About 50 people attended a breakfast to hear Joe Hohenstein, a Democratic candidate in the 177th Legislative District, speak about key issues.
Joe Hohenstein, a Democratic candidate in the 177th Legislative District, met with voters Saturday at the Grey Lodge Pub and recently picked up a key endorsement.
About 50 people came out for breakfast at the Grey Lodge to hear Hohenstein, a Northwood resident who counts former City Councilman Dan Savage, Democratic leader of the 23rd Ward, as a supporter. The other ward leaders in the district have not committed.
An immigration lawyer who has raised almost $65,000, he spoke about his support for increased funding for public schools, law enforcement and the fight against the opioid epidemic. He plans to back environmental bills and those intended to create jobs.
The candidate began knocking on doors in mid-December and plans to open a campaign office.
Hohenstein challenged Republican Rep. John Taylor in 2016, taking almost 45 percent of the vote. Taylor is retiring, but Hohenstein faces a contested primary.
“I’ve got the best understanding of the entire job,” he said, comparing himself to his primary rivals. “If I do my job, I should win.”
Other Democrats running are union plasterer Sean Kilkenny; law student Maggie Borski; community activist Dan Martino; and Sean Patrick Wayland, who served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve and spent time in Iraq in 2008.
Possible candidates are Tom Forkin, an aide to state Rep. Mike Driscoll and chairman of the 55th Ward Democratic Committee; and Harry Enggasser, a ward leader, aide to U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, two-time challenger to Taylor and president of the Bridesburg Civic Association.
Sean K. McMonagle, an aide to Councilman Mark Squilla, has been mentioned as a possible candidate.
Possible Republican candidates include Chris Vogler, Republican leader of the 55th Ward; Pete Smith, a community activist from Tacony and Wharton School graduate; and Brian Caputo, a former aide to Councilman Brian O’Neill.
Some Republicans would like to see Forkin seek the GOP nod.
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Mike and Maureen McAllister hosted a fundraiser last week at Gallo’s Seafood for Maggie Borski’s legislative campaign.
More than 100 people paid $50 to support Borski, daughter of former congressman Bob Borski and niece of the late state Sen. Jim Lloyd.
“She has that wonderful Borski/Lloyd blood running through her veins,” Maureen McAllister said in her introduction.
The candidate said she wanted to end what she called the “war” on teachers and public education and help lower the opioid death rate.
“We need change in Harrisburg,” she said.
Among those supporting Borski was Keith Xiao, who owns a variety store at Frankford Avenue and Comly Street.
“She has new ideas to help the community. That’s why I support her,” he said.
Borski is taking 10 credits this semester to wrap up her law degree from Temple. Her next benefit will be on Feb. 23 at the Polish American Citizens Harmonia Club in Bridesburg. Supporters will pay $25 to celebrate her 25th birthday.
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Daryl Boling, a Democratic candidate in the 152nd Legislative District, will hold a Feb. 3 fundraiser at a private home in Ambler as he seeks to challenge Republican Rep. Tom Murt.
Boling has spent more than 20 years providing financial leadership to arts organizations, including several years managing the Bucks County Playhouse.
The challenger believes there is too much dysfunction in Harrisburg. His priorities are education, renewable resources and the environment, healthcare, common-sense gun laws and jobs.
“Credit downgrades and overdue budgets create an unnecessary cost to taxpayers here. We hear of state contracts, in the tens of millions of dollars, going to fund outmoded technologies and practices, when we could be funding our children’s futures,” he said.
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Michele Lawrence entered the 1st Congressional District Democratic primary on Monday.
Lawrence, a former Wells Fargo area president, is chief executive officer of MicheleSpeaks, a company that promotes wealth and wellness.
Lawrence is a licensed minister, host of a weekly show on WWDB (860 AM) and founder of a boys leadership development institute.
Other candidates joining Lawrence in challenging Rep. Bob Brady in the primary are former Traffic Court Judge Willie Singletary and former deputy mayor Nina Ahmad
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Nina Ahmad raised more than $579,000 and finished the first month of her congressional campaign with roughly $564,000 in the bank.
The figure was more than any challenger to Rep. Bob Brady has raised over any period of time. In addition to a loan to her campaign, Ahmad raised more than $115,000 from donors in less than a month since announcing her intention to run.
“We’ve already put together the strongest campaign this congressional district has seen in the two decades Bob Brady has been in Congress, and we’re not going to stop until PA-1 finally elects a bold progressive voice to the U.S. House,” Ahmad said.
Ahmad, former chairwoman of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Organization for Women and deputy mayor for public engagement, would be the first minority woman elected to Congress in Pennsylvania.
“We can send a message that right now is the time to end the sexism and sexual harassment that undermines women economically,” she said.
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The Dining Car, 8826 Frankford Ave., has reintroduced the “Tauben-Burger,” a sandwich named in honor of City Councilman Al Taubenberger (R-at large).
The Dining Car is one of his favorite eateries, and he is a longtime friend of owner Nancy Morozin, who created the Tauben-Burger in 2015 to honor his German-American roots.
The burger is topped with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and a potato latke. It is on the menu every Monday. ••
