Here’s the real reason Dems rolled over Delco
To the Times: I appreciate Daily
Times columnist Jodine Mayberry’s kind words on the historic election of the Democratic County Council, judicial and district attorney candidates on Tuesday. I do however have one critical pushback to the thesis that these wins were “all about the numbers.” Democrats taking a clear majority in voter registration in recent years is certainly a factor. However, these numbers are meaningless if voters do not exercise this most important right. This year, an unprecedented number of voters of all parties showed up to the polls, more than 40% of registered voters, as compared to a typical turnout in past local elections of little more than 25%.
The primary driver of the historic Democratic wins Tuesday has been hard work and lots of it, in several contexts. First the work of the candidates, who each personally visited the homes of thousands of voters to hear their perspectives firsthand. Their commitment to engaging directly with the citizenry to inform them of the campaign’s priorities and to earn their votes inspired hundreds of local Democratic candidates and volunteers to do the same. By Nov. 5, candidates and volunteers had reached out to voters more than 250,000 times to personally earn their support.
From observing and participating in this unprecedented grassroots effort in real time, I am certain that it is the core reason Democrats attracted so many voters to the polls to ensure these historic victories.
The other crucial context of hard work in this effort is the work of governing. In the two years since their election to County Council, Brian Zidek and Kevin Madden have brought a new urgency to solving the challenges Delaware County faces every day. Their work is informed by diligent focus on all constituents’ perspectives, finding innovative approaches to difficult problems, and paying attention to the details of policy and finance, all of which require a great investment of time and effort. Likewise, the newly elected candidates, County Council Members-elect Christine Reuther, Monica Taylor, Elaine Schaefer, District Attorney-elect Jack Stollsteimer, as well as Judges-elect Nusrat Rashid, Stephanie Klein, Kelly Eckel and Rick Lowe, have had a similar commitment to good governance in their current or past positions in public service, which will continue in their new responsibilities.
Going forward, the citizens of Delaware County can expect this commitment to public service to continue in the context of the hard work of county governance. In these roles, our elected officials will be expected to serve as an example to the full spectrum of county administrators and employees. The result will be a commitment to effective teamwork throughout Delaware County Government, in the service of the most important goal, consistently improving the quality of life of all Delaware Countians.
“The primary driver of the historic Democratic wins Tuesday has been hard work and lots of it, in several contexts. First the work of the candidates, who each personally visited the homes of thousands of voters to hear their perspectives firsthand.”
— Mario Cimino