The Holmesburg Civic Association attracted seven candidates to its April meeting.
In addition, there were representatives of U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle and state Reps. Kevin Boyle and Joe Hohenstein.
Al Stuhl, an aide to Hohenstein, invited the public to a job fair on Friday, April 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Vogt Recreation Center, 4131 Unruh Ave. There will be representatives from local businesses, PA CareerLink, city and state government, unions and recruiters.
Stuhl also said there will be a senior sock hop on Friday, May 17, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Bridesburg Boys and Girls Club, 2901 Bridge St. Admission is free, and music will be played by Jerry Blavat, the Geator with the Heater.
Hohenstein’s office is at 4725 Richmond St. The phone number is 215-744-2600. Stuhl said an office might open in July or August near Frankford and Cottman avenues.
Victoria Cram, chief of staff to Kevin Boyle, invited constituents to two upcoming events.
A senior fair is set for Friday, May 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fox Chase Recreation Center, 7901 Ridgeway St. To RSVP, call 215-695-1016.
A shredding event will take place on Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside Boyle’s office at 7801 Hasbrook Ave.
The civic association voted, 9-2, in favor of a bid by Mor Levy, owned of 4216 Welsh Road (at Montague Street), to build a second home on the property.
Here is what the candidates had to say:
• Wendi Barish is a Democratic candidate for Common Pleas Court. She attended Comly Elementary School, Baldi Middle School and George Washington High School. She has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO, the building trades and Fire Fighters and Paramedics Local 22 and recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association. She received almost 32,000 votes in a losing bid in 2017. She is listed seventh on the ballot among 25 candidates. The top six vote-getters are nominated.
• Pete Smith is the Republican candidate in the 6th Councilmanic District. The former president of the Tacony Civic Association, he is running to eliminate waste and mismanagement in city government. He opposes the beverage tax, would increase contributions to the pension fund and boost funding to fill potholes. He called safe injection sites “completely insane,” preferring long-term rehabilitation and mental health evaluations.
• Beth Finn, an IT project manager, is among 28 Democrats running for Council at large. She is running on a platform of economic opportunity, strong neighborhoods, good government, affordable housing, road repairs, school infrastructure and street cleaning. She thinks opening a public city bank would be profitable and pay for needy initiatives.
• Matt Wolfe is running for Council at large as a Republican. A ward leader and West Philadelphia lawyer, he was angry when Council declared Meek Mill Weekend during St. Patrick’s Day weekend. He believes sanctuary cities are illegal and a magnet for crime and higher taxes. He is glad U.S. Attorney William McSwain is fighting safe injection sites. He opposes the ban on cashless stores. As a sign of his opposition to the beverage tax, he announced his candidacy outside an Overbrook ShopRite that was closing due to lost revenue from the tax.
• Councilman Bobby Henon (D-6th dist.) painted a rosy picture of the city. He pointed to the filling of 131 miles of potholes, the Mayfair Business Improvement District, a decrease in uncollected debt and unpaid taxes, the Homestead Exemption, jobs created by his Manufacturing Task Force, an income limit expansion for the senior citizen property tax freeze, the end of fire department brownouts, more money for the fire department and bigger classes at the fire academy. The councilman said his focuses remain zoning and improved parks and recreation centers, adding that he co-hosted a job fair and sponsors CPR certifications. The incumbent was allowed to go well over the five-minute limit, leading to a sharp disagreement between Smith’s treasurer, Mike Tomlinson, and a Henon associate.
• Bill Heeney is a Republican running for Council at large. He grew up in Oxford Circle, attending St. Martin of Tours and Father Judge High School (class of 1976). He is a former Ancient Order of Hibernians president and inductee into the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Ring of Honor, describing that as one of the highlights of his life. He criticized Council for declaring Meek Mill Weekend during St. Patrick’s Day weekend, which he said is his favorite holiday. He noted that Republican Councilmen David Oh and Al Taubenberger initially cosponsored Meek Mill Weekend (Taubenberger later withdrew his support after learning that Meek Mill was given an entire weekend, not just an honor for his criminal justice reform). Heeney ripped liberals for supporting sanctuary cities and safe injection sites. He is no fan of District Attorney Larry Krasner, pointing to plea bargains. He described the killer of police officer Robert Wilson as an “animal” who deserved the death penalty. The killer received a plea bargain of life in prison with no consultation from Wilson’s family.
• Carmella Jacquinto is a Democrat running for Common Pleas Court. An Olney native, she is listed 21st among 25 candidates. She is running on a platform of “Carmella Cares,” saying she wants to help children and families. She has been endorsed by the Democratic City Committee, the AFL-CIO and the building trades.
In a question-and-answer session, Heeney defended police officers when asked about police brutality. He noted that the state attorney general’s office cleared an officer in a fatal shooting last August of an alleged drug suspect on the 7100 block of Hegerman St. Smith, too, backs the officer in that case.
Heeney also supports former officer Ryan Pownall, who is facing third-degree murder charges for the June 2017 shooting death of a suspect who had a gun.
On education, Finn favors a moratorium on charter schools. She, Heeney and Henon want more vocational education. Wolfe wants school choice for private schools. Smith believes charter schools are better than public schools for students with learning disabilities. Heeney said Catholic and charter schools have an advantage on public schools because they can kick out troublemakers.
Finn called for a ban on plastic bags. Wolfe and Heeney are opposed because they believe it would hurt businesses. ••
