Businessman Dee Adcock will seek the Republican nomination in the 13th Congressional District in the May 20 primary.
Adcock is a swimming pool company owner from Abington who is active with the National Federation of Independent Business.
John Fritz, a Far Northeast activist, has also announced his bid for the GOP nod.
Four Democrats are also running to replace Democratic Rep. Allyson Schwartz, who is running for governor.
Adcock challenged Schwartz in 2010, taking almost 44 percent of the vote, including about 47 percent in Montgomery County. That was a particularly strong year for Republicans, as voters expressed anger at the job performance of President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats. Redistricting made the 13th more Democratic in 2012. That year, Schwartz beat Republican Joe Rooney with 31 percent of the vote.
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State Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Democratic candidate in the 13th Congressional District, has been endorsed by 16 elected officials and party leaders from Montgomery County.
Boyle, of Somerton, is the only Philadelphia candidate in the Democratic primary. His three opponents are from Montgomery County.
His group of supporters includes Mark Levy, the county’s prothonotary.
“Brendan represents the hard work and values that the residents of Montgomery County hold true,” Levy said. “He understands the diverse needs of both Montgomery County and Philadelphia County, and will continue to be a voice for both in Congress, the same way he has represented both in Harrisburg. Brendan has my full support in this race, and I am excited to see his strong leadership shine on a national scale.”
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Boyle, state Sen. Daylin Leach and Dr. Val Arkoosh will participate in a candidates forum hosted by Montco Democracy for America and the Area 6 Democratic Committee.
The forum is set for Sunday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building, at 801 Loch Alsh Ave. in Fort Washington.
Marjorie Margolies declined to take part.
The moderator will be Will Bunch, writer for the Philadelphia Daily News.
Doors open at 1 p.m. Only registered Democrats in the 13th Congressional District may attend.
No food, drink or candidate badges, signs, banners or apparel will be allowed.
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Jared Solomon, who is challenging state Rep. Mark Cohen (D-202nd dist.) in the primary, attracted about 100 people last week to a dinner at Casa Brasil, at 622 Bustleton Ave.
“The feedback we’ve gotten to these dinners — and this campaign — is nothing short of amazing,” Solomon said. “Since announcing my candidacy just over a month ago, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re already hitting the streets with dozens of volunteers a week, and hearing directly from the voters. It’s very clear. Our volunteers are ready, our donors are ready, and the voters are ready. They want action, and we are going to bring it.”
Friends of Jared Solomon raised more than $65,000 from 450-plus donors in 2013.
Solomon is president of the Take Back Your Neighborhood civic association.
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Tom Wolf, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, announced he’d institute a gift ban for his staff and appointees and sign an executive order banning no-bid contracts to private law firms.
“It is time to clean up Harrisburg, and these two simple, commonsense measures are a good start,” Wolf said. “Pennsylvanians need to trust that their government is doing the right things for the right reasons, and with politicians accepting gifts from donors and special interests and the governor’s office assigning no-bid legal contracts, the public’s trust in government has been shaken.”
Wolf is a York County businessman who served as secretary of the Department of Revenue under Gov. Ed Rendell and was once a member of the Peace Corps.
The candidate last week received an endorsement from state Rep. Dwight Evans (D-203rd dist.).
“We need a governor who is a true partner to our community and who knows that we can change lives and change communities for the better,” Evans said. “I’ve known Tom for 20 years, working on issues ranging from economic fairness to better schools, He’s no ordinary candidate, building a business and giving back 20–30 percent of his profits to his employees. He’ll bring the change we need in Harrisburg. Tom’s the real deal, and he’s the governor we desperately need.”
In other campaign news, Wolf raised $3.27 million in 2013. That figure goes along with the $10 million that the candidate and his wife Frances contributed to the campaign.
“It is clear that his unique experience and background is resonating with Pennsylvanians,” said Joe Shafer, Wolf’s campaign manager. “Pennsylvanians are ready for fresh ideas and a different type of leader. Tom Wolf is a successful businessman who has done things the right way — sharing 20 to 30 percent of his profits with employees, rejecting perks when he was the secretary of revenue and saving his family’s business by investing in people. That is why people throughout Pennsylvania are responding to his campaign.”
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State Treasurer Rob McCord, who is also seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, has been endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 163 and Local 81, which are based in the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton areas.
Meanwhile, McCord reported raising $6.6 million in 2013, with $6 million remaining in his account.
The McCord campaign claims the support of unions consisting of about 216,000 active and retired members, comparing that total to the unions representing roughly 30,000 members backing one of his primary foes, Allyson Schwartz.
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Independence Hall Tea Party Political Action Committee president Don Adams is calling on Gov. Tom Corbett to appeal a Commonwealth Court ruling invalidating the state’s voter identification law.
Judge Bernard McGinley, a Democrat, ruled that the law “unreasonably burdens the right to vote.”
Adams wants Corbett to appeal the ruling to either the full Commonwealth Court or the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
“Bottom line, we are concerned that the judge’s decision will allow voter fraud to continue in the commonwealth, particularly in Philadelphia and Allegheny counties,” Adams said.
The law is opposed by, among others, the NAACP, the Homeless Advocacy Project and the League of Women Voters.
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Starting on Feb. 1, Mayfair resident and U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran Joseph Buckley will hold office hours every Wednesday at Republican City Committee headquarters at 3525–27 Cottman Ave.
“I have gotten to know Joe over time, and we are extremely excited to have him in our office assisting our veterans with any issues that they face,” said state Rep. John Taylor, chairman of the Republican City Committee. “We owe our freedom to these individuals, and if we can help ease their current situations in any way, we are proud to do it. Joe has wide-ranging experience working in legislative offices throughout the region, and I know that he can and will bring his extensive knowledge of veterans’ issues to our office.”
Any veteran who would like to make an appointment to visit with Buckley can call 215–561–0650. ••
