FOP responds to attack from Republican Party chair
This past weekend, Delco GOP boss Tom McGarrigle penned an Op-Ed for this publication insulting the integrity of the Delaware County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 27 leadership and its more than 1100 members. In short, McGarrigle is upset that the Fraternal Order of Police Executive Board and its members endorsed the Democratic slate for County Council this year, the first time that has ever happened.
We stand firm in our endorsement of Democrats Monica Taylor, Elaine Schaefer and Christine Reuther. What McGarrigle declines to mention in his Op-Ed is that our FOP endorsement process this year was the most open and exhaustive to date. Each of the candidates, Democrat and Republican, were invited to speak with our leadership and members. Our political action committee and executive board met for countless hours interviewing the council candidates.
The Democratic slate was more prepared, better informed and had real solutions to move Delaware County forward. Taylor, Schaefer and Reuther were the better candidates by far, more aligned with our values and agenda to bring voters and residents of Delaware County together and to find solutions to some of our biggest problems, particularly public safety.
Meanwhile, McGarrigle wants you to believe that the FOP and its members endorse pedophiles and child predators; nothing could be further from the truth. We met extensively with all the candidates running for county council and we believe that Democratic candidate Schaeffer acted appropriately and expeditiously when she learned all the facts in the Phil Ahr case. In fact, the day Ahr was arrested, Schaeffer publicly called for his resignation from the Radnor Township commissioners. The FOP is comfortable with her handling of that particular matter. She answered ALL of our questions truthfully and honestly.
McGarrigle and the county GOP leadership took a most heinous type of crime, embellished and changed some of the facts for political purposes in an attempt to dirty-up an opposing Council candidate. This was a sleazy and desperate political maneuver by a failing and outof-ideas Republican Party in Delaware County.
Tom McGarrigle has once again displayed his political desperation by maligning the FOP leadership and our members in blue serving in the 43 municipalities across Delaware County. For McGarrigle and his GOP friends, this county council election is not about who has the best ideas to solve our county issues, or who is most qualified to serve on county council, but an effort to protect jobs for his political friends. It makes sense now why the voters of the 26th Senatorial District removed “One Term Tom” from office in the 2018 election.
McGarrigle and his GOP friends continue to cling to the past and incite fear in local voters. The FOP stands above those tired, sleazy political tactics and look forward to a new day in Delaware County. We’ve asked time and time again of McGarrigle and GOP leadership to address the County’s aging and out-dated 911 system, we’re still on hold and waiting for a viable solution from McGarrigle and his county GOP colleagues.
McGarrigle’s last-minute politics of desperation and fear is unwarranted. The FOP needs to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our elected officials to support our police and first responders and fix our aging 911 system. This will benefit all the residents of Delaware County and not just McGarrigle’s politically connected friends. Ending the back room dealings of McGarrigle and his slate of county council candidates this year can be accomplished by supporting Monica Taylor, Elaine Schaefer and Christine Reuther for County Council.
Meanwhile in the race for District Attorney, FOP Lodge 27 and its members enthusiastically endorse Republican Katayoun Copeland. There are no disagreements from anyone on this endorsement. The FOP believes District Attorney Copeland has, is presently, and will serve our county with integrity, fairness, passion and compassion, and that is why the Delaware County FOP asks all to support her on election day.