Back in April, Hillary Clinton held a California fundraiser that required couples to pay $353,400 to have dinner with George Clooney.
Last Thursday, Ross Feinberg held a more modest fundraiser.
Feinberg, the Republican candidate in the 5th Senatorial District, hosted supporters at McKenna’s, 7322 Frankford Ave. For $25, guests could drink unlimited Pabst Blue Ribbon draft beer.
“It’s a blue-collar theme,” he said.
Ward leaders Tom Matkowski, Brian McCann and Mark Wuller and 172nd Legislative District candidate Jim Pio were among those at McKenna’s, a throwback bar that still has a ladies entrance and a New York TV sign and whose motto is, “Where every hour is happy hour.” It’s best known for serving 80-cent PBR mugs.
Feinberg, a Burholme resident who is challenging Democratic Sen. John Sabatina Jr., wants a more business-friendly government. He points to recent local job losses at Perfecseal, Cardone Industries and the old Nabisco plant.
On the campaign trail, he has been visiting the Roosevelt Mall flea markets, the Pennypack Park concerts and senior citizen groups, which appreciate his background as a caregiver, he said.
“I’m doing my darndest to see as many people as possible,” he said.
Feinberg, running on a platform to “Make the Great Northeast Great Again,” is also trying to get Sabatina to debate him.
If elected, he said he’ll work to bring resources to the police and fire departments and support policies that will lead to job creation.
As for the city beverage tax that will kick in on Jan. 1, he is supporting legal efforts to stop its implementation. Much of the money from the tax is scheduled to go to establishing pre-kindergarten programs, but Feinberg said other school needs should be addressed before opening pre-K classrooms. He is also concerned that the tax will hurt the Pepsi plant on Roosevelt Boulevard.
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City Councilwoman Helen Gym, state Rep. Mark Cohen and 170th Legislative District candidate Matt Darragh last week attended the official opening of a Hillary Clinton campaign office at 8568 Bustleton Ave.
The office is focusing on making phone calls and going door to door registering voters.
Philadelphia is sure to deliver Hillary Clinton a wide margin over Donald Trump, and Gym declared that the Northeast is not “Trump country.”
“The Northeast matters so much to the city of Philadelphia,” she said.
Gym said some Republicans instill fear in people by making immigrants scapegoats for the country’s problems. She said Trump shouldn’t be given the responsibility to run a 140-character Twitter account, let alone the nation.
“We can’t have a candidate who is going to run on a xenophobic ticket,” she said.
Gym said people shouldn’t vote for Clinton just because she is a woman, but because of her experience as a senator and secretary of state.
“She is highly qualified,” she said.
Darragh is happy to be running on a Democratic ticket, he said, that offers compassion and common-sense solutions. Too many speakers at the Republican National Convention, he said, tried to scare voters by assigning blame to groups of people for various national woes.
“They make for good sound bites, but bad government,” he said.
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Jared Solomon, the Democratic nominee in the 202nd Legislative district, has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood.
Sari Stevens, the executive director of Planned Parenthood’s state chapter, said, “Jared has made it clear he will be a strong advocate for Planned Parenthood and for women’s reproductive health care in the Pennsylvania state House.”
Solomon, a lawyer and president of the Take Back Your Neighborhood civic association, defeated longtime Rep. Mark Cohen in the primary and is unopposed in the general election.
“I have always been an advocate for a woman’s right to choose their own healthcare options. As state representative, I will work hard to protect and expand access to health-care options, support research on women’s health issues, and make sure the women in my district have the expanded medical care they need,” he said.
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A number of minor-party candidates beat last week’s filing deadline to run in the general election.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will be joined on the presidential ballot by the Green Party’s Jill Stein, the Constitution Party’s Darrell Castle and Libertarian Gary Johnson.
In the U.S. Senate race, Republican Sen. Pat Toomey and Democratic challenger Katie McGinty will be joined by Libertarian Edward T. Clifford III.
Democrat Kathleen Kane is on trial on charges of perjury and obstructing administration of law, and is not seeking a second term as attorney general. The candidates are Democrat Josh Shapiro, Republican John Rafferty and Libertarian N.A. Poe.
In the race for auditor general, the candidates will be Democratic incumbent Eugene DePasquale, Republican John Brown, the Green Party’s John J. Sweeney and Libertarian Roy A. Minet.
The state treasurer seat is open, as Democrat Rob McCord resigned and pleaded guilty to charges he attempted to shake down state contractors for campaign donations in the 2014 primary for governor. He awaits sentencing. The candidates to replace him are Democrat Joe Torsella, Republican Otto Voit, Libertarian James Babb and the Green Party’s Kristin Combs. ••
