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2010 ENDORSEMENT MEETING RESULTS
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March 1, 2010
For Immediate Release
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Contact
Neil Samuels
Executive Director
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Dems choose not to endorse
By: GARY WECKSELBLATT The Intelligencer
The run for governor and Congress will go without. The state committee will endorse for state posts.
Bucks County Democrats, possibly for the first time, chose not to endorse candidates for Congress and governor during their annual endorsement meeting Saturday.
Congressman Patrick Murphy, D-8, made the pitch during a short speech prior to any vote being taken.
"When we fight in these primaries, it motivates these separate teams and then they come together to give us momentum heading into the fall," he said.
The party faithful agreed, voting to forego endorsements for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor and lieutenant governor. The committee did endorse candidates for 14 General Assembly posts and 11 state committee positions.
"The nation is suffering," said Brad Kirsch of Warminster, endorsed for the state committee. An open primary, he said, allows "voters to express what they want."
Sen. Arlen Specter and 7th District Congressman Joe Sestak are vying for the party's nomination for Senate.
The competition for governor includes Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, Alleghany County Executive Dan Onorato, state Auditor Jack Wagner, and state Sen. Anthony Williams.
Philadelphia Controller Jonathan Saidel and former Commonwealth Court judge Doris Smith-Ribner are on the ballot for lieutenant governor.
Murphy has no competition on the Democratic ticket.
Endorsed candidates often get a leg up on the competition as they receive help in fundraising and volunteers. In addition, their names are listed on literature handed out at the polls.
Republicans are considering a similar request. Tea Party organizations and former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick have asked the Bucks GOP committee to withhold an endorsement in the 8th District.
Not all Democrats were in agreement on the open primary during their 4 1/2-hour meeting in Trevose.
"If we don't do an endorsement, I'm not sure why we are all here today," said Dan Deagler of Plumstead.
John Cordisco, the party chairman, said he couldn't remember the committee not endorsing such a large slate of candidates.
"I think this is very healthy," he said. "I think this will energize the party locally. People will have to get out and work. That can only bode well for the Bucks County organization."
Democrats have competitive races for both the 141st state House and 6th state Senate seats.
In the 141st, where state Rep. Tony Melio is retiring, Bristol Township councilwoman Tina Davis won the endorsement.
Former Bristol Township commissioners Mike Slipp and Melvin Howard remain in the race. Howard said he hasn't pursued the Democratic endorsement and Slipp said he wouldn't accept it because he wants an open primary.
In the 6th, where Republican state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson is the incumbent, former Bensalem Councilman Bryan Allen won the endorsement over former Bucks County NAACP leader John Jordan.
In other state Senate races, Cynthia Philo of Doylestown Township was endorsed in the 10th, Ruth Damsker in the 12th and Bill Wallace of Williams Township, Northampton County, in the 24th.
Incumbents John Galloway of Bristol and Steve Santarsiero of Lower Makefield were endorsed in the 140th and 31st state House races.
Endorsements in other House districts went to Karen Downer of Bensalem (18th), Frank Feinberg of Warminster (29th), John Toth of Middletown (142nd), Kathy McQuarrie of Doylestown Twp. (143rd), Mitch Meyerson of Chalfont (144th), Mary Whitesell of Springfield (145th) and David Axelbaum of Northampton (178th).
The endorsed members of the Bucks County State Committee are Will Bowers of Yardley, Bill Brosius of Sellersville, Karen Cochran of Northampton, Debbie DeBlasio of Falls, Stephanie Fineman of Furlong, Pam Janvey of Bensalem, Brad Kirsch of Warminster, Harris Martin of Bensalem, Robin Rosenthal of Buckingham, Bruce Whitesell of Springfield and Jordan Yeager of Doylestown.
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