Terry Tracy, the Republican candidate for city controller, has rescheduled his town hall meeting for Tuesday, July 16, at 7:15 p.m. at Holmesburg Recreation Center, at Rhawn and Ditman streets.
The meeting was originally set for July 9, but postponed because of a death in the candidate’s family.
Meanwhile, Tracy said Philadelphians are not getting the services for all the taxes they pay.
Tracy, who is challenging Democratic incumbent Alan Butkovitz, believes a tax dollar spent should be equivalent to a dollar in public service received.
“Our schools fail to provide our children with an education worthy of their potential,” he said. “Our economic policies have resulted in stagnant job growth despite billions in cumulative long-term debt. We lack the accountability we expect from too many of our public servants, which results in a strange, casual attitude about public expenditures.”
Terry is calling for an end to what he sees as a “knee-jerk reaction” to raise taxes. Instead, he thinks there should be substantial discussions about how and where money is spent.
The challenger likes an idea put forth by at-large Republican City Councilman David Oh, who wants to reallocate some funds in the operating budget to lower the millage rate, thus decreasing property taxes.
The Tracy campaign cited, as an example of an unnecessary expenditure, the initiative to reduce Philadelphians’ salt intake.
The candidate said the status quo is not acceptable.
“Contrary to popular belief, there are two parties in this city,” Tracy said. “Only one is capable of delivering the reform we need and the accountability we expect.”
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Former City Councilman Dan Savage will be holding an upcoming fundraiser for his possible primary challenge to state Sen. Tina Tartaglione.
Tartaglione (D-2nd dist.) hasn’t had a tough campaign since her first victory in 1994. She serves as secretary of the Democratic caucus and minority party chairwoman of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee. She is a favorite of Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa of Allegheny County, meaning she will be well-funded.
Savage is a Northwood resident and Democratic leader of the 23rd Ward. His $100 breakfast fundraiser is scheduled for the morning of Saturday, July 21, at Westy’s Irish Pub in North Wildwood, N.J.
Tartaglione, the daughter of former city elections commissioner Marge Tartaglione, narrowly defeated Republican Sen. Bruce Marks in 1994. She has sailed to re-election ever since.
In all that time, Tartaglione has served in the minority party. At present, Republicans control the Senate by a 27–23 margin.
Savage won a November 2006 special election for the vacant 7th Councilmanic District seat. He lost the following year in the Democratic primary to Maria Quinones Sanchez, who went on to win the seat in the general election. He also lost a primary challenge to Sanchez in 2011.
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U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-13th dist.), who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor next year, criticized Republican Gov. Tom Corbett as the legislative session closed for the summer. Schwartz said Pennsylvania needs a governor who will provide an economic vision, invest in education and address transportation and infrastructure needs.
Schwartz noted that Corbett failed to pass the top three items on his agenda: liquor store privatization, reform of state employee pension plans and increased transportation spending.
“Gov. Corbett has presided over months of partisan wrangling in Harrisburg, and, once again, the system has produced few results for everyday Pennsylvanians,” she said in a statement. “It is a governor’s job to foster private-sector job creation, strengthen our public schools, improve Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges and use opportunities to extend health coverage for more Pennsylvanians. And that is exactly why I’m running.” ••
