GOP candidate for Register of Wills quits her campaign
Two Libertarian countywide candidates are tossed off November ballot
There will be some changes on the county’s November ballot.
Incumbent GOP Register of Wills Jennifer Holsten Maddaloni has decided not to seek re-election after her term ends this year. The Newtown resident successfully garnered the Republican nomination in the spring primary with 25,159 votes. She is being replaced by Beth Naughton-Beck of Nether Providence.
In addition, Thomas Carey, a Libertarian candidate for county council, and Stacey Lynette Wallace, a Libertarian who was seeking the Register of Wills position, will no longer be on the ballot because of issues related to Home Rule Charter requirements.
Maddaloni chose to not continue her campaign for personal reasons, according for county GOP leader Andrew Reilly.
“Jen Holsten Maddaloni has run the county’s Register of Wills office efficiently and effectively and I wish her the best of luck with her future endeavors,” Reilly said. “I thank her for her service to the county.”
Maddaloni was in her first four-year term as Register of Wills as she was elected to the position in November 2013.
Reilly also described Beck as a respected attorney.
“Beth Naughton-Beck is an outstanding attorney and an accomplished community leader who is committed to helping local residents,” he said. “As chair of the Delaware County Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board, she oversees and organization that oversees the delivery of lifesaving treatment and preventative services.
“On the county level,” he continued, “Beth has been involved in combatting the opioid crisis, helping to oversee local implementation of Pennsylvania’s Good Samaritan and Naloxone Act, which allows individuals to report an overdose without fear of arrest.”
Naughton-Beck said she was thankful to have the party’s backing.
“I’m honored to have the support of the Delaware County Republican Party and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve,” she said. “On the county level, Republicans have a strong record of good governance, holding the line on taxes and accountability in the courthouse in Media. I look forward to campaigning alongside the other candidates on our slate and getting to know more hardworking Delaware County families.”
Beck had previously unsuccessfully run against Democrat Stephanie Klein, who served as Magisterial District Judge 32-1-28, in Media.
David Landau, chairman of the Delaware County Democratic Party, said the move was puzzling.
“It’s curious,” he said. “(The Republicans) waited until ... Labor Day weekend with something that had to have happened two weeks ago.”
He said the deadline to have a name removed off the ballot was Aug. 14.
“I won’t sink to the level that they did when we had the same issue with one of our candidates,” Landau said. “They were nasty.”
In May, Democratic county council candidate Jen Leith dropped out of the race after the primary, saying she would be unable to devote the time necessary to the campaign. She was replaced by Kevin Madden.
At the time, Reilly said Madden had formed a fund raising committee six weeks prior to that announcement and called the move “the height of hypocrisy.”
“If they cannot be honest with Delaware County residents now,” the Republican said at the time, “there’s not much reason to believe they will be any more honest if they get elected.”
Of Maddaloni’s withdraw, Landau said, “Obviously, candidates have situations that come up. We welcome the opportunity to go against Beth Beck, the same as we would have against Jen Holsten. Game on.”
Dale Kerns, vice chairman of the county Libertarian Party, confirmed that the Delaware County Republican Party had challenged the status of Carey and Wallace to be on the November ballot.
The Home Rule Charter requires residency of at least two years and a minimum age of 25 to run for county council. Carey apparently did not meet those and Wallace did not meet the residency requirement. She was also no an attorney, a requirement for Register of Wills.
“We have there two unfortunate events where the voters are not getting a fair chance to support the voters on Election Day,” Kerns said. “Instead of worrying about occupations and age, we should be more concerned with a candidate’s message.”
Carey is “not old enough,” Kerns said. “To be a state representative in Pennsylvania, you have to be 18. They made a rule at the county level, which doesn’t quite align with the (state) constitution ... What the Delaware County Republican Party is saying is if you are 18 to 24 years old, your voice doesn’t matter and it’s really a shame.”
He said the Libertarians did not have enough time to challenge the constitutionality of the requirement for their to candidates appear on the fall ballot.
Regarding Wallace, Kerns said there is no requirement for the Register of Wills to be an attorney in most Pennsylvania counties.
He claimed this was just another example of how the Pennsylvania Bar Association, which he described as “another lobbyist organization,” has influence in Delaware County.
“Unfortunately, the voters have to pay the price for it,” he said.
Kerns said no paperwork was submitted for Joseph Olive whose name was initially floated for county Controller.
“He was a place holder,” Kerns explained. “Joe Olive was not running as a candidate.”
Two Libertarians remain on the ballot – Edward Clifford of Marple for county council and Matthew Wallace of Drexel Hill for Sheriff.
Kerns said those campaigns were going great and said a Delco Liberty Fest rally is being held Saturday, Sept. 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the Media Theatre with Julie Borowski.