19 for ’19: Politicians to keep an eye on
While there won’t be a national or statewide election this year, these people are ones to watch.
Expect a quieter year in politics. The midterm election is over and the presidential campaign is a year away. There are no statewide races. The ballot will consist of local races.
But 2019 certainly will not be boring in the world of politics.
Here are 19 officials from the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania to watch in ’19.
Susan Wild
She is the Allentown area’s first new representative in Congress in quite some time. That role was held by Republican Charlie Dent from 2005 until he resigned last year. Wild, a Democrat, is the first woman to represent the region in the House and she joins a record number of women in that chamber. She’ll be staking out positions in a bitterly partisan system.
Marty Nothstein
He enters the final year in his term as Lehigh County commissioner. The Republican has to decide what his political aspirations are after losing to Wild in last year’s congressional race.
Ray O’Connell
He will start his re-election campaign for Allentown mayor not long after he raised property taxes by 27 percent, the first increase in 13 years. The Democrat vetoed a budget by City
Council that would have reduced the amount of the tax increase.
Tom Wolf
He is starting his final term as governor. This is his last chance to fulfill his agenda, including the imposition of a severance tax on Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling and a raise in the minimum wage. Without having to face re-election, there’s no reason for the Democrat to hold back.
Bob Casey
Will the U.S. senator really run for president in 2020? The Democrat didn’t say no when asked by reporters in November shortly after his midterm election victory over Lou Barletta. “We’ll see what happens,” Casey told NBC News. If he’s serious, we’ll find out this year.
Bill Peduto
Pittsburgh’s Democratic mayor, along with other city officials, is taking a stand against gun violence by proposing a ban on assault weapon sales in his city after last year’s synagogue shooting. The fight won’t be easy.
Brian Fitzpatrick
The U.S. representative from Bucks County was one of five Republicans to vote with Democrats last week on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which is among the agencies affected by the partial government shutdown. He said he supports funding for border security, but does not support shutting down the government. That’s a reasonable compromise position. But it could kick off an interesting year for Fitzpatrick in a Washington that is building walls along party lines.
Chrissy Houlahan
A political newcomer, along with Wild she is one of a record four women representing Pennsylvania in the U.S. House. The Democrat brings a diverse background to her seat in Chester County. She served in the Air Force as an engineer and worked as a chemistry teacher and athletic apparel company executive. She also was president of a national nonprofit working to improve literacy in early childhood education.
Conor Lamb
The Democrat shook up Pennsylvania politics last spring by winning a special election for Congress in Republican country in the Pittsburgh suburbs. Last week, he showed his independent streak when he was the only Pennsylvania Democrat who didn’t vote for Nancy Pelosi for House speaker.
Eugene DePasquale
He is halfway through his final term as state auditor general, where he’s challenged spending by state and local agencies and called for improvements to the state’s weak charter school law. There’s little doubt that auditor general isn’t his final stop, and he’s acknowledged he could be a potential candidate for governor or U.S. Senate. The Democrat increasingly has been speaking out on issues beyond state finances, including climate change, to extend his brand.
Joe Torsella
He’s another Democratic state row officer who looks to be a strong candidate for bigger things. During his first term as state treasurer, he’s worked to reduce the fees paid on state investments, and has been critical of the rising cost of college tuition at state universities.
Josh Shapiro
His first term as state attorney general doesn’t end for two years and, like DePasquale and Torsella, there’s speculation that he’s gearing up for higher office. Shapiro’s profile grew last year amid the national media attention of his office’s grand jury investigation of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests. Like many other Democratic attorney generals, Shapiro has filed legal challenges against actions by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Joanna McClinton
The Democratic state representative is the first woman and the first African-American to serve as House Democratic Caucus chair. She will be responsible for holding caucus meetings on voting days and making sure members understand the legislation that is being voted on. She represents parts of Philadelphia and Delaware County.
Bryan Cutler
The Republican state representative from Lancaster County is the new House majority leader, succeeding the retired Dave Reed. He’s the only new member of the GOP leadership in the Legislature, which will seek to keep in check Wolf’s ambitious agenda. Pat Browne
The longtime lawmaker is coming off an unexpectedly tight race for re-election to the state Senate seat representing the Allentown area. Will that make a difference in how the Republican operates? He remains the region’s most-powerful state legislator, holding the position of chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He has a record of getting money for Allentown schools, and created the special taxing district that spurred Allentown’s redevelopment. That wasn’t enough for a lot of voters in the 2018 election, though.
Sal Panto Jr.
The Democrat enters the final year of his mayoral term in Easton trying to close the deal to build a Science City that could net the city $700,000 annually in fees from ticket sales and earned income taxes and boost local businesses by attracting 600,000 visitors a year. The project has been proposed for two years. Panto also still may have work to do to soothe relationships on College Hill, after a contentious debate about construction of a student residence hall at Lafayette College.
Robert Donchez
A big opportunity could present itself to Bethlehem’s mayor in a few months if the Sands casino sale goes through as scheduled. The property didn’t seem to be a recent priority of owner Las Vegas Sands, which halted a planned expansion while it explored a sale. New owner Wind Creek Hospitality could breathe life into the city if it picks up the redevelopment of the Bethlehem Steel site where the casino sits. Donchez, a Democrat, needs to work with the new owner and other city officials to maximize the opportunity.
Dean Browning
The former Lehigh County commissioner already is campaigning for Congress in 2020. The Republican filed paperwork to challenge Wild, whose seat he sought last year, losing in the primary election.
Lou Barletta
The Republican gave up his seat in the U.S. House to run against Casey for Senate. After his loss, his future is unclear. The former Hazleton mayor told The Morning Call in late December that he intends to spend time with his family and see what opportunities arise. He was an early supporter of President Trump, and it wouldn’t be surprising for him to land a role in the administration.
paul.muschick@mcall.com 610-820-6582 Paul Muschick’s columns are published Monday through Friday at themorningcall.com and Sunday, Wednesday and Friday in The Morning Call. Follow me on Facebook at PaulMuschickColumns, Twitter @mcwatchdog and themorningcall.com/muschick.