tsunami of ultra conservative thinking that threatens to change our way of life as we know it. We need to begin now, right here in Montgomery County. Call MCDC ( ) or the Shapiro Richards campaign ( ) today to see how you can help.

3 Montgomery County Democratic Committee June 2011 page 3 Around the County on Primary Day Top, left to right: 1) Cheltenham Township Committee woman Deb McCarter (1 2), Democratic volunteer Tom Hen derson, and voter Susan Wisch; 2) Cheltenham Township Democratic volunteer Edie Cerebi and committeewoman Joan Johnston Stern (3 1); Middle, left to right: 1) Michael Kolonoder, successful candi date for district judge at Springfield Township High School (4 1 & 2); 2) Springfield Township committeewoman Deborah Gaylor (6 1) and Democratic volunteer Margie Butler; Bottom: Whitemarsh Township committee people Matt Schwartz and Crystal Taylor (Mid 4)

4 Montgomery County Democratic Committee June 2011 page 4 After a long day at the polls, Democrats from across the county gathered at MCDC on Election Night to watch the results and enjoy the primary victory. Top, left to right: 1) MCDC Chairman Marcel Groen and MCDC Consultant Frank Custer; 2) Conshohocken Democ ratic candidate for Council, Paul McConnell and Vivian An gelucci, committee person; At right, standing (l r) Democratic candidate for county court of common pleas, Cheryl Austin; incumbent candidate for clerk of court, Ann Thornburg Weiss; candidate for sheriff, Will Holt. continued from page 1 nents. Austin observed the same surprising result, but added nonetheless, that she and Richard were concerned over the low voter turnout. We faced that challenge before, in 2009, Cheryl Austin noted, and we are facing it again this year our great challenge is getting out the vote. One perplexing aspect of Tuesday s results, however, was the high number of undervotes for both Democratic and Republican county judicial candidates, that is, voters who voted in the Primary but voted for none or only one of the judicial candidates. In that race, 15,873 Democrats and 23,271 Republi cans undervoted. Richard Haaz surmised that the undervotes may help explain the difference in vote totals for both he and Cheryl Austin among Democratic voters; in any event, he added, it remains all part of the challenge of winning in November. Both candidates were grateful for the work of the committee people on Tuesday, despite, in part, said Austin, awful weather. SAVE THE DATE MCDC GOLF OUTING, MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2011

5 Montgomery County Democratic Committee June 2011 page 5 From Harrisburg: House Republicans Ram Through 2011 State Budget Harrisburg, 25 May. True to form, Republicans on May 25th rammed through the Pennsylvania House of Representatives the 2011 proposed state budget [House Bill 1485] by a vote of 109 to 92, along strict party lines, except for two Philadelphia Republicans who joined the Democrats in opposition to what the minority considered a draconian budget, targeting the middle class and the poor. The budget figure remained at $27.3 billion, as demanded by Governor Thomas Corbett, despite surprising windfall revenues recently totaling more than $500 million. Pennsylvania remains the only state in the union with large gas extraction that has refused to levy a severance tax on the drillers or to tax smokeless tobacco, two potential sources of desperately needed revenues. Instead, House Republicans, cut education at all levels, including early childhood programs, and healthcare services, economic development, and environmental projects. "We cannot attract businesses," warned Tim Briggs (149th), "without a well educated work force, and cutting education hampers the state's ability to grow." He warned of rising property taxes and tuition and larger class sizes. During the heated House debate, in which 74 members spoke, Democrats denounced the savage cuts; Mike Gerber (148th) called the budget a vehicle... a political statement by the majority party. There is no budget deal. Like his fellow Democrats in the House, Gerber criticized the Republicans for not including all the revenues at the state's disposal and called for taxing Marcellus Shale extraction and smokeless tobacco. He particularly feared the impact of the cuts on hospitals and on teachers, child care workers, social workers, nurses. Gerber concluded that the House bill is only marginally better than Governor Corbett s original proposal. Matt Bradford (70th), in an impassioned speech during the debate, blasted the cuts to education, k 12 and higher, calling education "our top priority" and t ha t t he b u dg e t' s "priorities are wrong." He viewed it as a "tax shift budget," being a shift to higher tuition, to greater burdens on middle class families paying those tuitions, to all localities forced to raise property taxes to support K 12 education which would be losing more than $1 billion. Bradford denounced "corporate tax breaks and give aways, the phase outs that are pushing an ideological budget and an ideological agenda." State Representative Josh Shapiro with Leslie Richards, the Democratic candidates for Montgomery County commissioner, issued a statement calling the budget "extreme" and one which would "negatively impact Montgomery County s budget situation, but, more importantly, place the county s most vulnerable residents in greater jeopardy.... while excusing gas drilling companies from paying their fair share.... These draconian cuts," they continued, "proposed despite significantly increased state revenues, will cut $1.9 million from our community college s state allocation, and put higher education out of reach of more of our young people. The cuts will also impact a wide range of human services, job development and veterans services.... In the end," they concluded, "this is a very bad budget for Montgomery County and its residents."

6 Montgomery County Democratic Committee June 2011 page 6 King of Prussia, 27 April. Scores of Democrats gathered at the Dolce Valley Forge in King of Prussia for the 2011 Montgomery County Democratic Committee Spring Reception. The highlight of the night was MCDC s Chairman Marcel Groen presenting the 2011 Bob Cooper Democratic Labor A w a r d t o W e n d e l l Young, III, who gave a fiery speech invigor a t i n g t h e crowd. Numerous labor unions supported and attended the event, again demonstrating the close rela (l r) Bunnie Cooper; Wendell Young, III, recipient of the 2011 Bob Cooper Democratic Labor Award; and MCDC Chairman Marcel Groen. tionship between the committee and local unions. In addition to a small token from the committee, and a contribution to the Leukemia and Lymphoma foundation honoring Bob in Wendell s name, Bob s widow, Bunnie Cooper, presented Wendell with a handcrafted pendant symbolizing union solidarity. Guests enjoyed great food and Democratic camaraderie with like minded folks from across the state, including Superior Court candidate David Wecht, Commonwealth Court candidate Kathryn Boockvar, and State Representative Eugene De Pasquale (95th). State Senator Daylin Leach (17th) was also in attendance, and catching the tail end of the event (delayed due to a long House session in Harrisburg) were State Representatives Matt Bradford (70th) and Larry Curry (154th). Of course, candidates for county row office and court of common pleas attended, as did our county commissioner candidates, who spoke to the assembled crowd. A big thank you to the Montgomery County Young Democrats for volunteering their time at the event. Photo credits: Sarah Hughes and Kelly Devine (l r) Superior Court candidate David Wecht, Commonwealth Court candidate Kathryn Boockvar, and State Representative Eugene DePasquale (95th). Below: A group representing Steamfitters Local Union 420 enjoys the reception. Pictured: (l r) Vince Giancola, Jim Heinig, Jason Tulone, Peter Lambing, and George Schools III. (l r) Lansdale Municipal Chair and Councilman Ja ck Hansen and Murray Kalich.

7 Montgomery County Democratic Committee June 2011 page 7 Leslie Richards, candidate for county commissioner, speaks to the crowd, pictured with her running mate Josh Shapiro. (l r) MCDC Chairman Marcel Groen introduces county row office candidates Mark Levy (prothonotary), Walter I. Hofman (coroner), Diane Morgan (controller), Ann Thornburg Weiss (clerk of courts), Linda Hee (recorder of deeds), Will Holt (sheriff), and Jason Salus (treasurer), [not pictured D. Bruce Hanes (register of wills) and county court of common pleas candidates Cheryl Austin and Richard Haaz. Representing AFSCME District Council 88, Director Tom Tosti and Deb Clark. Suzanne Ryan with MCDC Corresponding Secretary Greg Philips. (l r) Whitemarsh supervisor candidates Cathy Peduzzi and Amy Grossman. (l r) Betsy Kilkenny with one of the newest Montgomery County Democrats baby Madeline; Kevin Hoke; and Area 7 Leader Howard Rovner.

8 Montgomery County Democratic Committee June 2011 page 8 (l r) Magisterial Judge Marge Hunsicker; MCDC Recording Secretary and Area 11 Leader Olivia Brady; and Norristown Councilman Bill Caldwell. (l r) State Committee member Mary Jo Daley, with MCDC Chairman Marcel Groen, and his mother Sipora Groen. State Committee members and Union presidents, Wendell Young, IV (UFCW) and Dottie Miller (Merck). Area 13 Democrats enjoy the reception. Pictured (l r) Commissioner Jane Dellheim, Committee person Bill Myrtetus, Co Leader Jill Stein, Vice Chair Marie Beresford, and Commissioner Liz Rogan. On right, MCDC 2nd Vice Chair Joe Foster and consultant Frank Custer. On left, (l r) Upper Dublin Municipal Chair Betsy Parziale, John Weiss, and Sherry Rivers.

9 Montgomery County Democratic Committee June 2011 page 9 (l r) Nick Ciasullo and Carmen Branco. (l r) Towamencin Co Municipal Chair Carolyn Murphy, committee person Ahsanur Rahman, and Mark Painter. On right, (l r) Springfield Democrats committee person Bonny Davis, committee person Gloria Thompson, Peter Amuso, and committee person Jane Roberts. Shapiro/Richards Hosts Leadership Training Session Plymouth Meeting, 30 April. Recently the team of county commissioner candidates, Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards, hosted a power breakfast and training and information session for Democratic leaders and volunteers throughout the county. The event was held at AFSCME 88 in Plymouth Meeting and a roomful of Democrats both learned, brushed up on, and brainstormed get out thevote ideas for the May and November elections. The candidates energized the volunteers and spoke about the role of county commissioner. The session was lead by Lauren Lambrugo, the campaign s executive director, and featured presentations on turnout, phonebanking, doorto door canvassing, and many other topics. If you would like to get involved by volunteering with the campaign please vi s i t t h e i r we b s i t e : The campaign is hosting numerous upcoming house parties, where you can meet the candidates and learn more about the campaign. For more information about these events and for times and dates visit the calendar of Democratic events at MCDC s website:

10 Montgomery County Democratic Committee June 2011 page 10 Shapiro/Richards Hosts Fundraiser at Normandy Farm Blue Bell, 1 May Over 100 people attended the recent fundraiser hosted by the county commissioner campaign of Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards. Guests included United States Senator Bob Casey; former Governor Ed Rendell; honorary Shapiro/ Richards campaign chair persons Rob Fox, Bev Hahn, and Reverend Charles Quann; MCDC Chairman Marcel Groen; and the slate of county row officer and county court of common pleas candidates. Commissioner candidate Josh Shapiro addresses the crowd; on stage former Governor Ed Rendell, and Shapiro s running mate Leslie Richards. MCDC 1st Vice Chair Joanne Olszewski and United States Senator Bob Casey. A large crowd enjoyed the event. Former Governor Ed Rendell introduces commissioner candidates Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards. Commissioner candidate Josh Shapiro talks with candidate and Prothonotary Mark Levy.