When affable Walter Felton narrowly lost his race against Ron Manescu for District Judge in November, a lot of his inner-city campaign workers were disappointed. Most of them have felt disenfranchised their entire life, and rallied around Walter, who grew up in the projects himself.Felton told them, "Get involved! Become part of the process."
That's exactly what has happened. In addition to seventeen Democratic state committee candidates, Felton told me today that there are forty-two county committee candidates from Allentown alone. At least twenty of these are people who Walter encouraged to file nomination petitions.
"People in government are always asking for diversity, so I brought it to them," laughed Walter.
These are newcomers, people who have never participated in party politics before. Some of the state committee candidates have faced already petition challenges. Walter said, "We're learning. If they don't fill out their paperwork right or get enough signatures, I told them they have to go to Harrisburg and take their medicine."
One person who's very impressed by Walter's efforts is, surprisingly enough, Republican City Chair Bob Romancheck. "I think it's remarkable," Bob tells me. "Anything that gets people involved is good for democracy."
Felton has encouraged these committee candidates to circulate petitions and get on the ballot instead of going the write-in route. That way, the people who signed their petitions are more likely to vote and actually inform themselves.
"Once they get a taste of it and see what it is, it's gonna' be like wildfire to the community, " Walter predicts.
How 'bout that? Instead of dragging people from homeless shelters and paying them $100 to knock on doors like Mayor Pawlowski did in November, Walter is trying something different called grass roots democracy, trying to give the voiceless a voice.
Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, you have to love that.
Yes, involvement is good BUT you really should not show a picture of members of a non-profit endorsing a candidate. That picture was on their web page through the election last year and violates 501c rules.
ReplyDeleteThat would be true if that group were a 501c3 nonprofit. That would be olligal political activity. But it is not a nonprofit.
ReplyDeleteGood thing they aren't conservatives or their version of grass roots would have been slaughtered here.
ReplyDeleteIf Walter formed a nonprofit, named himself King, and was pushing for candidates to promote his agenda, I'd be all over him. But he's not playing that game. He's encouraging people to get involved.
ReplyDeleteGood for Walt and hopefully good for Democracy. Once they get a hang of the rules, they can transform their communities.
ReplyDeleteGeoff
The wall2wall website claims they are a non profit.
ReplyDeletegood news! I never condemn people who seek office. That includes those people running for congress. Our system only thrives with candidates.
ReplyDelete"The wall2wall website claims they are a non profit."
ReplyDeleteYes it does, but it's not. It's actually a lose profit. Those guys have filed a fictitious name, but have not yet completed the paperwork for nonprofit status.
When I first saw that picture last year, I freaked out bc I though Wall2Wall was a nonprofit just like you. But the corporation bureau records show me it has not yet happened, and that's been confirmed by the group, which does great work w/ A-town kids.
They'll get there.
This is good news!
ReplyDeleteWalter is not only very bright, he is a terrific person. I think he has a real future in politics. I think he might be the perfect Democrat to run for Pat Browne's seat, when Pat is ready to retire.
ReplyDelete