Two candidates for the 8th Congressional District are added to the NRCC’s Young Gun program, a former Philadelphia District Attorney will finish his prison sentence in the city, plus an annual summer tournament is cancelled due to coronavirus. All of that and more are in this week’s Ups and Downs.
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Jim Bognet and Earl Granville. The National Republican Congressional Committee has at least two preferred candidates in the crowded GOP primary in the 8th Congressional District. The NRCC added both Jim Bognet, a former Trump administration appointee, and Earl Granville, a decorated combat veteran and veterans’ advocate, as “on the radar” for its 2020 “Young Guns program.”
Jill Stein. The former Green Party presidential nominee’s effort to decertify Philadelphia’s new voting machines prior to the June 2 primary over “concerns they could be vulnerable to hacking” was rejected by a federal judge this week. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond slammed Stein’s theories as “daft,” “ill-considered,” and “pointless” and added that the “commonwealth and the city have expended considerable resources to demonstrate that Dr. Stein has based her motion on absolutely nothing.”
Seth Grove. House Democratic Leadership blasted House Republicans for sharing a fake reopen plan from Gov. Tom Wolf. According to a tweet from the Pennsylvania Capital-Star’s Stephen Caruso, the fake plan was actually developed by a House GOP lawmaker, but was “garbled at some point along the way into Wolf’s plan” and was shared by Grove on social media.
Michael Lamb. While coronavirus has shifted the campaign for Auditor General significantly, endorsements from local parties are bound to play a role in the primary election. The Pittsburgh City Controller tweeted out this week that the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee endorsed Lamb’s bid for Auditor General. Although endorsements aren’t the be-all and end-all in the race, nabbing the support from the state’s largest Democratic stronghold is sure to help his chances.
Seth Williams. The former Philadelphia District Attorney, who was serving a five year prison term for bribery, returned to Philadelphia this week to finish his sentence under the supervision of a local residential reentry program, according to Philly Clout. The former Democratic DA served most of the last three years in a West Virginia prison.
Bill DeWeese. The former PA House Speaker must pay more than $100,000 restitution from when he was resentenced on corruption convictions for using public funds to promote his reelection, according to a Superior Court ruling, reported by PennLive.
Joe Hart. The Delaware County Daily Times has a new editor. Hart, a longtime journalist with the paper who started as an intern in 1983, takes over after Phil Heron retired a few weeks ago. Heron, who earned an up arrow from PoliticsPA a few weeks back for his terrific work with the paper, described Hart as a “Delco native with rock-solid journalistic skills and a lifetime of experience,” adding that he “can’t think of anyone better suited to take over the reins.”
Williamsport. For the first time since 1947, the Little League World Series has been cancelled this summer. Little League President Stephen Keener announced the first ever cancellation of the tournament, due to the restrictions from large gatherings in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Golfers. While the sporting world has largely been at a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic, golf courses open back up in the state today.
Gisele Fetterman. Although the Free Store in Braddock has been closed for weeks due to restrictions on businesses from COVID-19, the Second Lady of Pennsylvania raised $20,000 through Google and The Good People Network to buy Giant Eagle gift cards for residents of Braddock, KDKA reports. The $50 gift cards are sure to help the town, with close to 32% of the population living below the poverty line.
Blue Angels and Thunderbirds. In a show of support for healthcare workers, first responders, and others leading the fight against COVID-19, the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds flew over the Philadelphia region on Tuesday.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Guys it’s a global pandemic. That means only one thing…BRING IT IN, GUYS!!
*every politician from every Philly corruption scandal comes in with everything for a HUGE party*https://t.co/jvuVZWN8fT
— Ryan W Briggs (@rw_briggs) April 29, 2020
Bonus Tweet for the Eagles fans out there.
After this Eagles draft, you’re damn right they are. https://t.co/fa8nfLP3mQ
— US Rep Brendan Boyle (@RepBrendanBoyle) April 25, 2020
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5 Responses
Did you know that Eileen Kelly works for Lamb? Did you know that one of his campaign workers worked for Michael Flick? Question: How was she appointed to the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania? How about this: Pittsburgh Mayor Peduto files for injunction claiming Jack Wagner and Michael Lamb violated Pittsburgh campaign finance law. All this can be googled and verified.
So the good old boys in Philly and Pittsburgh have cut their usual deal. That would be reason enough to vote against Lamb. As if the corruption in the Allegheny Democratic party didn’t disqualify him already.
You may be wrong about a Philly-Pittsburgh deal. Lamb is from Allegheny. The Allegheny Dems did not endorse him. The Allegheny county Executive did not endorse him. The Mayor of Pittsburgh did not endorse him. What do they know that Philly doesn’t?
He stood up to the Zappala Cartel and stopped the looting of City HALL. NOW, HE IS # 1 ON THE MOB’S list and not in a good way. This is a test of the deteriorating mafia influence in Pittsburgh.
Where is Trumps double-down arrow for everything he does wrong, then doubles down on the same stupid action?