Smerconish: Durante, Durante in Montgomery County

Philadelphia-based and nationally syndicated radio talk show host Michael Smerconish, also a twice-weekly columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, today joins the growing cadre of observers focusing on Montgomery County’s interesting race for the sheriff’s post.

“‘Durante for Sheriff’ signs are now dotting the Montgomery County landscape.  There’s nothing surprising about that, given that a Durante served as county sheriff for 10 years.  But that sheriff, John P. Durante, a man with four decades of law enforcement experience, died Feb. 10, 2010, from a heart attack,” Smerconish writes.

Indeed, Smerconish details how current candidate Robert J. Durante (who’s running against newly installed sheriff Eileen Behr in the May 17 primary) is encountering some local criticism that he’s slyly taking advantage of John P. Durante’s name recognition and political capital.

The complications, however, extend beyond the name.  Robert Durante actually worked as a Montgomery County sheriff’s deputy for 33+ years – meaning, under the direct employ of John Durante, with whom he used to joke about pronouncing their last names.  And while some claim the “new” Durante purposely mimicked the design of his former boss’s campaign lawn signs, Robert Durante told Smerconish, “There was no thought at all about mimicking John’s signs whatsoever.”

Longtime observers – Smerconish among them – no doubt remember the “real Bob Casey” fiasco. 

In Montco, they’re beginning to wondering who the “real Sheriff Durante” will be, come May 17.

One Response

  1. Does anyone really care about what Michael Smerconish thinks anymore? His heroes are Barak Obama, Arlen Specter, and Jim Matthews for Heaven’s sake. A RINOS if ever there was one.

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