PA Political Report April 2012

Chair
Denis P. O’Brien
PECO/ Exelon
April 2012
Treasurer
Gretchen R. Haggerty
United States Steel
Primary Election Edition
Secretary
Kathy Pape
Pennsylvania American Water
Let’s get ready to vote!
Education Foundation Chair
T. William Boxx
McKenna Foundation
Rick Santorum’s decision recently to “suspend” his campaign has taken some of the fun and
intrigue out of Pennsylvania’s Primary Election, but there are still a few good narratives to be
finished.
PEG PAC Chair
Gary Veshecco
Erie Insurance
President & CEO
David W. Patti
The national campaign is far from over. To paraphrase Churchill, this is not the beginning of the
end, but we are nearing the end of the beginning.
Political & Grassroots Director
Christopher Nicholas
On the Presidential front, incumbent POTUS Barack Obama and GOP Nominee-apparent Mitt
Romney have moved their rhetoric to one another and issues that transcend states and regions.
Issue Manager
James Zawacki
Here in Pennsylvania, Santorum’s decision has “down ballot” consequences. And, in an election
already twisted by court decisions, quirks of fate, and criminal convictions there most be more in
store for us.
Events Manager
Ashley L. Parsells
Office Manager
Rosalie Adams
This edition of the Pennsylvania Political Report offers you some background and insight in the
closing days of the Primary Campaign. In particular, don’t miss our interviews with all three candidates for Auditor General contained in this report. You might also enjoy the latest installment
in the little continuing soap opera we like to call “Redistricting.”
Intern
Joshua Nyce
Strategic Partner
Valerie S. Gaydos
51st Associates
And, our readers like you serve up their predictions of next Tuesday’s outcomes. (If you like to
read the end of a book first, skip to page 12.)
Consultants
Earl M. Baker, PhD
Michael E. Greenberg, PhD
Kathleen Woolever
If you have questions about candidates, finding your voting place, or other election related issues, please visit www.pennsylvaniaprosperity.org where we maintain non-partisan materials
including videos from some of the statewide candidates.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
click for link
PEG PAC Celebrates 40 Years
2
Political “Carnival” a Must
3
Reapportionment Redux
4
Primary Previews
5
Congressional Overview
8
Retirements
8
Primary Predictions
All the best,
6—7
Special Elections
Auditor General Interviews
On election night, you can get all of the Pennsylvania Primary Election news by watching me on
the Pennsylvania Cable Network from 8 PM to midnight. PBC will become PCN’s “Studio B” giving you all the top stories and numbers. You can catch us streaming on PCN-TV.com. Check
the PBC website throughout the night and the following morning for results.
9-11
12
David W. Patti
PBC President & CEO
P.S. Don’t forget the PEG PAC Annual Dinner on May 1. See details inside!
Page 2
PEG PAC, the affiliated political action
committee of the Pennsylvania Business
Council (PBC), celebrated the 40th anniversary of its founding on Valentine’s Day.
Members, friends, and state political leaders will gather on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at
the Radisson Penn Harris in Camp Hill,
Pennsylvania to celebrate the organization’s
political legacy. For tickets, call 717-2328700 or click here.
Political pollster and ESPN founder Scott
Rasmussen will be the Keynote Speaker.
Governor Corbett, Lt. Governor Cawley, and
legislative leaders have also been invited
and are likely to be on hand for the celebration.
Founded in 1972 as Pennsylvanians for
Effective Government, but better known by
its acronym PEG, the state’s oldest probusiness political action committee has
enjoyed forty years of success in bringing
pro-business candidates into the political
arena.
The organization has always been dedicated to the ideals of free enterprise capitalism. Through 40 years, PEG and PEG
PAC have remained true to the founding
values. PEG and PEG PAC have contributed
and leveraged millions of dollars to probusiness candidates – Republicans and
Democrats –running for state office. Now
beginning its fifth decade, PEG PAC remains
a prominent institution in Pennsylvania politics.
“Since its founding, PEG PAC has been a
driving force in marketing the pro-business
political agenda in Pennsylvania,” said PBC
Chair Denis O’Brien, President and CEO of
PECO-Exelon. “Utilizing innovative methods
and technologies to win campaigns, it has
achieved a well-deserved reputation as a
top-notch organization in the state’s political arena. We look forward to even more
success during the next 40 years.”
PEG PAC was conceived in a speech
given by Willard Rockwell, Jr., to the Board
of Directors of the Pennsylvania Chamber of
Business and Industry. Rockwell, President
of Rockwell International, a firm renowned
for their work on space shuttles, satellites,
and global positioning systems, was one of
many businessmen concerned about the
political climate in the state. His speech in
1972 called for action on reducing the tax
burden for businesses, which had worsened
during the late 1960s. At the time, the
Corporate Net Income (CNI) tax rate was at
Pennsylvania Political Report
12 percent and Pennsylvania was ranked a
dismal 46th in the nation for places to start
businesses. Business leaders were also
concerned about the growing political influence of labor unions, especially since there
was no cohesive entity to represent the
business community.
Rockwell told business executives, “A
central state-wide business political action
committee is what we need – today – and
the continued support of all business interests in the state is needed to ensure the
activity of this committee.” To support this
call for a new political action committee,
Rockwell continued: “Business influence at
the polls is of even greater importance than
the influence we exert at the office. The
involvement of business at the time of elections reflects a severe lack of coordination…
Here, I suggest, is where real political involvement can be developed and is an area
where we fall very short today.”
Rockwell offered a vision for the type of
political organization he imagined: “A statewide political action committee will serve to
exercise influence on the selection of candidates for both parties. It will operate as a
fund-raising group to gather and contribute
money to the [campaigns of] candidates.”
The Pennsylvania Chamber’s Board of
Directors heeded Rockwell’s advice, and a
planning meeting was held at the Hotel
Hershey on February 14, 1972. A group of
40 individuals from firms including ALCOA,
United States Steel, Air Products, Harsco,
Bethlehem Steel, and the Pennsylvania
Manufacturers Association discussed the
formation and structure of what would become PEG PAC.
In addition to the PAC, an education committee was formed – the forerunner of today’s PBC Education Foundation – with a
purpose to “stimulate and encourage its
members to take a more active part in civic
and political affairs, to disseminate unbiased information on current political issues… and to conduct other activities of an
informative and impartial nature.” with a
“board of directors not more than 40 individuals who are active members of the Political Committee.”
In April 1972, Victor Diehm of Hazelton
Broadcasting Corporation became the first
Chairman of PEG and Robert Grovert was
hired as PEG’s first president. In 2007, PEG
and the Pennsylvania Business Roundtable
merged to form PBC.
Page 3
Come one, come all to the
greatest show on earth …
… an American election!
The 2012 election has something for
everyone: drama, controversy, dynamic
personalities, soaring rhetoric, “big ideas,”
and vast implications for life on planet
Earth. And, then there’s the hyperbole.
It’s your turn to get into the act and “in
the know.” The PBC Education Foundation
has put together an afternoon of “fun learning” about the year’s campaigns and candidates as an appetizer to the May 1 PEG PAC
Annual Dinner. The “Carnival” will be held
at the Radisson Penn Harris in Camp Hill,
Pennsylvania from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
The PBC Education Foundation stimulates and encourages Pennsylvania citizens,
and especially business persons, to take a
more active part in civic and political affairs.
The PBC Education Foundation does not
advocate the adoption of any public policy
proposal, or the election or defeat of any
candidate. The PBC Education Foundation
works for increased and better informed
voter participation.
Here’s a great way to learn all you need
to know … and some additional stories and
insights that you WANT to know about the
2012 election season … and even be entertained in the process.
Kicking off the event will be the
“Chairmen’s Corner” with former state party
chairs Republican Alan Novak – founder of
Novak Strategic Advisors, attorney with Conrad O’Brien — and Democrat TJ Rooney —
owner of Tri State Consulting and partner in
Eisehauer-Rooney Strategies. The two will
offer the perspectives of political leaders
who have “been there—done that” in Presidential election years.
The Democrat and Republican nominees
— or representatives of their campaigns —
for the offices of US Senator, Attorney General, Auditor General, and Treasurer have
been invited to spend a few minutes to tout
their candidacy for the November General
Election. Check back frequently to our
website at www.pabusinesscouncil.org for
confirmations by speakers.
Also invited are the four legislative caucus committee chairs: Senator Mike
Brubaker (Republicans); Senator Daylin
Leach (Democrats); Rep. Dave Reed
(Republicans); and Rep. Brendan Boyle
(Democrats).
Then be treated to the thoughts of some
of the nation’s top political observers and
thinkers. Joining the PBC Education Foundation and guests will be:


Shira Toeplitz -- Roll Call Magazine
Alex Roarty – National Journal



Jeff Pollock – President, Democrat
polling firm Global Strategy Group,
pollster for PA HDCC, Patrick Murphy,
and Congs Allyson Schwartz and Mark
Critz; recent winner of the American
Association of Political Consultants’
‘Pollie’ Award as Democrat Pollster of
the Year
Mike Hudome – veteran Republican
media consultant who was part of John
McCain’s 2008 ad team
Charlie Gerow – president of Quantum
Communications in Harrisburg and
former president of PEG.
Tim Farley, program director of the Sirius/XM POTUS
Finally, we wrap-up with a national perspective from Tim Farley, program director
of the Sirius/XM POTUS channel and host
of The Morning Briefing.. Tim Farley is an
award-winning veteran broadcast journalist
with more than 30 years of experience. He
was a pioneer of satellite radio, joining XM
radio to help with its 2001 launch and creating the first 24-hour channel devoted to
NASCAR. Then in 2007, Farley joined the
team that created and a special
“temporary” channel devoted solely to the
2008 presidential election. P.O.T.U.S. was
so successful and so acclaimed that a decision was made to keep the station on the
air and widen the discussion to all things
politics and policy. Farley took over the
station and manages the team that provides continuous political content with high
profile guests and commentators. Farley will
share his anecdotes and insights from
countless interviews with candidates, pundits, pollsters, analysts, strategist, elected
officials, grass roots activists, and the occasional regular voter.
Tickets are just $50. (Discounts
for multiple ticket purchases.)
Click here to register.
Pennsylvania Political Report
Page 4
Pennsylvania Supreme Court and Federal Court Rulings Combine to
Force Pennsylvania to use 2001 State Legislative District Lines
in 2012 Election. New plan being drafted for 2014.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the nation’s oldest appellate court, on January 25 remanded the legislative redistricting plan agreed to
by representatives of three of the four legislative caucuses and the independent Commission Chairman retired Superior Court Judge
Stephen McEwen back to the Legislative Reapportionment Commission (LRC), requiring the 203 state House and 50 state Senate districts
must be redrawn for the second time. Chief Justice Ron Castille sided with Democrat justices shocking Republican lawmakers and political
leaders with a 4-3 decision that, “this Court finds that the final 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Plan is contrary to law.” The
decision created a cascade of additional decisions and events that transformed Pennsylvania’s legislative elections for at least this year and
maybe for the decade.
The first repercussion of the Court's decision was a delay in the circulation of nominating petitions. Legislative leaders believed that relatively small tweaks might be made to the LRC maps to win Court approval and go ahead with the April 24 Primary Election with new districts
as planned. The LRC concluded, however, that its new map would have to adhere to the same set of mandated 30-day timeline/waiting
periods for review and possible adjudication as the first plan, thus complicating efforts by some GOP leaders to complete the new maps
quickly.
In the aftermath, House Speaker Sam Smith sued Secretary of State Carole Aichele in federal court, arguing the state court’s ruling had
thrown the 2012 elections into “chaos.” The House suit further argued that using the 2001 legislative boundaries for the slate of yet-to-bescheduled House special elections is unconstitutional. In a press release, Senate GOP Leader Dominic Pileggi said, “In 1964, the Supreme
Court made it clear in Reynolds v. Sims that state legislative districts must be equal in population to ensure ‘the opportunity for equal participation by all voters in the election of state legislatures.’” Pileggi noted that under the 2001 lines, the difference in population among Senate
districts would be nearly 30 percent and almost 40 percent in the House. Latino leaders in the state also entered a suit on similar lines. In
their 2011 testimony before the LRC, the Philadelphia-based group Latino Lines said that given the state’s changing demographics, more
than just one House seat (in Philadelphia) should be majority Latino. They believed the 2012 map originally agreed to by the LRC, but tossed
out by the PA Supreme Court, had created four such districts. In short order, the Federal district court ruled against Smith and the Latino
litigants forcing the Pennsylvania Primary Election to go forth on April 24 with districts established in 2001.
In general, Democrat election operatives and leaders liked the idea of using the 2001 maps one more time because they believed it gives
them a better shot to win back the state House and reduce the GOP margin in the state Senate. The landscape was changed in several significant ways by these developments: the 22nd House District in Allegheny County that was moved to Allentown and remade into a majorityLatino district disappeared. The 169th House seat that was to be moved from NE Philadelphia to the growing Hanover area in York County
suddenly remained in Philadelphia. The new 45th state Senate seat, moved from Allegheny County and centered in Monroe County, vanished
too. Even smaller changes had significant impacts. Announced candidates learned they no longer lived in districts in which they had
planned to run for election. Particularly impacted were challengers and open seat candidates. Incumbents found the chaos often benefitted
them as would-be opponents scrambled.
In April, the LRC went back to the drawing board — literally — to determine new maps that will take effect with the 2014 elections. After
first shooting down a map proposed by GOP Senate Leader Dominic Pileggi, the Legislative Reapportionment Commission (LRC) in mid-April
adopted a compromise preliminary map proposed by Chairman McEwen.
The McEwen plan passed on another 4-1 vote with Senate Democrat Leader Jay Costa again objecting – as he did in last year’s vote.
McEwen’s plan did not tinker with the House map worked out between its leaders, Republican Mike Turzai and Democrat Frank Dermody; it
did make changes to the Senate map. McEwen demanded the LRC only move districts of members that are retiring or otherwise leaving the
legislate. That meant the seat of recently convicted state Senator Jane Orie will be moved to the Poconos, in order to readjust the senate
map to the changes in the distribution of the state’s population. But unlike the discarded 2011 plan thrown out by the court, not all of Monroe County is in the new district 40th Senate seat – it includes all but the northeast portion of the county, along with a big chunk of Northampton County. The district is still drawn to help Republican state Rep. Mario Scavello win the seat, regardless to it being a majority Democrat (by registration) area.
The McEwen compromise also moves Harrisburg out of the 15th District and into Mike Folmer’s Lebanon-based 48th District as the original plan did. This will serve to strengthen the GOP hold on the 15 th without burdening Folmer. Senate Democrats are helped in their base in
Allegheny County, because shifting Orie’s seat east helps them consolidate their hold on the other senate seats in the county.
On the House side, the Allegheny district of former Rep. Chelsa Wagner again moves to Allentown to form a Hispanic-heavy district, and
the 169th in NE Philly still gets moved to Hanover, York County. Democrats Jess White and Nick Kotik do not get merged together in the
southwest as in the 2011 map, while Bud George’s 74th District gets moved to Chester County to form a Democrat leaning district there.
And the 5th District from Erie County still moves into NW Berks County. The seat of retiring Rep. Ed Staback’s Lackawanna/Luzerne 115th
moves next door to Monroe County.
The LRC has set a public hearing on this new plan for May 2nd in Harrisburg.
Pennsylvania Political Report
Page 5
Democrat Attorney General
Republican Auditor General
David Christian
Kathleen Kane
Patrick Murphy
Kathleen Kane is a former Lackawanna
County ADA and Patrick Murphy is the former two-term Congressman from Bucks
County. This one started negative and progressed from there. Early on Kane’s camp
hit Murphy for never prosecuting a case in
the state or even taking the Bar exam here
(he took Minnesota’s). Murphy hit back by
noting that the Kane is Able trucking company run by her husband and her family is a
non-union shop. Most of Kane’s campaign
funds have come from loans or contributions from executives at the trucking firm.
Kane has stressed that she has the better profile to finally capture this post for
Democrats . Her slogan: “A Prosecutor not a
Politician.” Murphy has stressed his hard
line Democrat party bona fides, even saying
at one point that he would not defend a new
ant-abortion statute if it became law.
Both campaigns have snagged prominent endorsements: former Gov Ed. Rendell
appears in a Murphy ad while Kane was
vociferously endorsed by former President
Bill Clinton last week. The Clinton endorsement highlighted rifts within the Democrat
party leftover from the 2008 Obama-Clinton
primary. At the Kane rally headlined by our
40th president in Montgomery County – a
rally that was just a stone’s throw from the
congressional district Murphy represented
for four years -- Clinton said of Kane, “She
supported my wife in the campaign, and I'm
grateful. But this is a simple question: Who
will do more for the people of Pennsylvania
in this job? The answer is easy: It's Kathleen
Kane.” The back story here is that Murphy
was one of Barack Obama’s first public
endorsers, in 2007; Kane was a volunteer
coordinator for Hillary Clinton.
Kane also snagged the Philadelphia Inquirer‘s endorsement, which cited her edge
over Murphy in actual prosecutorial experience. The Democrat nominee will face PEG
PAC-endorsed Republican Dave Freed, Cumberland County DA, in November.
John Maher
Sam Rohrer
Frank Pinto
In January Allegheny County state Rep.
John Maher easily won the endorsement of
the state GOP over rival Frank Pinto of Dauphin County, former head of the Pa. Community Bankers Association. Since then
Pinto has waged an energetic underdog
campaign, and secured endorsements of
his own from local Tea Party groups, a couple GOP County Chairs and even state Sens.
Jeff Piccola and Mike Folmer. Maher, who
founded one of the largest accounting firms
in southwestern Pennsylvania, has focused
his race on the fact that he is a CPA. Maher
also wrote the state’s Open Records Law.
Maher has raised some money while Pinto
has largely self-funded, but neither has
spent much in pursuit of the nomination.
The winner will face Democrat state Rep.
Eugene DePasquale in the fall.
Republican US Senate Primary
Though all five candidates have run vigorous campaigns, the race has come down
to a three-way contest between former coal
mine owner Tom Smith, former state Rep.
Sam Rohrer and Chester County entrepreneur Steve Welch. Welch, endorsed by the
state GOP, and Smith have largely selffunded their races, while Rohrer has relied
on his strong network of contacts in the
state’s conservative community, forged
from his years in the state house and his
2010 GOP primary challenge to Tom Corbett. Smith has taken heat for being a registered Democrat until earlier this year, just
before he decided to run for the Republican
nomination. At age 62, he will be voting in
his first Republican primary. Welch switched
to the Democrat party in 2005, angered he
said, by the GOP’s slide into big government; Smith has hit him for admitting to
supporting Joe Sestak for Congress and
voting for President Obama in the 2008
Marc Scaringi
Tom Smith
Steve Welch
primary – Welch says he voted for John
McCain in the general election.
Interestingly, Smith has said he cannot
remember who he voted for in the 2010
Democrat primary for Senate – Joe Sestak
or Arlen Specter. (Sestak won Armstrong
County, Smith’s home, by a 62-38 percent
margin.) Rohrer has taken heat for his vote
in 2005 to raise the pay of the legislature.
Welch will need to pull a big vote out of the
southeast, which could be complicated by
the candidacy of David Christian, a Bucks
County businessman and highly decorated
Vietnam veteran. Marc Scaringi, a Cumberland County attorney who worked for Rick
Santorum in the Senate in the 1990’s is the
fifth GOP candidate. The winner will take on
incumbent Bob Casey, Jr., who has posted
strong fundraising results this year.
No Treasurer Primary
Rob McCord
Diana Irey Vaughan
Pennsylvania will elect a state Treasurer
in 2012, but neither the Republicans or
Democrats have a Primary contest. Incumbent Democrat Rob McCord will face Republican Diana Irey Vaughan in November.
Pennsylvania Political Report
Page 6
Democrats in Pennsylvania hold seven
seats at the moment and two of those will
be combined into one under the Congressional redistricting plan that takes effect
this year. The state and federal court action
that impacted state legislative races does
not apply to the Congressional districts for
which there was no legal challenge.
Five of the six Democratically controlled
seats are considered fairly safe — the party
is expected to hold them against GOP General Election challengers. The competitive
district is the newly created 12th district in
which incumbent Congressmen Jason Altmire and Mark Critz will face one another
before the winner takes on Republican
Keith Rothfus in November. Rothfus lost to
Altmire in 2010 by less than 2 percent.
Because of reapportionment, incumbent Democrat
Congressman Jason Altmire (left) will face fellow
incumbent Democrat Congressman Mark Critz
(right) in the April 24 Primary Election.
Altimre, enjoys the support of a number
of business organizations including the
Washington, DC-based Business Industry
Political Action Committee (BIPAC).
About two-thirds of the new 12th district,
as the combined district is numbered, is
made-up of the communities which previously encompassed Altmire’s old 4th Congressional District. (The number was
moved to York County to replace the 19th
which no longer exists as Pennsylvania goes
from 19 to 18 districts.) This should give
Altmire a distinct advantage.
Critz however, who worked for the late
Congressman Jack Murtha, is a staunch
labor Democrat who has amassed union
financial and in-kind support in his bid to
defeat Altmire.
Though Altmire is perceived to have the
less liberal voting record, independent
analyses of their voting records show they
are nearly identical in partisanship.
Dist
Incumbent Democrat
Candidate
Primary Challenger
Republican General
Election Challenger
1
Bob Brady
Jimmie Moore
John Featherman
2
Chaka Fattah
Robert Mansfield
12
Jason Altmire
Mark Critz
Keith Rothfus
13
Allyson Schwartz
Joseph Rooney
14
Mike Doyle
Janis Brooks
Hans Lessmann
17
Tim Holden
Matt Cartwright
Laureen Cummings
The other interesting Democrat Congressional Primary is in Northeastern Pennsylvania where incumbent Congressman Tim
Holden’s district which formerly spanned
from Berks and Schuylkill Counties through
Lebanon County to Harrisburg in Dauphin
County, now takes a circuitous route
through Schuylkill, Carbon, Monroe, Northampton, Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.
Incumbent Democrat Congressman Tim Holden (left)
is being challenged by plaintiffs’ attorney Matt Cartwright (right) in the April 24 Primary Election.
Holden, a moderate who voted with business on most environmental and legal issues, is being challenged by plaintiffs’ attorney Matt Cartwright. Holden has won the
endorsement and backing of BIPAC.
Holden, who was first elected in 1992, is
the longest serving member in the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation. While his
districts have always had more registered
Republican than Democrat voters, Holden
won re-election by comfortable margins. In
2010, Holden was re-elected with 56 percent of the vote.
Cartwright is attacking Holden for not
being a “true Democrat” and for being outof-touch with working class votes. Cartwright lives in a gated community.
On the Republican side of the aisle, the
one significant challenge race is a bid by
young Heritage Foundation analyst and
conservative political activist Evan Feinberg
to oust five-term incumbent Republican
Congressman Tim Murphy.
Murphy, who served six years in the
Pennsylvania Senate before election to the
US House has a voting record that reflects
frequent support for organized labor. Nontheless, Murphy has a fair to good rating
from most business organizations and has
picked-up some strong business endorsements in the Primary Election — most notably a $500,000 in-kind campaign from the
American Chemistry Council.
GOP Congressman Tim Murphy (left) is being
challenged by conservative Evan Feinberg (right).
Page 7
Central Pennsylvania’s new 4th Congressional District became an open seat earlier
this year when six-term incumbent Cong.
Todd Platts announced he would honor his
self-imposed term limits pledge and not run
for re-election.
The reconfigured district still encompasses
all of York and Adams counties, but now
also includes most of the city of Harrisburg,
two precincts in neighboring Susquehanna Township, and the bulk of the
‘West Shore’ communities
in Cumberland County.
And despite the addition of
Harrisburg, the district is
still comfortably Republican, as 2008 GOP PresiKevin Downs
dential nominee John
McCain took nearly 54
percent of the vote there.
After Platts’ surprise announcement, nine
candidates quickly
stepped forward, seven
Republicans and two Democrats. Neither of the
Democrats – Harrisburg
attorney Ken Lee or York
County engineering manager Harry Perkinson –
has run a high profile
race. The GOP primary, on
Eric Martin
the other hand, features a
proxy battle between Gov. Tom Corbett and
Senator Pat Toomey, who have each endorsed different candidates.
Toomey quickly endorsed York County Commissioner Chris Reilly. Reilly backed
Toomey over Sen. Arlen Specter in that
2004 primary, and Toomey
has repaid the favor. He
appeared at Reilly’s kickoff announcement, his PAC
ran an independent expenditure ad boosting Reilly
and next week he will
again appear at Reilly’s
campaign HQ.
Scott Perry
The Governor endorsed
two term northern York county state Rep.
Scott Perry, a small business owner and
Colonel in the Pennsylvania Army National
Guard. Perry has also been endorsed by all
Dist
Incumbent Republican
Candidate
Primary Challenger
Democrat General
Election Challenger
4
OPEN SEAT
(Platts Retiring)
Kevin Downs
Eric Martin
Scott Perry
Chris Riley
Sean Summers
Mark Swomley
Ted Waga
Ken Lee
Harry Perksinson
5
Glenn Thompson
Charles Dumas
6
Jim Gerlach
Manan Trivedi
7
Pat Meehan
George Bodey
8
Mike Fitzpatrick
Kathy Boockvar
9
Bill Shuster
10
Tom Marino
Philip Scollo
11
Lou Barletta
Gene Stilp
Bill Vinsko
15
Charlie Dent
Richard Daugherty
Joseph Eaton
16
Joe Pitts
Aryanna Strader
18
Tim Murphy
Travis Schooley
Evan Feinberg
the Republican
state
representatives
throughout the
district.
Another
GOP
candidate, Attorney Sean Summers, has
raised enough money to wage a credible
campaign. A former Army Ranger, he gained
notoriety for representing the York family of
a fallen serviceman whose funeral was
protested by the radical Westboro Baptist
Sean Summers (l) & Chris Reilly
None
Lawrence Maggi
Mark Swomley (l) & Ted Waga
Church. The family’s appeal went all the
way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The other
Republicans in the race, all from York
County, are: Baltimore County Police
Sergeant Ted Waga, Hershey Co. engineer Mark Swomley, cell phone salesman Eric Martin and loan officer Kevin
Downs.
Page 8
Six special House elections will be conducted on Primary Election Day, April 24
to replace former lawmakers who resigned after election to other offices in
November.
House Speaker Sam Smith had held
off on calling the elections hoping to wait
until the redistricting issues were settled,
however, Democrats who formerly held
four of the six seats (and were usually
assured of a fifth vote from Republican
Denny O’Brien) went to court and won a
state Supreme Court decision ordering
Smith to schedule elections immediately.
The winners of the Special Elections
will probably be certified and sworn into
office in May — giving them immediate
votes.
In three strong Democrat districts, voters will chose successors to Reps. Kenyatta Johnson and Jewell Williams of
Philadelphia, and Rep. Chelsa Wagner of
Pittsburgh. It’s hard to imagine that Republicans could overcome enormous registration deficits in these districts.
The districts made vacant by the resignations of Doug Reichley (R-Lehigh),
Announced House Dante Santoni (D)
Retirements:
Curt Schroeder (R)
Ed Staback (D)
Scott Boyd (R)
Scott Perry (R)
Ron Buxton( D)
Tom Creighton (R) Announced Senate
Bill DeWeese (D)
Retirements:
John Evans (R)
Jane Earll (R)
Bud George (D)
Jeff Piccola (R)
John Hornaman (D) John Pippy (R)
Jennifer Mann (D)
Mary Jo White (R)
Denny O’Brien (R-Philadelphia), and Josh
Shapiro (D-Montgomery) are another matter. PEG PAC, has endorsed candidates
in these Special Elections.
ployment compensation appeals. Attorney and newly-elected Abington ward
Commissioner Madeleine Dean is the
Democrat nominee.
In the 134th District in Lehigh/Berks
counties, PEG PAC endorsed Ryan
Mackenzie, the former Policy Director at
the state’s Department of Labor & Industry. Mackenzie holds an MBA from Harvard and is the son of the former Lehigh
County GOP Chairman. He faces Democrat Patrick Slattery. This seat is a solid
Republican seat.
In NE Philadelphia’s 169th District, PEG
PAC endorsed Republican Dave Kralle, an
aide to former long-time state Rep. Denny
O’Brien. Kralle, just 26, has already
worked for O’Brien for a decade, and interrupted his Master’s Degree at UPenn’s
Fels School of Government to run in the
special. In a district where O’Brien won
easily for 30 years, it is an advantage for
Kralle to have his endorsement. Kralle’s
Democrat opponent is Local 98 IBEW
union political aide Ed Neilson.
Republican turnout — once expected to
be high while native son Rick Santorum
still challenged GOP presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney — will be a factor in
the 153rd and 169th. So to may be the
decision by the LRC to continue with
plans to move the district to York County.
In Montgomery County’s 153rd District,
young aggressive GOP attorney Nick Mattiaci secured the PEG PAC endorsement
in the race to fill former Rep. Josh
Shapiro’s seat. While the district votes
Democrat, Mattiaci, married and the father of two young kids, is about the same
age that Shapiro was when voters there
first elected him. To run in the special,
Mattiaci gave up his job as Associate
General Counsel at the Philadelphia Parking Authority, where he handled unem-
Elected to other office:
Kenyatta Johnson (D) (Phila. City Council)
Denny O’Brien (R) (Phila. City Council)
Doug Reichley (R) (Lehigh County
Judge)
Jewell Robinson (D) (Phila. Sheriff)
Josh Shapiro (D) (Montgomery Co. Commissioner)
Chelsa Wagner (D) (Alegheny Co. Controller)
Seeking other office + current:
Rep. John Maher (R) (Auditor General)
Rep. Eugene DePasquale (D) (Auditor
General)
Rep. Mark Mustio (R) (State Senate)
Page 9
Eugene Anthony DePasquale—Democrat—Unopposed in Primary
Eugene DePasquale was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2007. The district includes all of the
city of York, Spring Garden Township, part of West, and the boroughs of North York and West York. DePasquale has a
bachelor of arts degree from the College of Wooster (OH) where he played football and baseball. He also has a master’s
degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh and a juris doctorate from Widener University School of
Law. Prior to serving in the legislature, DePasquale served as deputy secretary for Community Revitalization and Local
Government Support in the Department of Environmental Protection.
Q: What are top 3 issues in the race?
Economics and Jobs. The Economic situation of the state is number one because it drives so many other issues. The Auditor General’s job is
making sure every penny is spent appropriately. The Auditor also is responsible for performance audits of various programs that impact job
creation– not so much in creating job but in making sure the programs which impact job creation is working as they should. Marcellus Shale.
This issue impacts job but also the environment. It is changing the landscape in ways that some people are comfortable with and others are
not. But it is a huge issue for the state that must be addressed. As Auditor I would order a review of the water protection programs to make
sure they are operating as need be. It’s the government’s job to make sure that things are working for the benefit of the people. Education.
The Auditor General has the ability to audit all the pubic schools. The governor recently announced massive cuts in public education. But the
job of the auditor here is to find out what efficiencies can be made and what can make the system work under such cuts.
Q: Once the Auditor Conducts an audit what’s next? What do you see is the role of the Auditor to ensure that what is discovered through audits is fixed?
The Auditor’s activities must be more than just a press release announcing the results of any audit. The job must also be about making government work. The way to make system work better is to find the inefficiencies through performance or financial audits and find out how to
work with the people on the ground to present suggestions for improvement…. a game plan to improve things going forward. However, in
order to get others to listen you have to be persistent in solving problems. What helps is the ability to maintain good relationships with colleagues in the general assembly. And, the ability to work with the Attorney General if prosecution is recommended.
Q: You have posted your expenses online to make things more transparent. How do you make what you have done commonplace?
Since I have been posting my expenses online more and more have adopted that policy as well. I hope to lead by example. You do the best
you can and the more transparent you are the better it is for everyone. Some people were initially concerned that it would go too far. But for
the most part, constituents have been very positive. Some people comment and make suggestions and we welcome that.
Q: What is your view on the privatization of state stores and what can you, as Auditor General do to weigh in?
The Auditor General can conduct an audit and as a result place the facts on the table. Some may select efficiency and some may select
keeping jobs. But it is the job of the Auditor to help present the facts. It is the job of the policy makers to weigh those facts in the decisionmaking process.
Q: What legislation or victory are you most proud of?
The one that I was heavily involved in was the House Bill which bans text messaging by all drivers in Pennsylvania. It started out as a discussion with my wife and ended up with legislation that was perhaps the most popular legislation to be signed into law. It is one bill that has
made a significant impact. It has increased the safety of our kids and roads.
Q: What are your thoughts about redistricting in Pennsylvania?
There is really no easy way to do the maps. Frankly, I am a proponent of Iowa style districts in which a nonpartisan bureau draws draft lines
for the legislature to accept or reject as is and only after the legislature has rejected two sets of plans can it draw districts as it pleases.. I am
simply not comfortable with politicians picking their constituents. The voters should be picking their politicians not the other way around. You
can’t ever take the politics totally out of the process but there are some alternatives than what we have now in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Political Report
Page 10
John Maher, Republican
State Rep. John A. Maher has been a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since September 1997,
representing the 40th District which includes Bethel Park, Peters Township and Upper St. Clair. Maher is a certified
public accountant. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Duke University, with an A.B. degree in Management
Sciences/Accounting. He also completed scholarship studies at Oxford University and the Australian Graduate School of
Management.
Q: What do you see as the top 3 Issues in the race?
Qualifications. In difficult times we need and auditor general who has experience in accounting. We have never had and AG who was an auditor. PA Deserves an AG who has an auditing background. I became a CPA in 1983 and I personally launched an accounting firm that became
the largest CPA auditing firms in the region. Additionally, I have co authored a textbook on government accounting and have addressed numerous issues of accounting before the legislature. Openness and accountability. I have a proven track record of openness and government
accountability. I authored the Open Records law which was the first to advance taxpayer rights to government records. I also authored the
lobbying law which ended Pennsylvania’s unfortunate distinction as the only state in the nation which had absolutely no law governing lobbying. Essentially, I have a history in fighting to improve the financial responsibility of government on both state and local levels. Education.
One responsibility of the auditor is to audit school districts. This is one area where the auditor general can provide most meaningful work. I
hope to improve the caliber of fiscal accountability in our public schools.
Q: Once you conduct an audit, what can the Auditor General do next to ensure that your work is used to make improvements and not just
end up as a report on the Governor’s desk?
As Auditor General I would create a feedback loop to ensure that the work we do is used appropriately. For example: government must recognize that Marcellus Shale activity is important to the state but it is something that must be carefully monitored. The Governor is setting in
place a number of such measures to ensure that the activities are being monitored. It is the role of the Auditor General ensure that the
industry will be in compliance with the safeguards set in place.
Q What are you doing or what have you done to ensure openness and accountability?
All expenditures from the exec branch are open as a mater of statute and thus, I will ensure that it is available. But, my personal history of
accountability is well documented. In addition to authoring the Open Records Law and the lobbying laws, over the years as a state legislator I
have refused a state car and more than $150,000 for mileage and tolls. My record speaks for itself.
Q: What is the Auditor General’s role or position in privatization?
The job of Auditor General is to help frame the discussion with facts on the cost and benefits of the existing model versus privatization be it
the liquor stores or the Turnpike or any other government agency. The Auditor General doesn’t frame the policy but the Auditor General
serves as a fiscal watch dog. Thus, it is the job of the Auditor General to assess the financial feasibility of privatization and to determine
when privatization is appropriate. Wearing my legislative hat I have a long history of supporting all efforts to bring the free market to Pennsylvania and privatization of liquor stores is one area which I support. However, it must be the right deal.
Regarding the Turnpike, our current Auditor General issued a report that concluded that using tolls from the Turnpike be used to support an
endless parade of road and bridge project is not sustainable. However, I am surprised that it took five years of studies and audits to
conclude what I concluded and proposed five years ago which is that it is not sustainable. During the Rendell administration I was pleased
to have taken part in stopping [Governor] Rendell’s efforts to turn the Turnpike over to a Spanish firm in a deal which would have been terrible for the state. While privatization is desirable it has to be the right deal. It can not be privatization in which the cure is worse than the disease.
Q: What victories are you most proud of?
I am proud to have taken part in stopping the sale of the Turnpike in that deal which would have been terrible for the State. Additionally,
legislatively, I am proud to have taken part in the open records law. It was during my 2 nd full term did the legislature finally pass legislation
that made all records open for review. On a personal level I am proud to have achieved Eagle Scout and I am pleased to encourage other
youngsters to do the same. Over the years I have been pleased to see many of the young kids who I encouraged to achieve the goal of Eagle
Scout achieve those goals. Being an Eagle Scout requires making the decision to start the path of becoming an Eagle Scout and then
achieving that goal from start to finish. It is something that has shaped my dedication to achieving many other goals in my life.
Pennsylvania Political Report
Page 11
Frank Pinto, Republican
Frank Pinto is a businessman, college instructor and former CEO of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers. He has owned and developed three small businesses, is an adjunct professor at LaSalle College, Villanova University and Unit of Pennsylvania and has been active in government. Frank has a BA, cum laude from La Salle College, a
MA, summa cum laude, from Villanova University, has pursued doctoral studies, and is a Bryn-Mawr College, Scholar in
Residence. Frank was appointed President Reagan’s Citizen Watchdog for the 17th Congressional District - Citizens for
America and has served various roles in the Pennsylvania Senate Republic Caucus.
Q: What do you see as the top 3 Issues in the race?
Leadership, vision & accountability. The position of Auditor General calls for a fresh new bold outside look of someone to do the job in managing billions of dollars in taxpayers money in a responsible manner. The common electorate is simply frustrated with career politicians and
career legislators who seem to have all the right rhetoric. My goals is to make the Auditor General race open and accountable.
Q: What are the most important skills needed to do a good job as Auditor General?
Leadership is what is needed most. In all groups in which I have been involved - business, charitable, community banking etc. – I have always become the chairman, vice chairman or president. The Auditor General’s office already has 4,400 auditors, 67 CPAS, fraud examiners
and countless others who do their job in performance or financial audits. Thus, you don’t need a CPA to be the Auditor General. You need a
leader with vision and one who has a solid history of accountability and I have a solid history of accountability and leadership. I have been
the advocate for Main Street for the last 26 years and have a record of advocating mainstream values while fighting corporate greed and the
arrogance of Wall Street. I’ve been an advocate for what’s right and was appointed to President Reagan’s Citizen Watchdog for the 17th
Congressional District Citizens for America for a reason.
Q: What are you doing to ensure openness and accountability?
First of all, in any public office, one must avoid even the perception of a conflict of interest. I challenge all of my opponents to address the
subject of openness and accountability in this race. The real question that voters must ask of any candidate - especially for statewide office
and especially if they come from other elected positions is “What did you do in office when you had the chance to watch over the taxpayer’s
money?” Taxpayers should further ask all candidates if they voted to give themselves a pay raise in 2005. Or did they participate in the pension grab in 2001? How could someone who voted for their own pay raise and COLA commensurate with the highest rate in the state run for
Auditor General under the banner of fiscal accountability? Democracy Rising released a poll that said that 87 percent of those polled said
they want those running for elected office to resign from a current elected position before they seek a second position. How are any of my
opponents supposed to be a watchdog over the people’s money when each of them start by wasting a million dollars requiring a special election to fill their vacated house seat should either of them win the election?
Q: What is your view on the privatization of state stores and what can you, as Auditor General do to weigh in?
The liquor stores are part of the Auditor General’s domain. It is amongst the 4,000 - 5,000 audits done by the Auditor along with nursing
homes, hospitals etc. Personally, I support privatization of liquor stores. Government should not be in the business where private enterprise
should be. The Auditor may conduct fiscal audits but has no prosecutorial power so unless they work with the Attorney General. As Auditor, I
would work more closely with the Attorney General’s office and Governors task forces to ensure that the audits can produce changes and
results and not just a report. To be more effective, the legislature needs to give the office of Auditor General greater prosecutorial powers. I
will be a watchdog with teeth, not a lap dog. I’m committed to reform and openness. It’s the taxpayer’s money and they have a right to know.
Q: What victory are you most proud of?
Looking at my role with the Community Bankers, we rallied around an issue and made a difference. In 1986 the pundits said interstate banking rules would bury the small community banks. We reminded the powers to be that local banks drive the engine of local business. In fact,
community banks were and still are collectively one of the largest employers, taxpayers, and significant contributors to the economy of this
Commonwealth. At that time we had an enormous challenge to fight the big banks and wall street but we did it. I was responsible for energizing an industry and thanks to all of the dedicated Community Banks, the small bank not only survived but also thrived. We rallied them. We
accentuated our strengths and initiated a campaign to show the importance of our industry. The campaign was called “Pennsylvania First”
and we showed that we were small but collectively powerful. We were told that the small banks “don’t have a chance” and that they would
be acquired by the big banks and that they would “be all gobbled up.” There has been some consolation here but the community banking
industry remains strong .
Pennsylvania Political Report
Page 12
The Pennsylvania Political Report conducted a pre-primary reader’s
poll on the major Primary Election that will be held on Tuesday, April
24.
GOP Presidential Primay
Predicted Winner
Presidential Primary Election
80
Percent
While the polling was completed four days prior to the departure of
Rick Santorum from the Presidential race, readers overwhelmingly
(79.9 percent) predicted that Mitt Romney would win the GOP Presidential Election. Only 17.7 percent thought Rick Santorum would win.
100
60
40
20
0
Asked what percentage of total Pennsylvania Primary votes Rick
Santorum would win, nearly 60 percent of our readers predicted
Santorum would get between 20 and 35 percent of the vote. Only 31
percent thought Santorum would win more than 35 percent, while
about 8 percent thought Santorum would fail to get even 20 percent.
Romney
Percent
30
20
10
0
Rohrer
Clearly, Pennsylvania Political Report readers see Sam Rohrer as a
significant candidate despite lacking the funds of Smith or the GOP
endorsement of Welch. Among our readers, however, there was a
discernible gender gap with men strongly favoring Rohrer, while
women favor Welch.
Smith
Welch
Scaringi Christian
GOP Auditor General
Primary
Predicted Winner
Percent
When asked who they thought would win the Republican Primary
race for Auditor General, 77.4 percent of our readers predicted John
Maher over Frank Pinto (23.3 percent).
Gingrich
40
Asked who would finish second, our readers predicted Sam Rohrer
captures (32.8 percent) and Steve Welch (31.3 percent).
Auditor General
Paul
GOP US Senate Primary
Predicted Winner
US Senate Primary Election
When asked who they thought would win the GOP US Senate race,
the Pennsylvania Political Report readers were statistically across the
three frontrunners of Sam Roher (32.6 percent), Tom Smith (31.1
percent), and Steve Welch (30.3 percent). Marc Scaringi and David
Christian were each picked as the winner by 3 percent of our readers
(four persons).
Santorum
100
50
0
Maher
Pinto
Attorney General
Democrat Attorney General
Primary
Predicted Winner
When asked who they thought would win the Democrat Primary for
Attorney General Pennsylvania Political Report readers predicted a win
by Patrick Murphy (65.7 percent) over Kathleen Kane (34.3 percent).
Of those 132 respondents 77.1% identified themselves as Republican,
19.1 % identified themselves as Democrat, and 3.8% identified themselves as Independent or other. Additionally, 77.1% were male and
22.9% were female.
100
50
0
Murphy
Kane
Pennsylvania Political Report