And now, the choice: Voters make their picks today
Months of intense campaigning all come to an end Tuesday.
Approximately 400,000 registered voters will be able to cast their ballots to let Republicans retain control of county council, the District Attorney’s office and a number of municipalities, or hand the reins over to Democrats who are looking to end the singleparty rule that governed the county for decades.
After canvassing over the weekend for both parties to stump for their slate of candidates, what impression they had on approximately 190,000 registered Democrats, 157,000 registered Republicans and tens of thousands others will be known Tuesday night, effectively ending the hard 2019 municipal election cycle.
“It’s been going very well. They’ve been working hard, criss-crossing the county,” said Delaware County Republican Chairman Tom McGarrigle Monday afternoon of this year’s candidates. From canvassing at
train stations in the morning to community events and forums at night, the GOP candidates have been making their presence known. Not to mention the infinite number of doors they’ve knocked on.
Knocking on history’s door is the Democrats led by the party’s county-level leader Colleen Guiney. She said Monday morning that a campaign is really about getting good candidates who can do the job and empowering voters to get out respond to their messages.
“Voters are energized. They want change,” she said. “When we knock on a door they’re happy to come out and vote.”
The county council race will be a defining one for
both parties in the face of a changing voter registration population in the county. The Democrats are running two former municipal-level council members, Christine Reuther and Elaine Schaefer, and current sitting Upper Darby school director Monica Taylor to take at least one seat to clench a majority on the council. Democrats Kevin Madden and Brian Zidek broke through the Republican stronghold on the council seats when they were elected in 2017.
Republicans would need to win all three seats to keep control of the five-member board. Community activist Kelly Colvin, non-profit chairman Michael Morgan and current Thornbury Supervisor
James Raith are the GOP candidates.
“We’ve been knocking on doors since February and our message to Republican voters is if there were ever been a more important time to vote, it’s Nov. 5,” said McGarrigle. “You have three individuals who have taken a pledge not to raise county taxes over the next four years and they’re running against (Democratic) individuals who have a history of raising their taxes.”
Late Monday afternoon it was announced that county taxes are expected to stay level once again in 2020 when a proposed $358 million budget was presented, marking a potential sixth year without a tax increase.
“In light of our currently
elected and what they’re doing, (the candidates) are going to keep doing what they’re doing,” said Guiney. “The Democratic slate is qualified, capable and ethical. I believe they will serve the county well. They have experience in governance and know how to do the job.”
Taking full control of county council and the District Attorney’s office is all that is left for Democrats to claim after winning all three row offices in 2017. District Attorney Katayoun Copeland will have to fight off Democratic challenger Jack Stollsteimer to let the GOP retain the one elected office that has never had a Democrat serve in the county’s history.
Four seats on the county Common Pleas court are up for grabs as well.
Democrats are also looking to expand their claim in local politics in Upper Darby, Collingdale, Eddystone, Springfield, just to name a few.
“I’m hopefully that tens of thousands of voters come out,” said Guiney about what she expects Tuesday. “Diversity is our strength and the diverse communities know they have a friend in Democrats.”
McGarrigle expects wins for Republicans at the county races. He said he feels good about that, that he has the whole race.
“If the municipalities stay in control and get the Republican voters out, we will win, also,” he said.
With over 400 voting precincts in the county using 841 voting machines an accessible, properly functioning poll is critical to voting. Immediate election complaints may be submitted calling 1-877-868-3772 or by going to pavoterservices.pa.gov.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.