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Boockvar Wins Democratic Endorsement for Commonwealth Court (With Video)

By a second ballot vote of 221-43,  Bucks County attorney Kathryn Bockvar won the Democratic State Committee’s endorsement for the open seat on PA Commonwealth Court.

Boockvar has a wide background in legal advocacy, including womens’ rights and voting rights. She has dabbled in party involvement, serving as Bucks County Committeewoman from 2004-2010. Her husband, Jordan Yeager, has served on state committee since June of this year.

Boockvar speaks at Friday night's candidates debate

(Read PoliticsPA’s run-down of the judicial candidates and their bios.)

Throughout the proceedings, the committee began to coalesce around Boockvar. She arrived for the weekend with the solid support of the Philadelphia delegation and southeast PA. She quickly made inroads in the central caucuses of the state.

As a woman from eastern PA the thinking went, she would balance the ticket with either David Wecht or Bob Colville, both men from Allegheny County. Ultimately, after NEPA native son Todd Eagen withdrew, Boockvar received the support of the entire state except Allegheny and southwestern PA.

193 was the magic number for the endorsement. The first ballot results were Eagen – 25; Ernsberger – 62; and Boockvar – 191. By rule, Eagen was not eligible to appear on the second ballot.

He announced shortly after the vote that he was withdrawing his name from contention. Eagen did not say whether he will remain in the race, but it appears likely that he will from his remarks. PoliticsPA was unable to reach him for comment.

Another candidate, Dan Bricmont, decided to withdraw from the race at the behest of party leaders in exchange for good will that could help him win endorsement in 2013.

Barbara Ernesberger, who ran against the party-endorsed candidate (Dan Bricmont) in 2009 and won, would not say whether she would seek to do so again this year.

“You’ll have to call me after the Steelers game,” she said. “I’m going home to relax, and then I’ll make up my mind.”

There were several minutes of parliamentary drama after the first ballot. With Eagen out of contention, the northeast PA delegation attempted to suspend the rules and move their support to Boockvar by a voice vote. This led to a loud chorus of opposition from Ernesberger supporters (mainly in the Allegheny and southwest PA delegations), ultimately leading Chairman Burn to call for another paper ballot.

For her part, Boockvar is ready to get to work. She and her husband are heading to community event at a fire hall tonight.

In the video below, Boockvar talks to PoliticsPA about her reaction to her nomination.

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