Dem candidates roll out ethics policy
The four candidates for Delaware County Council once again are exchanging barbs over “Pay-to-Play” claims and campaign contributions, with the Democrats unveiling an Ethics Reform Blueprint, while Republicans questioned the Dems’ commitment to the county since the bulk of their financial support and expenditures come from out-of-state sources.
On Nov. 7, county voters will have the opportunity to select two positions on Delaware County Council. The Republicans have the sole incumbent in Dave White, who’s running mate is John Perfetti. The Democrats’ slate includes Kevin Madden and Brian Zidek. The sole Libertarian is Ed Clifford.
The Zidek/Madden campaign unveiled a six-point Ethics Reform Blueprint in response to their claims that White has steered business to contributors, something he vehemently denies. The six parts would be: • Requiring any contractor wanting to do business with the county to reveal any donations to a political campaign committee of sitting council members made in the prior year;
• Any council member who abstains from a vote on a contract will explain why and contractors and their officers would be prohibited from making contributions to campaign or county political committees for the duration of any contract they receive and one year later;
• Donations made by any business owners, board members, executives or spouses of such people to any public official involved with approval of any contract will be made public online for all contracts awarded;
• No member of County Council or any council appointee can have a financial interest over $100,000 in any company or entity directly contracting or subcontracting with the county;
• All candidates and committee filings will be available online within two weeks of the filing deadline;
• And countywide elected officials will submit a financial disclosure including companies or trusts where they receive more than $50,000 annually or any company or trust where they, or their spouse, has a minimum 10 percent interest.
“The pay-to-play and patronage system that this decades-old machine has enabled is an embarrassment to Delco and has held us back from realizing a modern and effective government,” Madden said.
Zidek added, “For far too long, this corrupt machine has enriched itself and its contributors with taxpayer-funded contracts. That is wrong and it should be illegal. That is why Delco needs these reforms. We must shut down these pay-toplay schemes and make it much harder for our elected officials to enrich themselves and their contributors on the backs of taxpayers.”
Pete Peterson, a spokesman for the White/Perfetti campaign, responded to the Democrats’ plan.
“Relying on Madden and Zidek for ethical advice is like asking the fox to guard the henhouse,” he said. “Brian Zidek’s firm, Excess Reinsurance, once denied health care coverage to two cancer patients who worked for a church. Meanwhile, Kevin Madden made millions by buying up companies, laying off workers, cutting their benefits and eliminating their pensions.”
While Peterson said these actions weren’t illegal, he said that doesn’t mean there’s a dearth of moral and ethical issues associated with that.
“So, they can make campaign promises about ethics, but their records and business dealings show they don’t have the records to back up their rhetoric,” Peterson said.
He then urged the public to take another look.
“If you want to see the Democrats’ ethics and procurement standards at work, look at what happened when they took control of government in the City of Chester and Chester Heights. They immediately brought in Democratic professionals to serve in municipal government and provide legal counsel. According to Madden and Zidek, if Republicans do that, it’s pay-to-play but if they are Democrats, it’s considered good government.”
In another matter, Delaware County Republican Chairman Andrew Reilly pointed out that campaign finance reports showed 79 percent of contributions to Friends of Kevin Madden are from out-of-state donors.
“When Kevin Madden was at KPS, he made a quick buck off companies and amassed a record of pollution, worker safety violations and layoffs,” Reilly said. “Now, his corporate cronies are paying him back by bankrolling his campaign for County Council to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars.”
The Republican said tends of thousands of Madden’s contributions came from executives at companies who’ve done business with KPS Capital Partners, Madden’s former employer, and at least $41,000 in contributions have come from people associated with KPS.
Reilly said in the most recent finance reporting period, Madden received $15,000 from individuals connected with or previously linked to KPS, which was more, Reilly said, than Madden received in total from Delaware County residents.
“It’s clear where Kevin Madden has found support for his bid for County Council: in Wall Street boardrooms and penthouses – not among hardworking Delaware County families,” Reilly said. “Delco voters won’t be fooled by Madden and his vulture capitalist friends. We don’t need Madden bringing his New York brand of crony-capitalism to Delaware County.”
In addition, he said the Democratic countywide ticket has decided to almost exclusively use out-of-state vendors and consultants from Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Ohio and Georgia. These expenses, Reilly said, have accounted for more than 73 percent of their campaign expenditures.
“It is hypocritical for the Democrats to claim they care about small businesses and jobs here in Delaware County when they spent the vast majority of their money hiring out-of-state companies and buying from out-of-state vendors,” Reilly said. “The fact that the Democrats’ campaigns for county office are being financed by contributors who aren’t even from Pennsylvania and managed by out-of-state political consultants raises a lot of questions.
“What’s their interest in Delaware County local government and what do they hope to gain by electing two liberals in Kevin Madden and Brian Zidek?” Reilly asked. “I am very concerned that these outsiders will attempt to reshape and remold Delaware County as they see fit.”
The Zidek/Madden campaign continued to question the Republicans and said Madden has local support.
“It’s both ironic and ridiculous that Dave White wants to talk about where campaign contributions come from,” Joel Coon, the Zidek/Madden campaign manager, said. “Dave White makes sure the cronies that fund the Republican machine get rich by rewarding them with millions in taxpayer-funded contracts and lucrative government positions. If Dave White wants this debate, good – so do we.”
Coon continued that Madden received campaign contributions from friends, co-workers and people from all parts of his life.
“They have nothing personally to gain other than to know they are supporting a good cause,” he said. “Many of them have been in the trenches with him saving and creating thousands of jobs across this country and they know that he will fight just as hard for his home county of Delco.”
Coon continued by casting a critical glance at White.
“We are proud to compare how Kevin has raised campaign contributions to the payto-play schemes Dave White and GOP insiders have been perpetrating on Delco taxpayers for decades,” he said. “What Dave White and the Republican machine have been doing should be illegal.”