Day by day over the last month, Capital Ideas has kept his eagle eye out for retiring state legislators, promptly informing us of each departure, but sparing us the tearful good-bye speeches. Locally, only state rep. Carl Mantz pulled the plug after realizing that afternoon legislative sessions interfere with nap time.According to PA Clean Sweep, only 19 of the state house's 203 incumbents have decided against re-election. And as of 5:30 PM yesterday, the state elections board reports there are only 79 contested races. Since today is the last day for a state house candidate to circulate or file a nomination petition, it looks like only sixty incumbents are even being challenged. That's just 30%.
I think it's safe to say voters have put their brooms back in the closet. This is bad news for reform advocates. Can a state representative who has no competition really be trusted to pay attention to the voter? Of the nine local incumbents seeking re-election, at least six - Joe Brennan (133rd), Doug Reichley (134th), Steve Samuelson (135th), Rich Grucela (137th), Craig Dally (138th) and Julie Harhart (183rd) - are getting free rides.
Bob Freeman, who was rated by LVR readers last year as the top elected official in the Lehigh Valley, is one of the few with an opponent. I'm sure Bob will thank me for that next time he sees me. His oppenent? Ron Shegda, who has been trying to get elected to something, anything, since 2004. Jennifer Mann (132d) is being opposed by Mike Welsh in case lightning strikes and she becomes the Democratic nominee for state treasurer.
Drake Minder is supposed to be squaring off against Karen Beyer (131st), but last I heard, he has decided to become the Wizard of Oz.
Shegda has about as much a chance of defeating Bob Freeman as I do of winning a gold medal in the Olympic 100 yard dash!
ReplyDeleteA sad state of affairs in the Lehigh Valley. Everybody complains about how unresponsive our local pols are - but nobody has the stones to mount a challenge.
ReplyDeleteWe get the government we deserve. I hate having Frank Harhart as my rep. but it looks like he'll be there until the mummy wrappings deteriorate.
I thought there was a challenger for Julie/Frank Harhart out of Slatington?
ReplyDeleteMaddy, There was someone who went so far as to start circulating, but got cold feet. As you can see on the link, nothing was in as of 5:30 PM yesterday.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't a few of the complainers on this blog run?
ReplyDeleteI did.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't a few of the complainers on this blog run?
ReplyDeleteI would never seek public office. I don't measure up to my high standards. I'd have to start blogging about me.
I ran, and i took my beat down like an adult!
ReplyDeleteIt is my opinion that the problem is a lack of money and resources for any potential opposition rather than a stamp of voter approval for incumbants. Unfortunately, our legislators see it otherwise. In lockstep fashion, expect to see photo ops and noontime luncheons with seniors, a photo op or two with a veterans group and school kids and spin on lack of property tax reform. We have had 17 plus debates for president. I guess they served a purpose. Truth is we will have no participatory debates on state issues such as school funding, property tax reform, health care initiatives, and energy policy as there will be only one voice to hear for many of us. So we will get another two years of "legislative reports" rather than "legislative results".In defense of Carl Mantz, he has been more active in his year and a half than many who have been there for way too long. Sadly, even Archie decided against another run for that district. Democrat or Republican, you have to be frustrated. But most people have just given up. It's so sad, I hear people are even handing out dollars to people to get petition signatures, a buck a name. So much for face to face. I wish Teddy Roosevelt was still around. We need someone to kick some butt.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Marc - most of the state rep races I have seen in the Valley over the years include very little brain-to-brain combat. Reichly avoided Casey, Harhart didn't even show up at candidate nights if Shade was going to be there, even Linda Minger couldn't get Beyer to stay in one spot long enuff for a discussion of issues.
ReplyDeletefact is that most folks figure their political obligations stop at the president race - nothing else down ticket is important - when, in fact, the exact opposite is true.
I remember one petition signer tell me that she liked the incumbent because the incumbent kept quiet about all that "political stuff"
maybe a candidate should gather a few good cookie recipes and hand them out instead of nail files {grin}
People attack Harhart but I have worked with her and most of the other Rep's over the years and she is no worse than most. They all have participated in helping keep incumbants in place on both sides of the aisle.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason Harhart is singled out is because Stoffa wannabe Shade thought with the press blessing he could win a State Rep seat. He and the MSN miscalculated.
Bernie, are incumbents still given franking privileges? I know that in my district, nobody would think of running against a super guy like Craig Dally. His very expensive mailings regularly tell me that he's a legislative water walker who can make a buffalo shit from a nickel. Am I still paying for these de facto campaign mailings? If so, it really tilts the table against challengers.
ReplyDeleteMaybe another reason there is no opposition is that no matter how hard you try and get things done, you end up running up against "leadership". I was hopeful that the last cycle's freshman block last year could have come together and controlled the agenda and a third of the House, but it didn't happen. Who then can blame Carl Mantz for leaving? Then again I still leave milk and cookies for Santa every Christmas Eve. I don't think anyone is attacking Julie. It's more the frustration with the sad state of affairs which is called Harrisburg. And the sad fading of what looked so promising just two short years ago. Maybe one commentor made an off the cuff earlier in the thread. The bigger problem is the guys up at the top, and the control of the agenda. So, instead of no property tax, we'll get no property tax for seniors, and I can live with that, but I think we could have done better...and instead of an energy policy which embraces incentives for clean coal technology, solar, methane, biodiesel, wind, ...and also recognizes the importance of nuclear (and bringing and keeping energy jobs in Pennsylvania), we'll get more stagnation. Instead of finding a way to fund infrastructure improvements...we'll get highways named for veterans which are in a sadder state of disrepair than the Walter Reed hospital...and unjust funding in our school districts, where one district can afford to build an entire new school with no tax increase, and another cannot even think about building a science lab partially funded by corporate contributions...So does anybody have a good recipe for cookies out there? Wait a minute..they'll probably contribute to the "obesity problem".
ReplyDeleteI ran too. Because of gerry mandered districts it's hard to get volunteers and money. It's a one person show for the most part.
ReplyDeleteCouple that with working your regular job. It's not worth the time away from the family, the exhaustion, etc. I will say the press was very fair to me, my opponant decent and my volunteers loyal.
Sounds to me like you have your priorities in order. Sometimes our our prayers are answered in ways which only are known to us later in life.
ReplyDeleteBernie, are incumbents still given franking privileges?
ReplyDeleteYes, they sure are. And according to Lisa Boscola's COS, Bernie Kieklak, here's the procedure:
"I can assure you that the Secretary [of the Senate]personally reviews the newsletters of all 50 Members to ensure that they fully comply with Senate Rules and COMO (Committee On Management Operations) Policies. Above all, a newsletter must clearly demonstrate a legislative purpose before it can be approved
by the Senate Secretary. Furthermore, these guidelines are
essentially identical to those proscribed by the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Senate, and other state legislatures."
I imagine the state hose has similar rules. And they enable inumbents to send thinly disguised campaign ads, just like you siad.
Why I'm giving my campaign funds to Drake Minder
ReplyDeleteVOTE
FRAUD by DEVVY KIDD American Hero
It has nothing to do with Left or Right politics. It is all about keeping people in office that are going along with the program.