Election will be special for Civera

Why is state Rep. Mario Civera really refusing to leave Harrisburg?

It's not for the nightlife, or those scenic drives along the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

In part, it's pure politics, the Upper Darby Republican acknowledged yesterday.

Civera, who was elected in November to Delaware County Council, initially indicated that he would resign from the House upon taking the county seat.

Last week, Civera was sworn-in to Council, but he decided to temporarily continue serving in Harrisburg, saying he needed to assist with the casino table-game legislation and budget issues as minority chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. (Gov. Rendell signed the table-games bill on Thursday.)

Civera is now planning to step down as the committee chairman but he'll remain in the House to help state Rep. Bill Adolph get elected to that post - and perhaps stay even longer, ostensibly to assist with the transition.

But there is also a rudimentary political equation that is contributing to Civera's protracted departure. It is becomingly increasingly clear that he's stalling to help keep his 164th District in the Republican column.

By delaying his resignation from the House for a couple of months, Civera can avoid the scheduling of a special election in his district on the same day as the May primary, when the Democratic turnout is expected to spike due to the U.S. Senate battle between incumbent Arlen Specter and U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak.

"This is the bottom line: If they call the special election for the end of March, I'll resign in the end of January," Civera said yesterday.

A special election can be held no sooner than 60 days after a vacancy occurs.

Democratic House Speaker Keith McCall had scheduled special elections on Primary Day for all vacant House seat to save money and increase voter participation, said McCall spokesman Bob Caton, who estimated that an election on another day would cost $125,000 to $150,000.

"It is between Rep. Civera, his constituents and his House Republican leaders as to which date he chooses [to resign], but his choice will determine when we can call the election - and how much that election will cost the taxpayer," Caton said.

Democrats were apoplectic yesterday after hearing that Civera - who previously said that his Appropriations Committee position was one of the main reasons why he was keeping his state seat while serving on County Council - plans to remain in the House as a rank-and-file member.

"He's unnecessary for the budget process," said Ed Bradley, campaign coordinator for the Upper Darby Democratic Committee. "Now even the governor recognizes that he's of no particular use in Harrisburg."

Civera had said that Rendell asked him to stay in Harrisburg temporarily because of his Appropriations position. But after Civera voted against the table-games bill last week, Rendell doesn't seem to care what he does.

"I wish him well, but him leaving doesn't have any real impact," Rendell told Capitolwire.

Adolph, of Springfield, said Civera's institutional knowledge would be useful during the transition. Civera has served in the House since 1980. But he agreed that the special election date is a factor in Civera's decision to delay retirement.

"I think throughout the history of special elections, both parties have tried to make it a level playing field," Adolph said.

Meanwhile, Pete Huf, president of the Upper Darby firefighters union, has emerged as the likely GOP candidate in Civera's district, a longtime Republican stronghold that appears to be trending Democratic. The likely Democratic candidate is former East Lansdowne Councilman Brian Eury, who protested last week at Civera's swearing-in.