State rep: Why I stand with someone I often disagree with
To the Times: Upper Darby Councilwoman Barbarann Keffer does not agree with me on a number of things. She receives a 100% Planned Parenthood rating, whereas, I may not. She does not agree with my decision on the Gosnell Clinic law and has told me so although she was working for me at that time in 2011. She is no shrinking violet.
Keffer has also let me know in no uncertain terms that she does not agree with my position on school choice. She understands the inherent inequities in public schools that often relegate poor children to lower-performing schools. The evidence on this is irrefutable – the correlation between poverty and performance. Keffer believes the best option to fix this problem is public schools. I believe parents and their children should have other options. At the end of those conversations, we are still in our separate corners.
On the issue of the environment, she was the office leader. My focus was often on economic issues and trying to change a political landscape that ignored the masses and played favorites to the well-connected. Barbarann cared about those things too very deeply but still found the time to separate the trash and the recyclables and personally take them to recycling centers because there was no recycling pick up at the shopping center where we worked.
She also found opportunities to host community socials in her own neighborhood of Drexel Hill at her home so neighbors could get to know each other all while coaching basketball and raising her two beautiful girls with her husband.
Barbarann lead many cleanups on my side of Lansdowne Avenue, again, for which she was criticized, but she cares about the entire township not just the parts in closest proximity.
She also cleans the creeks. The first time she demanded that I join her in one such clean-up, I said, “Sure Barbarann, whatever you need,” even while I was thinking don’t they have people to do that? This was again while she worked for me but she was not taking no for an answer. I have done it almost every year since because, I actually came to enjoy it and see its value and the necessity of not waiting for “someone” to do it.
A leader on a woman’s right to choose, public education, the environment and a champion for creating transparent, effective, open government that keeps taxes low, is fiscally responsible and fair to everyone. We may not agree on everything but we agree on a lot of things including a fierce passion for this community. I also know that Barbarann has the heart of a warrior and she will fight for this community with every fiber of her being. Barbarann believes in a clean, vibrant, fair community with great schools, open government where elected officials serve the people not themselves. I believe in that too and that’s why I believe Barbarann.
I have made a number of endorsements in my nearly a decade as a public servant but there are two that make me the most proud, one was Partrick Murphy for Attorney General and now this one. At this critical time in Upper Darby’s history I am super proud to endorse Councilwoman Barbarann Keffer. She doesn’t have to agree with me on everything but her courage to speak truth to power and fight on behalf of people is more important than anything. Now is not the time to go backward let’s move forward together by re-electing Barbarann Keffer, the people’s champion. Leave your comments online Use hashtag in and support at