Why Carol Kazeem is right for the 159th District
To the Times:
I am a long-time resident of the borough of Parkside (159th District) and a life-long Democrat, but I am very upset our present state Rep. Brian Kirkland, as reported in Friday’s Delaware County Daily Times (May 6), mailed campaign fliers to voters in the 159th with a fraudulent claim that he is endorsed by the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
He intentionally misled his own constituents two weeks before election, knowing voters had received mail-in ballots. I was among the voters in the district who received a flier with this fraudulent claim of endorsement. Fortunately, I knew it to be false when I received it but most voters in the 159th did not. The Kirkland campaign wanted these voters to trust them. It was disingenuous. In full disclosure, I decided earlier in the campaign to support his Democratic challenger Carol Kazeem. Now this offense by representative Kirkland confirms I made the right decision.
I have always volunteered in my community and I am familiar with Chester events as it is our neighboring community. This is how I came to know Carol over the past years. Simply put, I know and respect her. I am impressed with Carol’s positive presence in Chester and in the surrounding communities in and around the 159th District. Carol is a determined force — in voice and actionfor good in our communities. If the need is for one person or a community, Carol is there supporting that need.
I understand mistakes can happen and Rep. Kirkland claims his campaign made an error. My umbrage comes not from the mistake, suspicious as it seems, but with him not owning it. A pass-thebuck pseudo-apology on his FB page was weak. To make matters worse, anyone who didn’t accept his narrative had their post removed. Education is an important issue for most of the residents in this district and it appears this wasn’t a simple oversight done by an over-eager staffer. Mr. Kirkland’s response was a deliberate compounding of the misinformation with the meekest retraction possible, and to the fewest people imaginable. It was meant to keep false information circulating. It was wrong.
Carol Kazeem is my choice for state representative. She is the right choice for the 159th District.