The Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association last week held a candidates night meeting at Wesley Enhanced Living, 7040 Oxford Ave.
The speakers at the March 10 meeting were Ross Feinberg, Republican candidate in the 5th Senatorial District; state Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-172nd dist.), who is running for re-election and also in the Democratic primary in the 5th Senatorial District; Jim Pio, the Republican candidate in the 172nd Legislative District; and state Rep. Mark Cohen (D-202nd dist.).
Feinberg faulted Gov. Tom Wolf and Senate and House members for gridlock in Harrisburg.
“We need to replace them all,” he said.
Among his top issues is school funding.
“I want to make the Northeast great again,” he said.
Boyle, elected in 2010, is challenging state Sen. John Sabatina Jr. in the April 26 primary. His top issue is income inequality.
“To me, it seems like we’re going backward as a country,” he said.
Boyle is cosponsor of a bill to increase the minimum wage. He also wants to provide for paid sick time for workers, particularly in the service sector.
In response to a question, he said Democratic ward leaders would select a candidate to replace him in the House race if he wins the Senate race. While Boyle is expected to drop out of the House race if he wins the Senate primary, Pio noted that a potential special election in the 172nd district would be costly.
“That’s hundreds of thousands of dollars the schools could use,” he said.
Pio, who lives on Claridge Street in Burholme and attended neighborhood schools Crossan and Redeemer Lutheran, said he would introduce a bill requiring state lawmakers to resign if they run for another office. He described himself as “a business manager, not a politician.”
Cohen, elected in 1974, is facing a primary challenge from Jared Solomon, whom he beat by 158 votes two years ago.
The incumbent said his opponent is focusing on issues such as dirty streets and crime, saying every candidate opposes them. In contrast, Cohen said he focuses on big issues with a range of views, such as sponsoring a bill to increase the minimum wage. He said he’s been on top of that issue since 1987, when the fight was to up the wage from $3.35 an hour to $3.70.
Today, Cohen wants a hike to as much as $15.
“People in Pennsylvania deserve a raise,” he said.
Also at the meeting, guests heard from City Councilman Al Taubenberger. And, they had the chance to test a voting machine for the upcoming election.
Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association will meet again on Thursday, April 14, at 7 p.m., at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, at Cottman and Lawndale avenues. ••
