MEET THE NEW BOSS
ALL-DEM COUNTY COUNCIL HAIL NEW ERA IN DELCO BIZ:
Incumbent Delaware County Council members Brian Zidek, left, and Kevin Madden, right, flank the winners of three seats in Tuesday’s election - Christine Reuther, Monica Taylor and Elaine Paul Schaefer - in laying out their vision for a new style of county government.
MEDIA >> Thirty-nine hours after the polls closed on Election Night, the incumbent and newly elected Democratic Delaware County Council members gathered to make it clear when they govern together, it will be for all.
“The Republican monopoly of control in Delaware County has come to an end,” county Councilman Brian Zidek said, seated next to his colleague Councilman Kevin Madden and councilwomen-elect Christine Reuther, Elaine Paul Schaefer and Monica Taylor.
The three won seats Tuesday night as part of a Democratic sweep that saw county council cede unanimous control to Democrats, as well as four seats on the county Court of Common Pleas and the District Attorney’s office.
The Democrats serving and poised to serve on county council gathered Thursday to outline how county government will be different when they assume power, starting in January with changes from job postings to budget accessibility to the time and place of council meetings.
“It is important for everyone to realize the vision that we have for Delaware County is that we govern for all of the citizens of Delaware County,” Zidek said. “It doesn’t matter what your registration is - whether you’re a Republican, whether you’re a Democrat, whether you’re Green Party, whether you’re Libertarian. Government is here to work for you and that is our pledge.”
Reuther added, “We want to make Delaware County a place where people can get things done without having to know a guy.” Taylor agreed.
“We are so excited,” she said. “We are ready ... to make sure that Delaware County government is serving all of the people of Delaware County and we are just really humbled that you have chosen us to serve. We thank Delaware County for your votes.”
Transparency and accessibility were top of their priorities as the five said one of their first actions would be to sign an ethics pledge. Then, the advertisement of available jobs will be changed.
“It’s going to be that once a job’s been internally posted, we want to make sure that the county puts in place a modern H.R. function that can actually post the job externally,” Reuther said. “It should be out there for any qualified person. You shouldn’t have to go through your committee person to get a job at the county.”
Madden said that marks the difference between them and their Republican predecessors.
“For generations in Delaware County, your ability to get access to services, to work in the county, it’s been predicated on your party registration,” he said, adding that what should matter is a person’s job qualifications and how well they do the job.
“I think,” Taylor said, “that at some point along the way, the elected officials in Delaware County forgot that they were to serve the people and not a political party or themselves. We’re here to serve everybody in Delaware County.”
Another example they gave was public hearings.
“We’re going to make sure that the changes that we advocate for and we put into place are done in front of the world to see,” Zidek said. “So that means, for instance, if we want to investigate the foolishness or wisdom of having a health department, we actually have hearings that happen in public and people can see what the pros and cons of that are.
“A lot of what happened in government in Delaware County happened behind closed doors, happened in smoke-filled rooms and to me, that’s a cancer for people in trusting their government,” he added. “If you don’t know how decisions are made, if you don’t know what’s going on, if you don’t know who’s profiting from something, people aren’t going to trust in what’s happening.”
Zidek said Democrats have the antidote.
“They say sunshine is a good disinfectant,” he said. “We intend to cast sunshine on everything we do in Delaware County.”
In addition, Schaefer said it’s crucial to have engagement.
“A big part of good government is actually having your community and your residents participate in government,” she said. “You have to be transparent to do that but you also have to give them information. They have to be informed in order to participate.”
For example, Reuther pointed out that the Radnor Township budget is several inches thick.
“If you look at the budget for Delaware County on its website, it’s 13 pages, double spaced, that’s it,” she said. “We need to give people the details so they understand when we say that expenditures are running ahead or behind, they know what it is that we’re talking about.”
Another way they plan to include people is by changing some council meeting times.
“Having them on a Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. when most people are working, that’s not the way that you make government accessible,” Madden said as he added that having meetings in the evening and in different parts of the county helps to make government be a two-way conversation.
Zidek noted that evening meetings in different locales was an issue the Republican county council candidates also advocated.
“I hope that serves as just one example of how ... if you have a good idea, bring it forth and if it has merit, it’ll be implemented, regardless of the source of the idea,” he said.
Some employees at the courthouse, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, offered their thoughts on the change.
“Everyone loves Kat, loves what she’s about, so everyone was really looking forward to continuing to work for Kat, but we have an office of professionals who are looking forward to continuing their jobs no matter who is in charge,” one Assistant District Attorney said of defeated GOP District Attorney Katayoun Copeland.
Another added, “(The deputy district attorneys) do have some concerns because they’re the management of this office. You expect (D.A. -elect Jack Stollsteimer) will come in with a couple of his people, at least, but you hope he recognizes the professionalism that the others here have.”
And another offered, “On a personal level, there is disappointment for Kat. Many of us worked with her before we worked for her. She is immensely qualified to lead this office. Her motives have always been pure and true, seeking only to uphold
and enforce the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States of America and to keep our community safe. Her leadership will be missed. On a professional level, it is business as usual. We have work to do and we’re going to continue to do it. As for the change of guard, the culture of our office is one of respect for the chain of command, for the office of the District Attorney, and for the mission espoused by the holder of that office. That doesn’t change.”
Others said the mood in the office Wednesday was somber and surreal.
“As far as the office goes, I would be lying if I said people weren’t disappointed but most of the line D.A.s are lifelong prosecutors and will continue to work for the commonwealth no matter who is in charge. Though I must say Kat was very liked in our office. She was very accessible as a boss and would come to our trials and give pointers. I always very much appreciated it because I thought she was the best litigator in our office. Her insights were invaluable and we always felt like she had our back in any situation. I can’t speak for any of the deputies, which I would imagine are in a different position than the line D.A.s. If only given one word to describe the mood (Wednesday), I would say ‘surreal.’”
And, another said, “It was the same in ‘17. People don’t know what to expect so they need a little time to let it set in and feel comfortable. You can definitely see there’s a sense of some somberness in the air.”
Back at the Court Diner Thursday, the atmosphere was one of optimism as the Democrats said they are prepared to work for the people.
“One thing we can all take from this last election and the results, we have now heard loud and clear that people are engaged,” Schaefer said. “Democracy is not on autopilot anymore. People want to be a part of it ... They want to see the change and the measures that we’re talking about - transparency, accessibility. That’s what people are looking for.”
“I personally as a citizen wanted to hold my government accountable,” Zidek said for his reasons in running two years ago, “and I welcome people holding us accountable. We expect that we will be held accountable and we understand that people are going to be watching. Watch us go. We’re going to do what we said we were going to do.”