Looking to 2014

As my long time readers know the primary focus of this blog has always been elections. Next year we choose a Governor of the Commonwealth, members of the US House and state House and half the state Senate. In the next few days I will post about these and some races around the country.

PA Gov Tom Cabot Corbett has an uphill climb according to the polls but things can change in the next year and no sitting Guv has lost reelection since they have been allowed to run for a 2nd term. So far there are 8 Dems smelling blood in the water.

The Lt. Governors race is most interesting as I have met most of the Democratic contenders. My early favorite is Brad Koplinski because he sent me a bribe.

Of the 3 local Congressman I keep an eye on only Matt Cartwright has a declared opponent so far. 2 of them in fact. A few people are teasing that they will run against Lou Barletta including Bill Vinsko, Gene Stilp and Chris Carney but I doubt any of them will run. Libetarian Betsy Summers may get into it.

A few weeks ago an old friend called to feel me out about running against Tom Marino in the Republican primary. His rational was Marino is one of the most ethically challenged people to ever hold office.  I had to throw cold water on the idea because his family wasn't behind it and he would need to declare right now and raise at least $100K before the end of the year.


On the state scene Sen. John Yudichak has no declared opponent so far. Neither do Mike Carroll, Phyllis Mundy, Eddie Day Pashinski, Tarah Toohil or Gerry Mullery. I heard a rumor that Mullery may get a primary opponent.

Karen Boback however is being challenged by Laura Dickson. I haven't been this excited about a state rep race since James May took her on.

2014 Lt Guv race

Bradford County Commissioner Mark Smith and Harrisburg City Councilor Brad Koplinski came to the Spring Blogfest and impressed me and many others. Brad sent me a bunch of campaign buttons including a "I Like Ike"  (collectors item)  after I told him that I collect them. Mark has been to other Luzerne County events including the Yuddy get together at the PAV and the county Dem Picnic in Ashley and he  brought along his best campaign asset,  W-B native Jane Clements Smith. One of the jobs of the Lt. Guv is to deal with local government issues and these guys know what challenges cities and counties face.

Former Congressman Mark Critz (PA-12) has also jumped into the race  and has got off to a  mixed start. He snagged the endorsement of the Steelworkers Union. but  his positions on social issues are a problem for some Democrats.He also offended many people with a rape joke. Rape is not something you joke about.

Former U.S. Rep. Mark Critz runs afoul of some Democrats over rape remark and marriage equality

 

 “The joke, and the main setup of the joke, was a home invasion and a rape scene, and in the end the perpetrator is gay,” said Missa Eaton, a Mercer County Democrat who attended the meeting....Lancaster County state committee woman Sue Stoltzfus was receiving a “Woman of the Year” award at the meeting.

“It had been a great day, and that ruined it,” Stoltzfus said. 

He got booed at the state committee meeting


Critz is presently running for Lieutenant Governor. This morning when he took the podium at the South Central Caucus meeting, past PFDW president Michelle Lellito was in the audience. She called him out again for the joke, saying he was unrepresentative of the Democratic Party. According to several people who were in the room, Critz fumbled through an apology and left the room without completing his speech.

Brad Koplinsky racks up the endosements

Most endorsements are good for a press release and not much else unless they bring in money or boots on the ground. That's why union endorsements are so important in the PA Dem primary.

Harisburg  City Councillor Brad Koplinski has few dozen friends.

Brad Koplinski Announces Another 86 Endorsements For His Campaign For Lt. Governor With 204 Total Democratic Statewide Endorsements from 54 Counties

Former State Treasurer and  Auditor General Barbara Hafer; Former Congressman Joe Hoeffel Tops List of Endorsers

Today, an additional 86 elected and Democratic Party officials throughout Pennsylvania, led by former Pennsylvania Treasurer and Auditor General Barbara Hafer and former U.S. Congressman Joe Hoeffel endorsed Harrisburg City Councilman Brad Koplinski’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor.

The list of Democratic Party officials endorsing Koplinski now includes 25 Democratic County Chairs, 53 additional members of Democratic State Committee, 20 Countywide Elected Officials, 30 Mayors and dozens of municipal and former elected officials.

In giving his endorsement, York County Democratic Chair Bob Kefauver said, “I have known Brad for many years and know that Pennsylvania can trust him to do the right thing.  He is a pragmatic progressive and will make an excellent running mate to defeat Tom Corbett.”

Councilman Koplinski said upon the release of the list, ““I am proud and grateful for the support of these distinguished leaders of the Democratic Party.  I am especially honored to have the backing of Former Treasurer & Auditor General Hafer, Former Congressman Hoeffel and over one-third of the state’s County Democratic Chairs.  Our campaign for Lt. Governor is building strength every day and we will continue to work until we reach the goal of beating Tom Corbett in November 2014.”

The list of new endorsements is below – the full list can be found at www.Koplinski2014/endorsements

The Luzerne County list:

Frank Coughlin – Councilman, Borough of Plymouth
William Dixon – Councilman, Borough of Plymouth
Dan Hartman – Democratic State Committeeman
Dan Lello – Mayor, Borough of Dupont
Clif Madrack – Councilman, Borough of Plymouth
Keith Moss – Mayor, Duryea Borough
Rebecca Sammon – President, Pennsylvania Young Democrats & Democratic State Committeewoman

Another candidate for PA Lieutenant Governor?

A few weeks ago Harrisburg city councilor Brad Koplinski dropped his announcement for Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. in my inbox. I never heard of the guy but appreciate that he included me in his media list. I was very pleased that he accepted my invitation to Blogfest on April 19th.

Yesterday I got a teaser from another guy I never heard of. 

 "This Thursday, Democratic Bradford County Commissioner Mark Smith will make a major announcement that could have long-term impacts on Bradford County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
For several years, Bradford County has been the number one county in the state for Marcellus Shale development, job growth and impact. Smith has become a recognized and outspoken expert on the statewide, regional and local impacts of the natural gas industry."

I can't make it because of my work schedule but I'm going to make a wild guess that he is  announcing that he is  running for Lt. Gov. We hope to see him at Blogfest.

Brad Koplinski for Lieutenant Governor

From the inbox:



Brad Koplinski Announces Candidacy For Lieutenant Governor As  
                              Voice For Pennsylvania’s Municipalities


HARRISBURG: Harrisburg City Councilman Brad Koplinski, much of whose public life has been spent dealing with the adversity facing the City of Harrisburg, today announced that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor is the Chair of the Local Government Advisory Committee, which makes vital decisions that affect the future of Pennsylvania's municipalities.

Koplinski pointed out that the challenges Harrisburg has faced, and continues to face, are not just the concerns of the Capital City. "They represent an unfair system of taxation, crumbling infrastructure and failure of state government to do everything it could to make our municipalities able to make their own decisions and help themselves," he said.

“Dealing with the same adversity so many of the Commonwealth's communities are facing has steeled my resolve to help find solutions to the many challenges Pennsylvania's municipalities, large and small, must face on a daily basis," said Koplinski. "I intend to be the voice for reasonable but essential reforms on behalf of cities, towns and boroughs in the next administration."

Koplinski advocated for municipalities to have greater freedom in generating revenue, better assistance with infrastructure funding, and municipal pension reform. He also hit Governor Corbett’s positions on Marcellus Shale, lottery and liquor store privatization, cuts to education. He also advocated for marriage equality in Pennsylvania as a goal by the end of his first term.

Koplinski said he will go to every county and speak with and listen to Pennsylvanians in every corner of the state. "I am excited about this endeavor and believe we can make real change in Pennsylvania to help our citizens and our state”

Brad Koplinski has been a Harrisburg City Councilman for the last five years. He is also an attorney and has worked in some of the most important Democratic campaigns in recent Pennsylvania history. He was Statewide Political Director for Senator Arlen Specter’s 2010 U.S. Senate effort, Central Pennsylvania Political Director for Senator Hillary Clinton in her 2008 Presidential campaign and Controller for the 2008 Obama-Biden Pennsylvania campaign.
The official website for the campaign is www.Koplinski2014.com.