Election Petitions

Radio station owner Cody Anderson has been in and out of the race for the open U.S. congressional seat in central Philadelphia - and now there's a chance he'll be out for good. But it won't be his own decision. A group of Democratic Party insiders with ties to party chief Bob Brady, one of Anderson's two chief rivals in the May election, has challenged the WHAT-AM owner's election petitions. A court hearing March 30 could bump him from the ballot. Anderson decided at the last possible minute to challenge Brady, state Rep. Andrew Carn and two lesser-known Democrats for the party nod. He gathered 1,304 petition signatures, or 304 more than required to gain the ballot.

Commonwealth Court has tossed Philadelphia attorney Mary Alice Duffy off the May 18 primary election ballot for state Supreme Court. The court ruled that Duffy lacked sufficient signatures on election petitions. Duffy, who says she'll appeal the ruling, had drawn top ballot position in a field of nine seeking the Democratic nomination for a single vacancy on the court. Yesterday's decision, if it stands, benefits two other Philadelphia candidates: Common Pleas Judge Russell Nigro, who would move up to the top of the ballot, and Commonwealth Court Judge Doris Smith, the only other woman running.

Amid charges of political favoritism from his Democratic gubernatorial rival, state Attorney General Tom Corbett has opened a forgery investigation into the election petitions filed by an independent candidate for Congress from Delaware County. The case demonstrates potential conflicts of interest that Corbett may encounter by wearing two hats: as GOP nominee for governor, and as the state's top law enforcement official with the power to probe election fraud. And Wednesday's war of words about the case demonstrates that the post-Labor Day, preelection brawling season is already in full swing.

WHAT-AM radio station owner Cody Anderson ended one political campaign yesterday, but immediately started a new one. Anderson, seeking the open 1st Congressional District seat that lies mostly in central Philadelphia, pulled out of the May Democratic primary yesterday and conceded that fending off a challenge to his election petitions was going to be an uphill fight. At the same time, Anderson said he will now turn his attention toward a different battle: winning the seat in November by running as an independent.

First Ward Councilman Mike Devlin said yesterday that he would not seek reelection in May because his work on the new Camden Children's Garden demands his full attention. "This does not mean that I am completely leaving community activities and political involvement," the two-term councilman said, "just that for the time being I am not able to make the time to run for elective office. " Devlin, 50, said he was confident he would have been reelected if he had chosen to run, "but the reality is as soon as we can get the larger plants in the ground, we're going to be out there every day doing it. The garden, and all the activities, are going to take all of my time plus some.

Three last-minute candidates in Montgomery County have filed election petitions for local and county office, creating unexpected challenges in races for district attorney, Abington Township commissioner and district justice. Thomas E. Waters Jr., the district attorney, has filed a bid for re- election after already filing as a candidate for county judge. Abington Township Commissioner Bruce E. Toll, an announced candidate for county commissioner, is instead seeking re-election, and former county Sheriff Frederick B. Hill, who was expected to announce a bid for his former job, is running for district justice in Norristown.

A Winslow Township Democrat said yesterday that he was considering withdrawing from a primary race after his opponent raised questions about the validity of his election petitions. David Rickard, a newcomer to politics, said, "I don't think this controversy is good for me or for Winslow Township. " He said he would formally announce his decision by 4 p.m. today. Rickard said he was considering stepping out of the race after Superior Court Judge John Miller set a hearing for tomorrow to determine whether his election petition should be invalidated.

Chester City Council's five members, including Mayor Willie Mae Leake, have filed objections in Common Pleas Court to an attempted change in the way council members are elected. The action, which occurred Tuesday, is the third roadblock in as many days thrown at Project Vote, a nonpartisan voter education group that has petitioned for a referendum to change the city's Home Rule Charter. The Delaware County Election Bureau indicated Monday it may invalidate hundreds of Project Vote signatures, and yesterday the county District Attorney's Office initiated an investigation into the City Council's charges that some of the signatures were forged.

Score so far: Goliath, 2; David, 0. For the second time in recent days, city Democratic Party chairman Robert A. Brady won a Commonwealth Court victory over one of his congressional foes. Brady is the odds-on favorite to claim the First District seat vacated in November by U.S. Rep. Thomas M. Foglietta, who became ambassador to Italy. Two elections will be held May 19 - one to fill the seven months left on Foglietta's term; another to nominate party candidates for a two-year term that starts in January.

Farmers would welcome coordinated programs As the author of the question posed at the May 15 candidates forum for Chester County commissioner, I'm compelled to respond to the May 16 article, "Land access is at issue," in which it was suggested that coordinating the county's Farmland Preservation and Linking Landscapes programs would scare away farmers from participation. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, such coordination would enable farmers who choose to participate to increase the money they receive, while keeping their land in farming.

Amid charges of political favoritism from his Democratic gubernatorial rival, state Attorney General Tom Corbett has opened a forgery investigation into the election petitions filed by an independent candidate for Congress from Delaware County. The case demonstrates potential conflicts of interest that Corbett may encounter by wearing two hats: as GOP nominee for governor, and as the state's top law enforcement official with the power to probe election fraud. And Wednesday's war of words about the case demonstrates that the post-Labor Day, preelection brawling season is already in full swing.

David J. Murphy, the district justice in Aston accused of forging signatures on his renominating petition in 2009, pleaded guilty Wednesday and was immediately sentenced to four years of probation. Bucks County Senior Judge John J. Rufe, who heard the case by special arrangement with Delaware County Court, accepted Murphy's plea during a 30-minute hearing in Media. Murphy waived a presentencing investigation. "I'm satisfied that you are a good person who has made some bad choices," Rufe said.

Farmers would welcome coordinated programs As the author of the question posed at the May 15 candidates forum for Chester County commissioner, I'm compelled to respond to the May 16 article, "Land access is at issue," in which it was suggested that coordinating the county's Farmland Preservation and Linking Landscapes programs would scare away farmers from participation. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, such coordination would enable farmers who choose to participate to increase the money they receive, while keeping their land in farming.

The six North Wales residents who asked a Montgomery County Court judge last week to appoint overseers to ensure the integrity of today's primary election have withdrawn their petition, claiming victory. The petitioners alleged Republican wrongdoing at the borough's Ward 2 polling place during the November general election. Now they have said that with the awareness they raised through their petition, they believe corruption is unlikely. Republican Committeewoman Donna Mengel, one of those accused of wrongdoing in the petition, said of the latest withdrawal: "They threw a stink bomb and ran like dogs with their tails between their legs.

First Ward Councilman Mike Devlin said yesterday that he would not seek reelection in May because his work on the new Camden Children's Garden demands his full attention. "This does not mean that I am completely leaving community activities and political involvement," the two-term councilman said, "just that for the time being I am not able to make the time to run for elective office. " Devlin, 50, said he was confident he would have been reelected if he had chosen to run, "but the reality is as soon as we can get the larger plants in the ground, we're going to be out there every day doing it. The garden, and all the activities, are going to take all of my time plus some.

Score so far: Goliath, 2; David, 0. For the second time in recent days, city Democratic Party chairman Robert A. Brady won a Commonwealth Court victory over one of his congressional foes. Brady is the odds-on favorite to claim the First District seat vacated in November by U.S. Rep. Thomas M. Foglietta, who became ambassador to Italy. Two elections will be held May 19 - one to fill the seven months left on Foglietta's term; another to nominate party candidates for a two-year term that starts in January.

WHAT-AM radio station owner Cody Anderson ended one political campaign yesterday, but immediately started a new one. Anderson, seeking the open 1st Congressional District seat that lies mostly in central Philadelphia, pulled out of the May Democratic primary yesterday and conceded that fending off a challenge to his election petitions was going to be an uphill fight. At the same time, Anderson said he will now turn his attention toward a different battle: winning the seat in November by running as an independent.

Radio station owner Cody Anderson has been in and out of the race for the open U.S. congressional seat in central Philadelphia - and now there's a chance he'll be out for good. But it won't be his own decision. A group of Democratic Party insiders with ties to party chief Bob Brady, one of Anderson's two chief rivals in the May election, has challenged the WHAT-AM owner's election petitions. A court hearing March 30 could bump him from the ballot. Anderson decided at the last possible minute to challenge Brady, state Rep. Andrew Carn and two lesser-known Democrats for the party nod. He gathered 1,304 petition signatures, or 304 more than required to gain the ballot.

If Jane Faust forged three signatures on her nominating petition for Republican committeewoman last winter, she did so with those voters' permission, according to the testimony of three witnesses during the first day of her forgery trial. Faust, 67, a longtime Bensalem Township politician, is charged with two misdemeanor violations of the state election code for allegedly forging four names on the petition for the April primary election. Faust's attorney, John Fioravanti, yesterday described her actions as"a mistake of judgment that Mrs. Faust wishes she could take back.

Commonwealth Court has tossed Philadelphia attorney Mary Alice Duffy off the May 18 primary election ballot for state Supreme Court. The court ruled that Duffy lacked sufficient signatures on election petitions. Duffy, who says she'll appeal the ruling, had drawn top ballot position in a field of nine seeking the Democratic nomination for a single vacancy on the court. Yesterday's decision, if it stands, benefits two other Philadelphia candidates: Common Pleas Judge Russell Nigro, who would move up to the top of the ballot, and Commonwealth Court Judge Doris Smith, the only other woman running.