Former federal prosecutor Joe Khan, a Democratic candidate for district attorney, released his 2014 and 2015 federal tax returns to members of the media last week at a news conference.
Khan called on District Attorney Seth Williams to do the same.
Khan spent 16 years as a prosecutor in Philadelphia — first as an assistant district attorney and then as an assistant United States attorney. He resigned his position at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to challenge Seth Williams for the Democratic nomination.
“If my opponent wants to keep hiding from the cameras and microphones, the very least he can do as a public official is to give the press his federal tax returns. We’ve expected as much from candidates seeking higher offices, and it’s time that we start setting a higher standard for Philadelphia’s top law enforcement official,” Khan said.
Khan pledged that, as district attorney, he will release his tax returns every year he holds office.
“I can’t promise that there’s really anything very interesting in my own tax returns. All they’ll tell you is that my wife and I were public servants, that we had two young boys in daycare, and that we gave what we could to charities we cared about. What I can promise you is that I’m not going to follow the example of Donald Trump or others who would conceal this kind of information from the people whose votes they seek. I can promise to set a better example, to be the change I want to see, and provide the transparency that Philadelphians want and deserve in their elected leaders. And I call upon the current district attorney to do the same,” he said.
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State Sen. John Rafferty released the following statement regarding Monday’s sentencing of former Attorney General Kathleen Kane:
“Today marks another sad chapter for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Office of Attorney General. This entire episode is a stark reminder of the damages of putting an individual in the Office of Attorney General who lacks the requisite experience for the office and is driven more by blind political ambition than doing what’s in the best interests of our commonwealth. That is why I have pledged to only serve as our next attorney general and not run for higher office. My opponent (Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro) refuses to take this pledge. As our next attorney general, I will restore integrity and public confidence to the office and refocus our efforts on protecting the people of Pennsylvania.”
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The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, National Federation of Independent Business and Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association have endorsed state Sen. John Rafferty for Pennsylvania attorney general.
State Chamber of Business and Industry president Gene Barr said, “John Rafferty’s previous role as a deputy attorney general, coupled with his experience practicing law in the private sector, make him uniquely qualified to be Pennsylvania’s next attorney general. During his tenure as a state senator, Sen. Rafferty has pushed forward proposals to bring more fairness to the commonwealth’s legal climate. He is also dedicated to making the citizens of Pennsylvania safer and more secure, by pledging to combat the state’s growing heroin epidemic, uphold the laws of the commonwealth and bring integrity to the Office of Attorney General.”
Rafferty faces Democrat Josh Shapiro, a Montgomery County commissioner.
Democrat Kathleen Kane, elected in 2012, was sentenced to jail on Monday after being convicted of leaking secret grand jury information to the Philadelphia Daily News to discredit former state prosecutor Frank Fina, her archrival.
“We are going to pull out all of the stops to educate small business owners about this vital public office and the need for Pennsylvanians to elect a top prosecutor who actually has experience prosecuting bad guys. This position simply is too important to entrust to any candidate with no prosecutorial experience. This is an office in crisis — its reputation sullied by a predecessor who was woefully unqualified and who used the position to carry out their own partisan political agenda and who ultimately was convicted for those actions. Frankly, small business owners have run out of patience electing candidates who need on-the-job training. John Rafferty is ready right now,” said NFIB executive state director Kevin Shivers.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer endorsed Katie McGinty in the race for U.S. Senate.
McGinty, former chief of staff for Gov. Tom Wolf, faces Republican Sen. Pat Toomey and Libertarian Edward T. Clifford III.
The Inquirer dismissed Toomey as a “product of the radical right.”
The newspaper said McGinty “has a genuine grasp on the human consequences of government policies and seeks to improve the quality of life for all.”
McGinty also received the endorsement of the Pride Fund to End Gun Violence, America’s only LGBTQ organization focused soley on gun policy reform.
“She will be steadfast in her support for gun reforms and for the LGBT community. She will not waiver, unlike her opponent, who boasted an ‘A’ rating by the NRA,” said Jason Lindsay, founder and executive director of Pride Fund. “She supports universal background checks and banning civilian sales of military style weapons and high capacity magazines — like the weapon used to murder 49 people and injure 53 others at Pulse in Orlando. In this election, lives are at stake and we must take action on gun reform. Toomey’s votes following the Orlando massacre have shown that he has failed in his duties to make America safer and doesn’t deserve to keep his job. Katie is the clear choice.”
McGinty also received the endorsement of two organizations, the Newtown Action Alliance and States United to Prevent Gun Violence Action Fund Inc.
The Newtown Action Alliance is a volunteer grassroots organization founded by Newtown, Connecticut residents after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that seeks to decrease gun violence through new laws and cultural change.
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The Times of Chester County endorsed Toomey.
The newspaper ripped McGinty as “a not particularly accomplished public servant” and said it would have endorsed Joe Sestak had he been the Democratic nominee. McGinty “probably won’t be a leading light of the Senate,” the paper said.
The paper credited Toomey with working well across the aisle on gun issues and for partnering with Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr. on state issues, and described him as “intelligent and exceptionally well versed in the issues.”
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The Laborers International Union of North America Local Union 413 and the Guardian Civic League endorsed Republican Otto Voit to be Pennsylvania’s next state treasurer.
ldquo;Labor is the backbone of our nation and our commonwealth, and Otto Voit has shown a genuine concern for our workers and their families,” said James Harper Jr., business manager for Local 413. “The corruption in Harrisburg threatens jobs and livelihoods across Pennsylvania. We need a voice for the people in Harrisburg. Otto Voit will be that voice.”
Rochelle Bilal, president of the Guardian Civic League, praised Voit’s commitment to underserved communities.
“[Otto Voit’s] initiative, ‘Kids without Connections,’ which offers students a head start opportunity for growth, while still in school, is one of the ways we will see a positive difference,” she said.
Voit, a Berks County businessman and former U.S. Army officer, faces three candidates. They are Democrat Joe Torsella, former president and CEO of the National Constitution Center and an unsuccessful candidate in the 2004 primary in the 13th Congressional District; the Green Party’s Kristin Combs; and Libertarian James Babb.
Democrat Rob McCord resigned as treasurer and pleaded guilty to charges he attempted to shake down state contractors for campaign donations in the 2014 primary for governor. He awaits sentencing. ••
