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Prospective Candidates Work the Room at Montco Dems Meeting

Montco map
Montgomery is PA’s 3rd most populous county, and also #3 in registered Dems

Conshohocken — Between the Guv campaign and a potential primary for Allyson Schwartz’s congressional seat, Montgomery County is a hot spot for politics this cycle. PoliticsPA stopped by the Montco Dems endorsement meeting Thursday night to see who was there.

Gossip among the 308 committee members in attendance included who would take Allyson Schwartz’s seat in the 13th District should she run for Governor, as well as for speculating on what prompted Luke Ravenstahl’s recent actions all the way across the state in Pittsburgh

Prospective candidates were there, including several from PoliticsPA’s list of potential Schwartz replacements should the congresswoman opt for a gubernatorial bid.

State Sen. Daylin Leach made the rounds in a bright orange shirt and tie, as did a more plainly dressed state Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Phila).

On the Gov side, Montco resident and Pa. Treasurer Rob McCord worked the room. Sounding like a candidate, but without declaring his intentions, he promised that the party would run a gubernatorial campaign “to be proud of.” He stressed that Democrats have worked to create a variety of jobs, including opportunities in the private sector.

Schwartz, also a Montco resident, did not attend.

There was an optimistic atmosphere in the room and Chairman Marcel Groen said he was confident that the Democrats will produce a candidate to replace Tom Corbett.

Harrisburg City Councilman Brad Koplinski also shook hands and socialized with committee members and judges. He’s been making the rounds at county functions since he declared his bid for Lieutenant Governor.

Philadelphia municipal judge and Pa. Superior Court candidate Joe Waters spoke regarding his state committee endorsement and easily won the official support of the activists in the room (unlike Republicans, Democrats’ state committee endorsement is not binding to county committees who can endorses as they please). He threw a jab at Jack McVay, the Pittsburgh judge who jumped in the race after state committee, but said he’d be the better general election candidate.

“They cannot pull out their law and order argument against us that we’re soft on crime because that won’t work with me, ” he said.

There was even talk about the race in the neighboring 8th congressional district, which includes some heavily Republican parts of Montco. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) has said that 2014 will be his final campaign. He could face former Rep. Patrick Murphy, who was mentioned by activists Thursday night. He could also face Doylestown Borough Councilman Det Ansinn according to a few of the committee people PoliticsPA spoke with.

State Reps. Matt Bradford, Madeleine Dean and Steve McCarter were there, too.

There were no surprises; the committee endorsed Steve Tolliver and Gail Weilheimer for County Court of Common Pleas, Joanne Olszewski for Jury Commissioner. The members also recommended the retention of all Democratic statewide and county judges.

2 Responses

  1. We can only hope that the Dems next pick in Bucks is Det (believe me I actually did run for Comissioner with Dianne even though all our mail focused on her) Ansinn. He’s just as bad as Kathy the Extremist Boockvar.

  2. This article missed State Representative Madeleine Dean and misstates that only Democratically elected judges were endorsed for retention. All of the judges up for retention were Republicans!

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