Former Sheriff Barbara Deeley has endorsed state Rep. Brendan Boyle in the 13th Congressional District Democratic primary.
U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, a Democratic candidate for governor, last week made a campaign swing through the Northeast.
On April 17, Schwartz made stops at the Country Club Restaurant, the Dining Car, the Northeast Older Adult Center and her campaign field office at 8566 Bustleton Ave.
Schwartz, who served 14 years in the state Senate before being elected to Congress in 2004, believes she is a better choice than primary opponents Tom Wolf, Rob McCord and Katie McGinty.
“The difference is experience and a record of accomplishment,” she said.
Schwartz said she wants to go to Harrisburg to shake up the status quo. Her top issues include education, health care, jobs and services for veterans, senior citizens and children.
In her time in the state Senate and Congress, she has represented two-thirds of Philadelphia. She also has represented large portions of Montgomery County. She is counting on those relationships to win big in the city and Montgomery County.
“They know they can count on me,” she said.
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Katie McGinty, a Democratic candidate for governor, last week released two new 15-second statewide television commercials.
One ad talks about McGinty’s record as a “job-creating environmentalist” who attracted clean energy companies to Pennsylvania, lured $1 billion in new investment and helped create thousands of jobs as secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection.
Appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell, McGinty served as DEP secretary from 2003–2008. A former chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, she’s been endorsed by former Vice President Al Gore.
The other ad focuses on McGinty’s proposal to impose a severance tax on oil and natural gas companies, and use the money for education in kindergarten through 12th grade. In the ad, McGinty states that, “When oil and gas companies don’t pay their fair share, the middle class pays more in property taxes.”
McGinty is a Rhawnhurst native who attended St. Hubert High School.
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A Franklin & Marshall College Poll of registered Democrats finds that Tom Wolf retains a sizable lead in the primary race for governor, although many voters (46 percent) remain undecided at the moment.
Wolf, a wealthy York County businessman and former secretary of the state Department of Revenue, leads his closest challenger, Schwartz, 33 percent to 7 percent, similar to the lead he held in the February poll. State Treasurer Rob McCord (6 percent) and former state Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Katie McGinty (4 percent) remain well behind.
Most voters surveyed said they had seen one of Wolf’s numerous television commercials.
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Former Sheriff Barbara Deeley has endorsed state Rep. Brendan Boyle in the 13th Congressional District Democratic primary.
“Brendan’s record on crime and safety is unparalleled in this race, and no one will do more to support both our local and regional law enforcement than Brendan will in Washington,” she said.
Deeley noted the support for Boyle by organizations associated with law enforcement.
“The fact that Brendan has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodges 5 and 37 speaks volumes about his commitment to keeping our streets and neighborhoods safe,” she said.
Deeley, of Rhawnhurst, also pointed out that no Northeast resident has served in Congress since former Rep. Bob Borski retired in 2002.
“This election is a great opportunity to send someone to Congress who understands our neighborhoods because they are from our neighborhood, and Brendan is that person for Northeast Philadelphia,” she said.
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Boyle and his three primary opponents — Daylin Leach, Marjorie Margolies and Val Arkoosh — are scheduled to debate on Tuesday, April 29, at 7 p.m. at the Portuguese Club, 2019 Rhawn St.
The public is invited.
The debate is being organized by John Sabatina, Democratic leader of the 56th Ward.
Sabatina has endorsed Margolies.
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Leach has picked up the endorsement of the Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club, which supports issues of concern to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
The club did not make an endorsement for governor.
For lieutenant governor, it’s backing state Sen. Mike Stack.
The nod went to state Sen. Tina Tartaglione in the Democratic primary in the 2nd Senatorial District.
State Rep. Mark Cohen earned the endorsement in the 202nd Legislative District.
The group also is behind state Rep. Ed Neilson, the Democratic candidate in a special election for an at-large City Council seat.
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The Philadelphia Republican City Committee voted overwhelmingly to oppose the proposed change to the Home Rule Charter that would allow Philadelphia elected officials to run for another office without resigning.
“Currently, if someone in City Hall wants to run for another office, they have to quit first. City Council wants to change that so they can campaign for a different office while the taxpayers are paying them to do their job,” said Joe DeFelice, executive director of the Republican City Committee. “To that, we say: ‘Not on our dime.’” ••
On the campaign trail: U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz made stops at the Country Club Restaurant, the Dining Car, the Northeast Older Adult Center and her campaign field office at 8566 Bustleton Ave. last week. MARIA POUCHNIKOVA / TIMES PHOTO
