This MUST stop. The only reason that we have one-party rule in this county (and in individual boroughs and school boards) is because the party, on a county and to a lesser extent, state level fails to provide compelling alternatives. And it shows in the fundraising (via the DelcoTimes):
As always, the Republicans had a lot more cash to spend on literature, mailings, signs, sample ballots and Election Day "street money." They even ran short Cartisano/Whelan commercials on ESPN, Fox News, MSNBC and other cable channels.
This year, the Delaware County Republican Finance Committee out-raised the county’s two main Democratic funds by a margin of more than 11-1, according to the most recent campaign finance reports available, which do not include the Oct. 27 GOP fund-raiser at the Drexelbrook.
The county Democratic Committee and Future Fund raised a total of $25,589 through the reporting period ending Oct. 24. The countywide Republican fund hauled in $282,625 through Sept. 19 and raised an estimated $100,000 at the Drexelbrook.
What I hear over and over in my township, Darby Township, is that unless you are a registered Republican, forget getting anything done. Now, I don’t know if that’s a fact or not, and I’ve have certainly PERSONALLY been disappointed with the level of service and accountability that I and my neighbors receive from the township, but it’s certainly with in the realm of possibility.
So let’s get down to brass tacks and the problems, using Springfield, PA as our example. The Democrats put up the showing, just as one would expect. And the Republicans - who funds them? Is it John Q. Public who owns the charming colonial at the end of the block? Nope.
It’s county businesses, paying up in either campaign donations or $200 per plate dinners at the country club. The reward for such party loyalty - no bid contract on Township business. Now, how does a minority party compete with someone that entrenched? Citizens of Delaware County, don’t bitch about your local government and how they don’t do anything for you but raise your taxes - you got the government you voted for - One-Party Rule, and the disappointing Dems have no incentive to provide an alternative because you don’t care enough to vote any differently.
Also, Darby Township (election results), do you read the DelcoTimes? Did you GET what PACleanSweep was all about? For that matter, what about Delaware County as a whole? Plenty of other areas of Pennsylvania voted to show (Justices) Nigro (49% retention, statewide) and Newman (54% retention, statewide) the door, yet Delco largely voted along party lines . Is it more important to be faithfull to the party rather than voting in your own self interest? If you needed a reason why maybe Nigro didn’t deserve reelection, perhaps this little bit from the Daily News via the Inquirer’s Dan Rubin will illustrate why:
[From Daily News columnist John Baer (sub req'd):] He charges for lunches of more than $100 at Capital Grille and the Four Seasons; dinners of more than $200 at Bliss and Pompeii; dinners of more than $300 at Mio Sogno and Prime Rib: dinners of more than $400 at Prime Rib and Morton’s.
There’s also Susanna Foo, the Palm, Ruth’s Chris and others.
During one week, last April 11 to 18, he spent $1,280 at restaurants in Philly, Ambler and Pittsburgh. This, to me, seems abusive.
In an interview, Nigro says he eats out more than others because he’s not married. He says meals charged to taxpayers are for "court-related business" with other judges, lawyers or law clerks, some in fairly large groups. He says, "I don’t like lawyers buying me anything."
He says he recently reviewed his expenses and found just "eight [meals] greater than $300, most under $200… I don’t think I’m taking advantage."
And then, of course, we are left with the County and local democrats, who can’t seem to either field a candidate or raise any money. I might be time for a change, especially given disastrous comments such as these from Party Leader Cliff Wilson, as reported in the DelcoTimes (I can’t find the link), which, if I recall correctly, compared the Bushies to fascists, Hitler, etc., (Godwin in the hizz-ouse!) and launched into a tirade against the war. Now, I don’t disagree with any of that. Bush IS an authoritarian, comparing this nation (and it’s citizens) as children that need to be minded, and afterall, we’ve been surrendering rights to governments and corporations with alarming regularity. But Cliff, you’re not Howard Dean - leave the NATIONAL politics to the DNC, and leave the state politics to the state Dems. Get local. You want to talk about national issues? Find a way to give them some local relevance.
It shouldn’t be hard to raise money in Delco, since everyone who’s not personally invested in local and county government is disenfranchised. From what I gather, my half (the lower-middle to working class side east of Baltimore Pike) has been slowly sliding down hill, all under exclusively Republican control. And again, where are the alternatives?
I’ll give the county and township leadership some free advice - get a move on. Here’s some ideas for you. For starters, who is likely to be change oriented?
*How about single mothers? Women who are head of household? There are a LOT of registered *Democrat women voters in Delco!
*People on the lower economic stratus with children in the local school systems - how involved are they?
*Veterans? Don’t let FOXNEWS and the internet make you think everyone is in love with the Republican party.
*Who works in the medical field? How about academic? They rend to vote Democratic? How do you reach out to them? I saw that better than 22% of Delco residents were in liberal-trending occupations.
*People who’ve relocated to Delco who were Philadelphia residents and Democrats.
*How much of Delco’s youth is in College? What are you doing to reach out too them. Any candidates ever go out to the High Schools near Election Day?
*Get more people involved (and more attention) and the importance and relavence of primary elections.
*Go after multi-voter democratic (and split-ticket) households.
*Go after voters who registered AFTER the ‘04 elections (most likely new residents, maybe apartment dwellers?)
*Examine precinct results where for the spread between Specter and Kerry. The closer the number, the blue that red precinct is.
And here’s the killer…you need to embrace the Philadelphia Corruption Scandals!
Wha-wha-whaaatttt? Bu-bu-but they’re Democrats? We can’t talk bad about them!
No, they’re not Democrats. There people who are under investigation for criminal activity, and we support that investigation and accept whatever outcomes result from it. The problem is not which party is in power, it’s the simple fact that the political initiative in Delco is stagnant, just as it is in a lot of ways in Philadelphia. The people who are in charge are the same people who always have been in charge - and it’s in their best interest to keep things EXACTLY the way they are.
Here’s what you need to bring home:
*All of the Republicans money comes from businesses, not taxpayers.
*Most legislation favors businesses
*The majority of township(s) and county contracts are "No-Bid" - how much is that costing you?
Those No-Bid contracts are where it’s at. That’s the "reward" for "cooperation" - what you would call in Philadelphia "pay for play". Delaware County, at both the county and local level has one party rule, no oversight, and a prevalent environment of no-bid contracts. Start asking for numbers from your local elected officials - how many contracts, by number and dollar, are no-bid, and who do they go to? It’s time to get local!
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