Why Delco voters should stand behind Republican slate
To the Times: What is the most important quality in a successful local elected official? This is a question I have often asked myself over the years; enough times that I have been able to answer the question, and I would like to share the answers with you.
An elected official is a person who is invested in their community. He or she is someone of integrity, who holds themselves to a high standard and expects the same from their political colleagues as well as their opponents. They are people who care – not only when the cameras are on them, but at every moment – about their friends and neighbors. A local elected official is involved in their community both on a personal and professional level. They coach your kids, you see them in the Acme, and you see them in church or when you do business with them in their establishment. He or she is a community leader, and is treated as such by their friends, neighbors, co-workers, and peers.
The Democratic candidates have been peddling a pile of lies about our current County Council for several weeks now. Specifically, they have targeted Dave White. As a life-long resident of Delaware County, I have had many interactions with Dave White over the last 20 years. He is a man of sincerity, integrity, and a man I am proud to know and call my friend. Dave will always be the first person in line to help, as has been the case long before he entered the political arena. He is a man of humility, and while he is very accomplished he has never forgotten his roots. His countless hours of dedication to Delaware County have led to the creation of new jobs, improved neighborhoods, and an increase in salary of almost 8 percent for the average Delaware County resident over the last six years.
Dave White has been a community leader, and a business leader for more than a quarter century, right here in Delco. John Perfetti sat on the bench for more than 25 years. The Delaware County GOP candidates have spent their entire lives in Delaware County, helping others. Jack Whelan is a real life super hero who spends 25 hours every day battling crime in every corner of the county. His work on the heroin task force has had a positive effect, and under his leadership Delaware County has experienced many nation-leading firsts. We were the first to provide every officer with Narcan. We are among the first to provide first responders with the Raman Analyzer that helps them identify dangerous drugs. We have one of the first Electronics detection dogs in the country, Charlie, who is helping to eliminate child predators. Dave, Jack, and John are not just doing their jobs; they are saving lives locally. They live and work among us and have done nothing but improve our quality of life.
The Democratic candidates have all come from elsewhere, are not known in any capacity for their community involvement, and the two who do have business experience gained that experience out of state – which is where 79 percent of their campaign funds have come from. They clearly had no understanding of the basic formula used to calculate property taxes during the debate. Knowing how to calculate property taxes is a pretty important task for County Council. We have not had an increase in our county taxes in four years now. Can we count on that to continue if we elect a group who simply does not understand how property taxes work? One of them clearly places such little value on women that he created and markets a mobile application specifically to rate their naked bodies. The Democrats want so badly to win in Delaware County, that they are literally bringing candidates in from other states and cities. Hopefully the Delaware County voters – of all party affiliations – can see through the smoke screen and vote for a bright future in our county, led by men who create jobs, not by men who make their money on the misfortune of others.
On Tuesday, Nov. 7, we have choices to make when we enter the voting booth. Do we want to be led into the future by a group of Democrats who are invisible when it comes to their community involvement? Do we really feel comfortable electing these Democrats, who have spread lies about our current public servants? Is it fathomable that we could elect a man who has started a company whose only product is a vehicle used to denigrate and demean women?
There are many reasons to vote for our local Delaware County GOP candidates. White, Whelan, and Perfetti are the perfect example of successful local officials. I am proud to know all of these fine men. As we move forward in Delaware County, we need to know that we have the right men in the right positions. White, Whelan, and Perfetti are not just the right men for the job. They are the right men for every job.
fails to provide.
This is why I will vote for Kevin Madden and Brian Zidek for Delaware County Council, as well as Kelly Eckel for Court of Common Pleas. They are good persons who are people-oriented. They will bring good ideas to the table – which, by their election, will also change the “one-party” rule of the County Council and judiciary. To have a few members of the opposite party serving us on the council and judiciary makes me believe we can only have better governance for we, the people. And this minority party representation would be true whether it would be for the Republican or Democratic Party.