Shawn Dillon [fourth from right] is surrounded by ward leaders. elections commissioner Lisa Deeley, Councilman Derek Green, state Rep. Mike Driscoll and sheet metal workers union president Gary Masino.Candidates for state legislative seats began collecting nominating petitions on March 18 and have until March 28 to submit them for the May 17 primary.
Typically, candidates have three weeks to gather petitions, but new district maps were delayed due to reapportionment, and the state Supreme Court shortened the collection period. That could hurt challengers and help incumbents.
Political parties probably aren’t too upset, as the Philadelphia Democratic establishment is among those that generally frowns on challenges to incumbents.
In the 177th Legislative District, Democratic ward leaders endorsed Harry Enggasser over state Rep. Joe Hohenstein. A couple of days later, Enggasser was “separated” from his job with the office of U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle for not seeking permission to run, and he abandoned his campaign.
That likely leaves Hohenstein unopposed in the primary. Mark LaVelle is the Republican candidate.
In the 172nd Legislative District, Democratic Rep. Kevin Boyle will face Bob Stewart in the primary. The endorsed Republican candidate is Al Taubenberger. Tedi Kotori is running as an independent.
There are three wards in the formerly gerrymandered 172nd: the 56th, 58th and 63rd. Boyle lives in the 63rd and received the backing of ward leader Brian Eddis. John Sabatina Sr., of the 56th, favors Stewart because he worked for his son, former Sen. John Sabatina Jr., and because of a long-running feud between the Boyles and Sabatinas. Stewart is ward chairman in the 58th and was counting on the support of ward leader Jim Donnelly. However, Donnelly somewhat surprisingly voted to give Boyle the party endorsement.
On the Republican side, in addition to LaVelle and Taubenberger, the GOP is expected to have candidates to challenge state Sen. Tina Tartaglione and for open seats in the 173rd and 203rd districts.
Democrats are not expected to have a candidate against Republican Rep. Martina White.
Meanwhile, Shawn Dillon, the Democratic candidate in the 5th Senatorial District special election, last Friday night officially opened a campaign office in a strip mall on the 2800 block of Holme Ave.
Dillon faces Republican Sam Oropeza on May 17. The seat has been vacant since John Sabatina Jr. became a Common Pleas Court judge at the beginning of the year.
Among those in attendance at the office opening were ward leaders, state Rep. Mike Driscoll, elections commissioner Lisa Deeley, Councilman Derek Green, former Councilman Bobby Henon, former City Controller Alan Butkovitz and sheet metal workers union president Gary Masino.
“This Senate seat is extremely important to the future of Northeast Philadelphia,” Driscoll said.
Also on hand were Pete McDermott and Pat Gallagher, who are running to succeed Driscoll, who is the Democratic nominee in a special election to replace Henon.
Dillon is a longtime ward leader who retired last April as Southeast Regional supervisor in the auditor general’s office. He believes he’d work well with Driscoll if both win their special elections.
“My door will always be open,” he said.
Dillon has an upcoming fundraiser at District Council 21. His campaign flier describes himself as a “Northeast Democrat” who wants to put more police officers on the streets. ••
