Kelly's New Campaign Manager a Telling Choice

For nascent GOP congressional challenger Mike Kelly, the moderate connections are everywhere. Kelly appointed a new campaign manager this week. According to an article published at pa2010.com, a political blog, Kelly has chosen Josh Snyder to run Kelly's campaign for Pennsylvania's 3rd District.

It's a telling choice.

Kelly has run on a centrist platform from the beginning. According to the pa2010 article, Mr. Snyder was most recently an executive director for none other than Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania's recently deposed party-switching U.S. Senator. Snyder also worked for--no surprise here--Phil English, whom current 3rd District congressional rep Kathy Dahlkemper ousted 2 years back.

Clearly, Snyder has been brought aboard to try to shore up support for Kelly in Erie, where Dahlkemper is from. Kelly was crushed in Erie County during the May GOP primary.

Yet his continual moves to the political center--appointing Specter/English man Snyder being just the latest example--may backfire on Kelly. For instance, in the spring primary Mercer County voted overwhelmingly for Dr. Martha Moore, a candidate who was considerably to Kelly's right on nearly every major policy position. Erie is a big prize indeed, but if Kelly spends too much time trying to campaign there he could be vulnerable in the rest of the district--and the car salesman from Butler may never garner the Erie support necessary to overcome Dahly's home court advantage there.

You would think that Kelly would move right, in order to distinguish himself not just from Kathy Dahlkemper, but from Phil English. Instead, Kelly is looking more and more like English every day. It was a losing formula in 2008. With much of the electorate moving to the right (witness the solid GOP primary support for hardline social conservative Clayton Grabb, in addition to Dr. Moore's dominance in Mercer County), Kelly is making a huge gamble. If district voters feel that Kelly = English, and conservatives shun the polls in November, then Mike Kelly might be toast.

A Message from Mike Kelly: Good Luck with That!

Yesterday I received an email message from the Mike Kelly campaign. It was an abrupt little message providing contact information for the “new” campaign team (the old contacts were all fired . . . dismissed . . . let go . . . kicked to the curb). The message also provided instructions for publicizing Mike’s latest “letter to the editor”. There was no courteous “hi there” from Mike or his new campaign people . . . just instructions and marching orders.

Here is Mike’s letter in its entirety:

Editor:

Now that the dust has settled, I wanted to write and acknowledge the voters, volunteers, and ther candidates who played a role in the 3rd Congressional district's Primary Election. As you ll know, it was a hotly contested battle for the Republican nomination and I am both humbled and flattered to be moving forward on the General Election ballot. My wife Vicky and I want to thank the other candidates for a spirited campaign, the voters who participated, our tremendous volunteers for all their hard work, and the media outlets for recognizing the importance of the race and giving the candidates the opportunity to share his and her views on the issues that families in western Pennsylvania care most about.

The other five candidates in the Primary deserve our respect and admiration. They are all patriots who have a deep concern for our country's future and they showed their passion by coming forward and getting their names on the ballot. They, like me, worked tirelessly for months to earn the support of voters in all of the district's seven counties. Because of them, I am a better candidate and, it is my hope, that we are a stronger party. To those of you who supported someone other than me during the Primary, I plan on making a similar effort to earn your support moving forward.
What we have learned throughout this process is that there is far more that unites us than separates us.

While I will work tirelessly to unite the Republican Party, our message is an inclusive one that I hope will appeal to people regardless of party affiliation. You don't have to be a Republican or Democrat to oppose deficit spending. You don't have to be a Republican or a Democrat to support policies and initiatives that will lower our unemployment rate in western Pennsylvania. You don't have to be a Republican or Democrat to say "no" to additional Wall Street bailouts and nationalized health care. These are quality-of-life issues that should be party-blind and I will campaign accordingly by reaching-out to like-minded Democrats and Independents throughout the district. This election isn't about party or geography. Instead, it's about the direction of our country. It's about how the policies of this administration and congress have adversely affected western Pennsylvania.

Between now and November I look forward to visiting your communities, hearing your concerns, and building relationships in all seven of the counties that make up our Congressional district. I have a lot of work to do and can assure you that I am up to the task. Together, I am confident that we can get western Pennsylvania, and our country, back on the right track.

Thank you,
Mike Kelly
Republican Candidate for Congress

Now, for my response to Mike’s letter:

First, the email that I received wasn’t even the slightest bit friendly or polite. It was strictly instructions. It was an interesting way to try to get the press onto the Kelly bandwagon . . . reverse psychology of some type I suppose. “Good luck with that”, Mike.

Second, I find it funny that Mike Kelly decided to contact and thank the other five candidates in the race through a letter to the editor. Sort of odd, don’t you think? It would seem that a personal call from Mike would be more appropriate, but I guess that isn’t Mike’s style either. It seems to imply that Mike doesn’t consider the other five (5) candidates OR their supporters to be very important. Again I say, “good luck with that”.

Third, Mike states that he is not trying to unite conservatives, but instead is attempting to unite Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. It would be a great move if I believed it, but it sounds like the words of a politician . . . not a leader or public servant.

He states “it isn’t about party or geography”, but I’d like to disagree. Mike’s priorities should VERY MUCH be about GEOGRAPHY. Since the Primary, Mike has been everywhere BUT northwestern Pennsylvania. In true RINO fashion, Mike’s attention has been spent in Washington DC . . . with no interest in healing the wounds in the 3rd Congressional District that were left after the Primary. Mike is a “DC Guy” now I suppose, but I would warn that he ought not to count those chickens too prematurely (if you know what I mean).

Mike Kelly’s new image as a Phil English Republican is not going to fair well with Republicans, Democrats, or Independents in our cozy little corner of Northwestern Pennsylvania. In case Mike was unaware, Phil English LOST because voters in the 3rd Congressional District were tired of big spending, selfish politicians. I wouldn’t be so quick to harness my horse to the “Phil English” wagon, but that is a choice that Mike needs to make. After all, this election is Mike’s to lose. The only person that might advise Mike Kelly to tie himself to Phil English would be none other than “Phil English” himself, but surely Mike Kelly is smarter than that . . . right?

In closing I say to Mike Kelly and his new team . . . “Good luck with that”.

As always, just my opinion.
~Roberta Biros, Editor of Mercer County Conservatives

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Event Announcement: Mercer Tea Party July 3rd!

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Mark your calendars now for the next Mercer County Tea Party! The number of attendees has grown with each TEA Party in Mercer, and we want to break records again. So tell your friends and neighbors and y'all come down to the Mercer County Courthouse on July 3rd!

Where: Mercer County Courthouse

When: Saturday, July 3rd, Music begins at 9:30am, Program begins at 10am

What: Excellent Speakers with Timely Subjects

Who: Concerned Citizens and Patriots of every persuasion are invited to attend

BRING CHAIRS, FAMILY, FRIENDS, SIGNS, AND (MAYBE) AN UMBRELLA!

This program is FREE and open to the public!

Please Join Us to Celebrate the United States of America

To share this announcement with friends, copy the link below:

http://mercerconservatives.blogspot.com/2010/06/event-announcement-mercer-tea-party.html

OR, download the event poster (PDF format) and forward it by email or print it out and distribute.

Conservative Representation: How do we get there from here?

For nearly two years I’ve been THE author for Mercer County Conservatives. For those of you that read my writings on a regular basis, you realize that I’m a frustrated conservative that is aggravated by corrupt political leaders in our northwest corner of Pennsylvania. The Mercer County GOP is lead by career politicians who are only concerned with their pensions, perks, and unlimited shopping sprees to Sam’s Club (with campaign donations none-the-less). They protect their positions of power in the way that a mama bear protects her cub . . . but they don’t care much about the big picture (i.e., good government).
If you spend a little time observing politics in our fine county, you find that the greed and corruption is not one-sided. The leaders of the Mercer County GOP and the Mercer County Democrats are so closely tied that they are indistinguishable from one another. How can such a relationship ever achieve conservative representation for our area? Good question.

This year, political pundits have been focused on our NW corner of PA. The high-profile race for a Republican nominee in the 3rd Congressional District (who will eventually run against Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper in November) has brought a much-needed spotlight to our area. We were blessed with six interesting candidates in the race, and conservatives were energized by the prospect of having a candidate that they could really get behind. Unfortunately, in the end, the campaign became more about money and mud slinging than conservative issues. The best and most qualified candidates were left in the shadows while the two candidates with the most money battled it out in nasty TV commercials and glossy mailers.

Like many of my fellow conservatives in the area, I was left disappointed on election night when none of my favorite horses in the race ended up in the winner’s circle. While I’m still determined to see Kathy Dahlkemper unseated in November, some of my conservative friends have walked away angry and kicking the dirt. As observers, we all suffer from various levels of disappointment, but what about the candidates who dedicated themselves to the fight for good government?

It is my pleasure to present to you today an article from the newest contributor to Mercer County Conservatives, Dr. Martha Moore. Dr. Moore is a conservative woman who tossed her hat into the ring for the 3rd Congressional race in early 2010. She had a slow start, but she began to pickup speed and got very comfortable in the race by mid-April. Unfortunately, she peaked too late to get sufficient support across the 3rd District. She did, however, win Mercer County handily (a small victory for conservatives in the area). She was not the overall highest vote getter in the District, but she managed to build a following of dedicated fans during her short race (yes, I became an official member of the Dr. Moore fan club by early May). Now that the Primary is behind us, Dr. Moore has agreed to share her thoughts about the race, as well her opinions regarding politics in general. Dr. Moore shares her opinions about how we might get back on the right track toward conservative representation. Enjoy!

"Hindsight is 20/20" by Dr. Martha Moore

If you are interested in becoming a contributor to Mercer County Conservatives, email me (roberta.in.mercer@gmail.com) and I'll be glad to set you up to share your thoughts in this forum.

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Conservatism Nowhere to be Found on GC School Board

Grove City is, for the most part, known as a conservative town. Republicans outnumber Democrats here by about 4 to 1; in a county that has a registered majority of Democrats, Grove City has historically been a bedrock of support for conservative candidates--especially for local offices.

Except when it comes to the Grove City Area School Board, it seems.

The GC school district's newly proposed budget includes a 2.01 mill tax increase, as well as a 3.1% raise for "non-union staff," including superintendents and principals. Dr. Robert Post (pictured, right) is the district superintendent, and his salary is already at $127,000 per year. His assistant, Tom Bell, makes $107,000. The various district principals currently make twice the area's median salary, and some make much more.

The proposed tax increase alone is preposterous, of course. Mercer County's unemployment rate, according to a recent Sharon Herald article, ranks third-worst in the state. Locally, the Grove City GE plant has laid off hundreds of workers who have yet to be recalled. Foreclosures of homes are at historic highs.

Yet the nine members of the Grove City Area School Board have yet to find their inner economic conservatism. Instead, we see another tax increase, another automatic raise for already-overpaid administrators, and not even a single outspoken advocate on the school board for freezing tax rates and salaries--let alone cutting them.

My libertarian soul grows weary of local school districts in Mercer County. Great lip service is often paid to social conservatism, including prayers before board meetings, but commitment to fiscal responsibility appears non-existent. Dr. Post went so far as to tell the Allied News recently that he would advocate not filling teacher vacancies as a first measure, should money run short. Shockingly, Post said nothing about cutting his own salary, choosing to threaten the well-being of students rather than take a pay cut himself. It makes little sense that the district is both short of funds, necessitating a tax increase, but yet somehow finds more money to dole out to the district's richest employees.

Our local school districts all need to take a look at reality. The reality right now is that there are still many Mercer County residents without jobs, elderly folks struggling to keep their homes, and working people who can't pay the taxes they already have. It is far time that Mercer County school boards, including Grove City, wake up and begin to balance their budgets, just like residents have to.

Jason Reeher is the Democratic Committeeman-Elect for Grove City's Ward 2.

Hindsight is 20/20

Hindsight is 20/20. Now that my mind has cleared after the primary election and have reviewed the results, I have realized that we conservative candidates shot ourselves in the foot. If you add up the votes for Steve, Clayton and me it totals over 18,000 votes and we would have a conservative candidate to go against “Nancy” Dahlkemper. Maybe if the three of us had played rock, scissors, paper and those not winning agreed to combine efforts, resources and staffs with the winner, we would have sailed easily to victory! But hindsight is . . .

Instead, we have a RINO, who has given money to democratic opponents of conservative candidates. On the night of the election I called to congratulate Mike Kelly and offered to help and later left a message again offering to help his campaign. I have heard nothing. Abraham Lincoln said to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Mike should have contacted each of us and offered each one a position in his campaign. Since I heard nothing from Mike, I have now committed to another campaign for the fall. Rumor is he has gone to Phil English for help. Nothing against Phil but Phil lost to Dahlkemper and while may have been a conservative in 1994, he long ago became too political to serve the constituents of the 3rd district and now is what, a lobbyist! Don’t get me wrong, I will vote for Mike Kelly, but he is at risk of having many of the conservatives stay home and therefore risks losing to Dahlkemper. And that unfortunately, is not good for the United States.

Now, a comment on running negative campaigns. Nobody seems to like them but they, unfortunately, often work. I had many people tell me how disgusted they were with the Kelly/Huber fight. But they were the top two vote getters. Almost 30,000 voters were not disgusted enough. Obama ran a very negative campaign against Bush and McCain refused to say anything negative about Obama and in the end had no chance. I am not saying we should run negative campaigns, but as long as the voters reward those who do, we who don’t want to run negatively will not have much of a chance.

Being new in politics, I am learning something new just about every day. One thing I have learned through this primary process is that the Mercer County GOP is quite dysfunctional. It seems to me that many are more interested in what is best for them and not what is best for the county, the districts and the country. I definitely got the feeling from the entrenched, that I had not “earned the right” to run for congress. Yet with almost no help from the GOP, I was able to impressively win the county. And that was with two other candidates getting a lot of help from the Mercer GOP.

The political parties are meaning less and less these days. We, conservatives, must stay together and stand together. So after much investigation and inquiry, I have signed on with Roberta Biros to help her defeat the long entrenched Robbins duo. Bob Robbins has equalized the playing field by running his write-in campaign as a democrat. Not to mention spending/wasting a lot of money in the process. Remember, the political parties have become meaningless. We definitely must look at the person, who they are and what they stand for, in this and every race. Tough times are ahead. WAKE UP conservatives, the status quo is not sustainable. We must not go with the flow. I discussed negative campaigns in a previous paragraph and I imagine we have seen nothing yet! This will be nasty, nasty, nasty. But Roberta and her husband have proven that they can take it with a smile on their faces. Now we conservatives must stand up and support other conservatives and invite others to join us. When we stand together arm in arm the opposition will have less power. We don’t want to have to learn from hindsight again, do we? So come join the fight.

How Bob Robbins has Failed Us

It is telling that State Senator Bob Robbins (50th district) is officially now both a Republican and a Democrat. The career politician has cared little about reforming Harrisburg. Instead of crafting bold policies that would save taxpayers money, Robbins is constantly in campaign mode, always on the lookout for himself and how he can stay in office. Despite his high-ranking position in the Senate, Robbins has failed to provide any meaningful policy initiatives.

But just how badly has Bob Robbins failed us? Let us count just a few of the ways:

-Robbins has done nothing to reform the massively wasteful Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; in addition, years after tolls should have ended, riders on the PA Turnpike continue to pay exorbitant fees, much of which goes toward paying above-market labor costs for toll collectors.

-Robbins refuses to introduce badly-needed legislation that would reduce the size of the legislature itself. Pennsylvania is about 1/4 the size of Texas, yet Texas passes more legislation than the Keystone State, and with a part-time legislature to boot, according to a Commonwealth Foundation study.

-Robbins continues to dole out state pork (also known as taxpayers' money) as if it were his own private piggy bank. He engineered a shameful $700,000 grant to the Borough of Grove City for downtown revitalization (also known as new bricks in the sidewalks), despite the fact that the borough never even requested the money. More recently, Robbins has bragged about securing over $100,000 in "Growing Greener" grants for such pressing issues as "the formation of the Cool Spring Creek Watershed Association."

-Robbins is nowhere to be found on job creation. Other than inflated figures for jobs he has purported help to create through state grants-- we know that income redistribution actually destroys, rather than creates jobs, of course--Robbins has not led even one single policy initiative to aid small businesses or to ease the state's regulatory burdens on business owners.

It has become more clear than ever that Robbins is simply about staying in office as long as possible, but little else. We'll never have sensible reform in Harrisburg while Bob Robbins remains our state senator.

Headlines: It will be Robbins (R/D) vs. Biros (I) and Brooks loses to Frederick in Mercer County

According to the Mercer County Elections Bureau website, the final tally for write-in votes in Mercer County for the key races for 50th District Senate and 17th District Representative were as follows:

Art Allen: 532
Bob Robbins: 498

ART ALLEN beat BOB ROBBINS in Mercer County AND Allen received sufficient votes to win the nomination. However, the numbers must also include Crawford (as well as parts of Lawrence and Butler Counties). I called Crawford County this morning and their numbers were as follows:

Art Allen: 162
Bob Robbins: 242

Making the grand total for the two key counties:

Art Allen: 694
Bob Robbins: 740

These numbers do not take into account portions of Lawrence and Crawford, but IF THESE NUMBERS ARE CERTIFIED, it seems that Bob Robbins will have won the Democrat nomination for November. This will mean that Robbins name will appear as an R/D on the ballot. In a year when people are sick of politics as usual, Bob Robbins has proved that he is a “politician as usual”. His Arlen-esque move may be one of the biggest mistakes in Mercer County political history.

Let us now talk about the second write-in race that was going on . . . the race between write-in Democrat candidate Kathy Frederick and Republican/Democrat Michele Brooks. According to the Mercer County Elections Bureau website, the final tally in this race was:

Kathy Frederick: 147
Michele Brooks: 145

KATHY FREDERICK beat MICHELE BROOKS in Mercer County. Kathy Frederick had a two-day campaign and spent NO money . . . and Michele Brooks (an incumbent State Representative) who spent time and money (including robocalls) could not get enough votes to beat Ms. Frederick in her home county. Hmmmmmm.

I called Crawford County this morning and their numbers were as follows:

Kathy Frederick: 5
Michele Brooks: 96

Making the grand total for the two key Counties:

Kathy Frederick 152
Michele Brooks: 241

These numbers do not take into account a portion of Lawrence , but IF THESE NUMBERS ARE CERTIFIED, it seems that Michele Brooks DID NOT receive a sufficient number of write in votes to have her name listed as a Republican AND a Democrat in November. There will be no R/D beside Ms. Brooks name. DRAT! Wouldn’t it have been an interesting sight? That’s OK, Ms. Brooks showed a special level of desperation in even making the attempt, and it seems that she may now be damaged in having failed in her attempt. Again, I say Hmmmmmm.

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Become a Mercer Conservative Contributor: Cutting through the political red tape one blog post at a time

I have been writing political commentary on this blog since our beginning in October of 2008. As of today I have published a grand total of 348 posts in a number of categories, but everyone was carefully crafted to provide important information or to stir interest in governmental issues related to the northwest corner of Pennsylvania.

Today, Mercer County Conservatives is taking a big step by expanding to a team of contributors. Over the coming weeks, our select team of authors will begin to publish original content on this blog in an attempt to broaden the reach and impact of this forum.

If you are interested in becoming a contributor, contact me by email at roberta.in.mercer@gmail.com. I will review your request and determine if you would be a positive addition to the team!

Keep an eye on Mercer County Conservatives as it branches out in new directions.

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