End of an era in Delco politics
Wednesday marked the end of an era in Delaware County politics. In more ways than one. The last meeting of the year of Delaware County Council also brought down the curtain on an exceptional four decades of public service by Council Chairman Mario Civera.
Consider this: Civera was first elected to Upper Darby Council in 1974. We’ll do the math for you. That’s 43 years – more than four decades of public service.
In 1980 he was elected to the state House or Representatives in a special election to replace Frank Lynch, who had resigned his seat.
For the next 30 years Civera represented the citizens of Upper Darby’s 164th legislative district. Remember, state reps run for office every two years. That means 15 times voters sent Civera back to Harrisburg.
That’s a lot of trips back and forth on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
When he left the state Capitol in 2010, Civera ran for and won a seat on County Council. This week he concluded his second term, serving as chairman.
“His service will be forever etched in the history of Delaware County,” said Council Vice Chairman Colleen Morrone in a tribute to Civera.
It’s hard not to like Mario Civera. He almost always greets you with a smile.
In fact, that was the hallmark of his service. Civera was a people person. He listened to his constituents, he never forgot where he came from, but at the same time he was always willing to reach across the aisle to get something done.
His absence in Harrisburg the past few years no doubt could be felt in the gridlock that seems to have paralyzed the state Capitol.
Nothing irked Civera more. When he saw a problem, he took action to solve it, and wasn’t afraid of getting help from the other side along the way.
When the county faced a crisis back in 2011 when the former county SPCA decided to get out of the animal control business, in effect dumping the problem in council’s lap, Civera took action. This despite the fact that technically animal control is not the county’s worry. It’s the state’s responsibility. That did not stop Civera from addressing a clear problem.
That is not to say this newspaper has always agreed with Civera. We criticized him harshly when he delayed his resignation from the state House, for a time holding down both the state rep seat and his post on County Council.
Democrats – and this newspaper – thought it best that Civera step down so a special election could be aligned with the primary. Civera obviously thought otherwise.
He was not the only member of council departing this week. And it was not the only era coming to an end. It also marked the final meeting for Republican Dave White, who along with his running mate John Perfetti was defeated by Democrats Kevin Madden and Brian Zidek in the November election.
The Democrats’ win shattered decades of all-Republican rule in the county. No Democrat had been elected to County Council since the Home Rule Charter was enacted back in the mid70’s.
Both Madden and Zidek were in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting, but both sat calmly in the background as well-earned salutes were offered to Civera and White.
What kind of person is Dave White?
The first thing he did when he entered the room was walk up to the Democratic victors, shake their hand, congratulate them and make this offer: “If you ever need anything, just reach out to me.”
White was lauded for his tireless work in creating the county’s Heroin Task Force.
District Attorney Jack Whelan, himself soon leaving his county office after winning a seat on the county Court of Common Pleas bench, offered praise for White, in particular when it comes to the opioid scourge that is taking such a horrific toll on the county and region.
“You have made a difference, you have changed lives of people in Delaware County,” Whelan said.
It was a collision of two eras in Delaware County.
Ships passing in the night: Republicans Civera and White on the way out, while Madden and Zidek are on their way in.
It’s a new era, one of twoparty rule, something the county has not seen in a long time.
But before any of that, we take time to salute Civera and White for their public service.
They will be missed.