Dems the breaks when it comes to reins of power in Delco

Now I know that Democrats are in control of Delaware County politics.

They’re starting to act like Republicans.

Or at least the way Republicans used to act in Delaware County.

For years many in the Delco GOP espoused the belief that it was this newspaper’s mission to knock them off their lofty perch. Some insisted we conspired at every turn against them, intent on putting a dent in their decades-long reign. Well, it finally happened, but I don’t think the newspaper had all that much to do with it. Instead, a combination of shifting demographics - including 33,000 more Democratic voters - and Donald Trump did what Democrats had been unable to do for about a century.

The last fortress of GOP power in the county - the Media Courthouse - fell in the November election. In January the ruling body of Delaware County, the Delaware County Council, will consist of five Democrats and zero Republicans.

That’s not a typo. I know, still hard to believe.

That followed the 2018 midyear elections in which Democrats continued to make big gains in the county’s Harrisburg delegation, capturing several state representative and another state Senate seat, along with sending Swarthmore’s Mary Gay Scanlon to Washington to represent the county in Congress.

The show literally is now on the other foot in Delco politics. And what do you know? Democrats - at least some of them - don’t much care for the coverage either.

Last week I wrote an item in my blog spurred by the decision by longtime state Rep. Steve Barrar, R-160 of Upper Chichester, not to seek re-election. I noted it was very possible that seat which is shared between both Chester and Delaware counties also could flop over to the Dems’ side of the ledger as well.

That would leave Rep. Chris Quinn, R-168 of Middletown, the guy who was vilified in the last election in connection with the controversy over the Mariner East pipeline, as the last man (or woman) standing for the once allpowerful Delco delegation in the state capitol.

Gone are names like Adolph, Civera and Micozzie.

It was meant to note the changing it’s of the guard, and the diminishing might of what at one time was one of the most powerful political organizations in the state.

What the blog item did not do was talk about the Democrats who have been winning those state races. It’s not like we have ignored them in the past.

This did not sit well with the Democrats.

One of them, a winner in a state House race that had been held by Republicans for more than 30 years, took to Twitter to take issue with me.

“Genuinely curious what it will take for @PhilHeron to refer to Delco’s presently elected state reps as anything other than nameless Democrats.”

Naturally I took to Twitter to respond, stating the case that this item really was not about the Democrats.

The back and forth got some good traction, which is not a bad thing. I’m always willing to chat with those who disagree with me. I just think in this case the concern was misplaced.

For the record, state Rep. Mike Zabel, D-163 of Upper Darby, now holds the seat held forever by Nick Micozzie and more recently for four years by Jamie Santora.

Rep. Jenn O’Mara, D-165 of Springfield, (you know, the person we just wrote about speaking at a suicide forum) showed Alex Charlton the door.

Rep. Dave Delloso, D-162 of Ridley Park (you know, the guy we devoted the front page to with his proposal to legalize adult use of recreational cannabis and sell it at state stores), now fills the seat vacated by Nick Miccarelli.

No doubt Democrats are now busy targeting those two seats that have eluded them, that of Quinn and longtime state representative and now Sen. Tom Killion, R-9 of Middletown. Killion’s district also covers a portion of Chester County, but the bulk of the votes are here in the county. That state Senate seat has been in Republican hands dating back to the days of the legendary Sen. Clarence Bell of Upland.

No doubt Quinn and Sen. Tom Killion are not feeling all that comfortable these days. Apparently that queasy feeling in the pit of their stomachs is shared by some newly elected Democrats who don’t believe the newspaper is giving them the cred they deserve.

Yes, the political landscape in the county has changed.

But it’s still nice to know one thing has stayed the same: The party on top thinks this newspaper has it in for them.