Showing his support: Former President Bill Clinton addresses the crowd during a fundraiser for 13th Congressional District candidate Marjorie Margolies on April 10 at the Warwick Hotel. The event raised about $200,000. MARIA POUCHNIKOVA / TIMESÂ PHOTO
Former President Bill Clinton last week headlined a fundraiser for 13th Congressional District candidate Marjorie Margolies, and he urged the crowd to send her back to Washington after a 20-year absence.
“I know if you send Marjorie to Congress, she’ll make you proud,” he told a couple of hundred people at the Warwick Hotel, at 17th and Locust streets.
The event raised about $200,000.
Margolies is a Clinton in-law. Her son Marc is married to Chelsea Clinton.
“I would be here if her son was not my son-in-law,” Bill Clinton said.
Margolies served in the House of Representatives in 1993–94. She cast a tiebreaking vote for Clinton’s economic plan, which included tax hikes, and she lost a re-election bid.
Supporters of that plan contend that it led to economic expansion.
Clinton said 13th Congressional District Democrats should look at that vote to see how Margolies — who faces three Democrats in the primary — would serve today. He also noted her past votes for an assault-weapons ban and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
“Marjorie is the best positioned to do the right thing for the future,” he said. “…What happened before is a good indicator of what will happen in the future.”
Former Pennsylvania Gov. and Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell said Margolies would not merit a mention in his book, A Nation of Wusses, but would be a better fit for John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage. He said her vote “turned the United States of America around.”
Others in attendance included state Rep. John Sabatina Jr., former City Controller Jonathan Saidel and ward leaders Bill Dolbow, Janice Sulman and John Sabatina.
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State Sen. Daylin Leach, a Democratic candidate in the 13th Congressional District, raised $335,399 in the first quarter of 2014.
Leach has $659,817 cash on hand, with $577,392 available to spend in the primary. The candidate has received contributions from about 4,800 individuals from all 50Â states.
“These are people who support Daylin’s message of closing the gap between the rich and everyone else, making the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share, protecting a woman’s right to choose, and protecting and expanding Social Security,” said Aren Platt, Leach’s campaign manager.
The average contribution was less than $105. Platt noted that some people paid $5,000 to meet former President Clinton last week at a fundraiser for Marjorie Margolies.
“Her campaign seems to be run by and for the 1 percent, as opposed to the thousands of Daylin supporters who our opponent would turn away at the door from her events,” Platt said.
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Leach has been endorsed by the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the National Education Association.
“Since joining the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2002, Daylin has stood out as a tireless advocate for public education, and we know that he will continue fighting for our schools, our students, and our profession as a member of Congress,” said Mike Crossey, president of the PSEA.
The PSEA has more than 5,600 members in the 13th Congressional District.
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Leach and his three primary opponents — Brendan Boyle, Marjorie Margolies and Val Arkoosh — are scheduled to debate on Tuesday, April 29, at 7 p.m. at the Portuguese Club, at 2019 Rhawn St. The debate is being organized by John Sabatina, Democratic leader of the 56th Ward.
Sabatina has endorsed Margolies.
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U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, a Democratic candidate for governor, last week released her first television ad, which highlights her fight to pass the Children’s Health Insurance Program through the state Senate.
Schwartz worked with former state Rep. Allen Kukovich and former Pennsylvania Gov. Bob Casey to pass the landmark health-care plan for Pennsylvania’s children.
“The Children’s Health Insurance Program became a model for President Clinton,” Schwartz said. “Now, hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania children — and millions more across the county — have access to quality affordable health care. We started it in Pennsylvania and led the nation. That’s exactly the type of experience and leadership I will bring as governor.”
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Jared Solomon, a Democratic candidate in the 202nd Legislative District, on Friday hosted a news conference at his campaign office, where officials from Environmental Construction Services Inc. announced they would relocate from an industrial park on Byberry Road to an undetermined location in the Lower Northeast, where the 202nd is based.
Environmental Construction Services is a mechanical and sheet metal contracting firm specializing in energy efficiency. It is looking to expand manufacturing and fabrication, with hopes of creating 10 to 20 new jobs in addition to the 32 already employed.
CEO Michael Brown and chief operating officer Dominic Menta attended the news conference.
“Over the past few decades, our representatives have sat silently as our manufacturing and textile industries, once the lifeblood of Northeast Philadelphia, have evaporated,” Solomon said. “This has led to a massive increase in unemployment, poverty, and crime. As of today, that changes. I have lobbied tirelessly to bring good careers to the Northeast to reduce unemployment and reinvigorate our neighborhoods. In coordination with Michael and his company, Environmental Construction Services Inc., we’re doing just that.”
“Both in our employees and our elected officials, we’re looking for individuals who are determined, intelligent and have a strong sense of community,” Brown said. “It is clear Jared Solomon embodies those characteristics, and he has shown me that the Lower Northeast does as well.”
Solomon is challenging Rep. Mark Cohen in the primary. He ended a court challenge to the incumbent’s nominating petitions.
“Bringing the suit showed a total lack of responsibility,” Cohen said.
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Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania recently struck down a challenge to the nominating petitions of Jason Dawkins, Democratic candidate in the 179th Legislative District. Dawkins is challenging Rep. James Clay in the primary. His petitions were challenged on allegations he did not live in the district.
“Philadelphia politics can be rough and tumble, so unfortunately I’m not surprised by this tactic to get me off the ballot,” he said. “Unfortunately for the plaintiff, the case was without merit. I’m glad to have weathered this challenge, and I’m ready to move forward. I’m confident that I will finish this race strong and give the residents of the 179th the leadership and vision they deserve.”
David Hall, who also filed to run in the primary, lost a court challenge and is off the ballot. ••
