The Somerton Civic Association has offered to host a debate between the two candidates for the vacant 170th district seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
During the SCA’s monthly meeting on Feb. 10, Republican nominee Martina White confirmed that she would take part in the proposed March 10 debate at Walker Lodge 306, 1290 Southampton Road. The Somerton native and Parkwood resident also introduced herself in a brief address to members of the civic group.
Democrat nominee and Parkwood resident Sarah DelRicci also had been invited to participate in the debate and speak at last week’s civic meeting, according to SCA President Seth Kaplan. DelRicci did not attend the civic meeting, although a supporter of the candidate distributed campaign palm cards to attendees. DelRicci later told a Northeast Times reporter that she is considering participation in the debate. Kaplan said that DelRicci has not responded to the civic association’s invitations.
The SCA has chosen a Times reporter to moderate the debate, which would last about a half-hour and include questions prepared by leaders of the civic association and the moderator, along with those submitted by residents.
White, in her comments at last week’s meeting, said she grew up in Somerton and graduated from Elizabethtown College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in economics. The 26-year-old works as a personal financial adviser. She identified her priorities as keeping neighborhoods safe, reforming tax codes that place a burden on Pennsylvania residents and promoting job growth.
DelRicci, 34, is a Hamilton Township, New Jersey, native who has lived in Parkwood for more than 17 years and is founder of the nonprofit Parkwood Therapeutic Riding Center.
The special election will be on March 24. The speaker of the Pennsylvania House, Rep. Mike Turzai, declared the election to fill the seat vacated by Brendan Boyle, who was elected to the U.S. House last fall. The next regular election in the 170th will be held in 2016.
White or DelRicci would be the first woman Northeast resident to serve in the Pennsylvania House in a quarter-century. Republican Frances Weston represented the 173rd district from 1981 to ’91.
In other Somerton Civic Association business:
• Members gave unanimous approval to a zoning variance that would allow a new barbecue restaurant to open in the former Michael’s Family Restaurant at 11000 Roosevelt Blvd. A zoning hearing is scheduled for Feb. 25.
• At the request of City Councilman Brian O’Neill, civic association members voted unanimously to support an ordinance that would allow the creation of a farmer’s market at Walker Lodge. The outdoor market is scheduled to open in the spring and will operate on Saturdays. It will offer locally grown produce in a family-friendly atmosphere.
• O’Neill also reported that the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspection has refused to grant zoning approval to a substance abuse recovery house that has been operating on the 1000 block of Southampton Road. The property is zoned as a single-family house.
• The new commander of the 7th Police District introduced himself to the civic association. Michael Gormley was promoted to captain about one year ago and has been serving in Command Inspections Bureau since then. Previously, he served as lieutenant of the special investigations unit with Northeast Detectives.
• John Swoyer, CEO of MaST Community Charter School, asked residents to contact the School Reform Commission to advocate for the replication of the MaST program at two new locations. MaST hopes to open one school on the 11000 block of Roosevelt Blvd. and another in Center City. The SRC is expected to vote on 39 proposed charters on Feb. 18. ••
