October 2010 Vol. 4, No. 5 Montgomery County Democrats The Newsletter of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee President Bill Clinton Rallies Voters in Montgomery County Photo Credit: Richard W. Rogers, Jr. Norristown, 28 October 2010. In approach of the November 2 election, President Bill Clinton visited Montgomery County and the South Eastern Pennsylvania region to encourage Democrats to get to the polls on E Day. Clinton began his trip in Montgomery County s 15th Congressional District (which stretches up to Bethlehem), where he spoke in the city on behalf of Gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato, and the Mayor of Bethlehem and candidate for the 15th Congressional, John Callahan. Rally continued on page 3 Groen to Dems: We Win If We Vote King of Prussia, 10 October. Addressing the party faithful at MCDC s annual fall dinner, Chairman Marcel Groen stressed what the pollsters and political advisors have repeatedly confirmed. The promised tsunami by the party opposite, said the chairman, is entirely predicated on Democrats staying home on November the Second. Forcefully observing the hypocrisy of the Republican candidate for governor and the extreme lunacy of G.O.P/Tea Party candidate for U.S. Senate, Chairman Groen applauded the party s ticket this year, but he reminded party members of the 2009 General Election, where Democrats in the county fell short by a handful of votes, which Groen segued into his repeated call for area leaders and committee people to double their efforts in getting out the vote this year. Pointing to a series of polls recently conducted throughout the state that show Joe Sestak and Dan Onorato within or ahead by a point or two of their opponents, the chairman urged the committee to have a sense of urgency in bringing to the polls as many Democrats as possible. Our county, declared the chairman, may very well determine the outcome for Joe Sestak and Dan Groen Continued on page 3 Election Day is Tuesday, November 2 VOTE!
Montgomery County Democratic Committee October 2010 page 2 Dan Onorato in East Norriton East Norriton, 23 October. Gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato campaigned at the Beef n Beer Blowout Fundraiser sponsored by the East Norriton Democratic Committee and the Teamsters Local 384 held at the Teamsters Hall in East Norriton. On hand to address the approximately 100 guests were Sixth Congressional District candidate, Manan Trivedi; state representative candidate for the 150th, Andrea Baptiste; State Senator Daylin Leach (17th); and East Norriton Supervisors John Zurzola and Harris Dainoff, both pictured above with Dan Onorato (Zurzola and Dainoff, left and right of Dan Onorato, respectively). State Representative Matt Bradford (70th) was also present at the event. Onorato Stumps in Montgomery County Plymouth Meeting, 17 October. Gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato made a stop at the AFSCME s Robert T. Cooper Labor Center in Plymouth Meeting on 17 October to speak to local government officeholders, including mayors, school board directors, and township and borough commissioners. He was introduced by County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel and AFSCME District Council 88 Director, Tom Tosti. Onorato also attended the 32nd Annual AFL CIO COPE Dinner held 23 October, also at the Cooper Labor Center. Mrs. Shelly Onorato was in Lower Merion on 26 October attending a Women for Onorato gathering. Chairman s Corner By Marcel Groen, Chairman Montgomery County Democratic Committee The petitions have been filed. And, for the most part, the doors have been knocked. The calls have been made. The ads have been run. Now comes the really critical job GOTV. Folks, we must get the vote out on Tuesday. If we are successful in getting our voters out on Tuesday, we will win. Dan Onorato will win. Joe Sestak will win. Allyson Schwartz will win. Patrick Murphy will win. Chaka Fattah will win. Brian Lentz will win. Manan Trivedi will win. John Callahan will win. And, our state legislative candidates will win. The so called Republican wave (some say tsunami) will be greatly attenuated, if we do our job and get Democrats out to vote. There are 1.2 million more registered Democrats than Republicans in Pennsylvania, and 32,000 more Democrats than Republicans in Montgomery County. The math is on our side, but the math won t matter, if Democrats do not vote. Call 10 of your Democratic friends and ask them to vote. Give rides to the polls to five Democratic friends. Volunteer to help out at a poll or at a call center to make calls on election day. Why is this so important? Other than the obvious downside of going back to the failed policies of the past, a Republican takeover in the state House and a Republican gubernatorial win means that Republicans will be drawing the new lines for redistricting next year and that will profoundly impact elections and Democratic chances in those elections for the next decade. Call MCDC (610 272 2000) or one of the campaigns to see how you can help. I look forward to working with you in this endeavor and to celebrating some great victories with you on Tuesday night. Problems on Election Day? Need your voting location? Call MCDC 610 272 2000.
Montgomery County Democratic Committee October 2010 page 3 A large crowd gathers outside of the George Washington Carver center in Norristown. Photo credit: Richard W. Rogers, Jr. Rally continued from page 1 He then traveled to Norristown, to rally voters. By 2:20 pm, a large crowd had gathered outside of the G e o r g e Washington Carver Center on Jacoby Street to hear the former president, Onorato, and local candidates, including candidate for the 6th Congressional District Manan Trivedi, State Representative Matt Bradford (70th District), and candidate for the 150th State House Andrea Baptiste. Montgomery County Democratic Committee Chairman Marcel Groen and County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel also spoke to the assembled crowd of about 300 Democrats. C l i n t o n made his second stop in our county at Bryn Mawr College with Congressman Joe Sestak, candidate for United States Senate. At an outside rally on the Merion Green, he implored Democ Clinton speaks to the crowd at Bryn Mawr College. Photo credit: Jill Stein rats to get to the polls on Election Day and also to encourage their friends and neighbors to vote. Clinton then traveled to Cheyney University in Delaware County, and ended his GOTV rally effort at Temple University in North Philadelphia, where Clinton and Sestak stumped in front of a large crowd of supporters. Vote the Entire Democratic Ticket Button Number D10 Groen continued from page 1 Onorato, and the five extra voters each committee person brings to the polls may the difference between winning and losing. If we do our job, Groen asserted, and if each committee person working with their neighbors can bring to the polls five, ten, twenty Democratic voters who would otherwise have stayed away, we will win.. The higher the turnout, he observed, the greater our chances of winning. Local Areas Hold Events Areas 2 and 15 recently held their 50th Annual Picnic at Issac Smith Park in Green Lane. On 21 September, close to 100 Democrats turned out to enjoy BBQ and likeminded company. Pictured above (l r) Bob Dodge (candidate 147th State House), Mayor John Callahan (candidate 15th Congressional), Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, Bill Wallace (candidate 24th State Senate), MCDC Chairman Marcel Groen, Area 2 Leader Elaine DiGilio Hannock, and Area 15 Leader Arthur Fairclough. On 1 October, Area 4 held its 4th Annual Wine Tasting at the Parc Bistro in Skippack. A large group of attendees enjoyed great hors d oevures and wines and heard from candidates, including State Representatives Matt Bradford (70th) and Paul Drucker (157th).
Montgomery County Democratic Committee October 2010 page 4 Governor Howard Dean Headlines Reception for Congressional Candidates Bryan Lentz and Manan Trivedi Upper Merion, 22 September. Former Democratic Party National Chairman and former governor Dr. Howard Dean campaigned on behalf of congressional candidates Bryan Lentz (7th) and Dr. Manan Trivedi (6th) spearheading the National Red to Blue Candidates drive. The program has dedicated financial and political support to 25 Democratic challengers across the country in an effort to unseat Republican incumbents. The candidates qualified for the additional support from the DCCC because of their individual fundraising efforts and commitment to sound Democratic Party values. John Callahan (15th) is the third of three Pennsylvania candidates on the list. The event was hosted by State Senator (17th) Daylin Leach and Jennifer Leach. Clockwise from upper left: Congressional candidate Bryan Lentz (7th ), Governor Howard Dean, and Iraqi translator, Safa Ismael; Congressional candidate Manan Trivedi, campaign manager for Barbara Bergeron, Emily Hass, and Lower Merion Committee Person Naheed Flake; State Representative (149th) Tim Briggs, Jeannie Roggio, and Bob Roggio; Governor Howard Dean and State Senator Daylin Leach (17th). Photo Credit: Naheed Flake
Montgomery County Democratic Committee October 2010 page 5 Governor Rendell Campaigns with Tim Briggs in Lower Merion Lower Merion, 27 September. Governor Ed Rendell visited with state representatives Tim Briggs (149th) and Dwight Evans at the home of state treasurer Rob McCord and his wife Leigh Jackson. The governor spoke highly of Tim Briggs efforts in the House on behalf of education and a sensible budget. The governor praised Briggs for taking a principled stand against the recently passed state budget for the cuts made in school funding and critical social services. Photo credit: Jill Stein Pottstown Candidates Forum Held Pottstown, 21 September. Candidates Mark Painter for 146th State House and Matt Stehman for the 44th State Senate, with Jim Prendergast for Joe Sestak and Bob Roggio for 6th congressional candidate Manan Trivedi, answered questions before approximately 35 listeners at a forum moderated by Dan Weand held at St. John s Byzantine Catholic Church. Among other topics discussed, Painter and Stehman stressed the credibility issue of the state legislature and urged greater transparency. Photo credit: Jordan Haedtler (l r) Seated at the Forum are Mark Painter and Matt Stehman. State Representative Tim Briggs (149th) speaking with supporters at the home of state treasurer Rob McCord. Governor Ed Rendell with Lower Merion and Narberth Co Chair Jill Stein and her son Harry Stein at the Briggs event. Seated at the Forum are Matt Stehman and Bob Roggio.
Montgomery County Democratic Committee King of Prussia, 10 October. Nearly 300 Democ rats attended the Montgomery County Democ ratic Committee s Annual Fall Dinner at the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge in King of Prussia and helped honor retiring State Representative Kathy Manderino (194th) with the Lifetime Achievement Award and former Area 9 Leader Penny Cutler as Democrat of the Year. Chairman Marcel Groen began the festivities with a strong and emphatic message regarding the necessity of defeating the right wing agenda this November and a reminder that Montgomery County could prove crucial in deciding the outcome for the state elections. Groen introduced the night s speaker DNC Political Director Clyde Williams, who dis cussed the importance of this year s election. U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, Congressman Patrick Murphy and Congressman Joe Sestak (who is running for U.S. Senate) all spoke along similar lines. Dan Onorato, candidate for governor, called into the dinner from an event in Northeast Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Jim Burn spoke on behalf of Onorato at the event. Congressional candidates Brian Lentz and Manan Trivedi reiterated the message of getting out the Democratic vote. The Chairman recognized all of our State Senate candidates in attendance and brought all of our State House on the dais, where they met resounding applause. MCDC would like to thank Leslie Richards for chairing the event. October 2010 State Representatives and candidates for State House are recognized at the MCDC Fall Dinner. Congressman Joe Sestak, candi date for United States Senate Penny Cutler is honored as speaks to the dinner attendees. Democrat of the Year. Photo credit: Cate Schurz On right, (l r) Congress woman Allyson Schwartz, State Representative and candidate for the 7th Congressional District Bryan Lentz, United States Senator Bob Casey, and MCDC Chairman Marcel Groen. MCDC Chairman Marcel Groen, State Repre sentative and honoree Kathy Manderino, and State Treasurer Rob McCord. page 6
Montgomery County Democratic Committee October 2010 page 7 THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET 2010 Democratic Candidates Election Day is Tuesday, November 2 Questions? Visit: www.mcdems.org Call MCDC: 610 272 2000 UNITED STATES SENATOR Joe Sestak State Party Meets in Montgomery County GOVERNOR/LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR Dan Onorato H. Scott Conklin REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS 2 ND DISTRICT Chaka Fattah 6 TH DISTRICT Manan Trivedi 7 TH DISTRICT Bryan Lentz 8 TH DISTRICT Patrick J. Murphy 13 TH DISTRICT Allyson Y. Schwartz 15 TH DISTRICT John B. Callahan SENATOR IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 4 th DISTRICT LeAnna Washington 10 th DISTRICT Cynthia Philo 12 th DISTRICT Ruth S. Damsker 24 th DISTRICT Bill Wallace 44 th DISTRICT Matt Stehman REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 53 RD DISTRICT Jack Hansen 61 ST DISTRICT Mary Lou Readinger 70 TH DISTRICT Matt Bradford 146 TH DISTRICT Mark Painter 147 th DISTRICT Robert Dodge 148 TH DISTRICT Mike Gerber 149 TH DISTRICT Tim Briggs 150 TH DISTRICT Andrea Baptiste 151 ST DISTRICT Rick Taylor 152 nd DISTRICT Robert H. McGuckin 153 rd DISTRICT Josh Shapiro 154 th DISTRICT Lawrence H. Curry 157 TH DISTRICT Paul J. Drucker 170 th DISTRICT Brendan F. Boyle 194 th DISTRICT Pamela A. DeLissio King of Prussia, 24 25, September. The Montgomery County Democratic Committee was thrilled to welcome the Pennsylvania Democratic Party to our county for their State Party meeting. Democrats from across the state stayed at the Radisson Valley Forge and attended seminars, caucuses, and the official State Committee meeting. Pennsylvania Party Chair Jim Burn and Vice Chair (our own) Penny Gerber, (pictured above) addressed the meeting discussing the importance of the upcoming election. Gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato, Lieutenant Gubernatorial candidate H. Scott Conklin, and Congressman Joe Sestak also attended the various caucuses and meetings. MCDC welcomed everyone with dessert reception at the ICE nightclub. Thank you to our generous event sponsors for making the event a success. MCDC volunteers helped the State Party members at the event, offering directional assistance and Democratic camaraderie. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped our local party shine.