Delaware County Democrats pushing to wrest GOP hold on county seats

In Delaware County, where Republicans have had a 32-year lock on county government, the question this year is whether Democrats can loosen that stranglehold.

Up for grabs are three out of five County Council seats, the office of district attorney, and five Court of Common Pleas judgeships.

Though it has held sway in Delaware County for decades, the GOP has seen its base slip dramatically over time, from 78 percent of registered voters in 1970 to 45 percent this year, just two percentage points ahead of the Democrats.

Bolstered by recent wins in the traditionally Republican strongholds of Radnor, Chester, and Upper Darby, Democrats feel confident they will keep the momentum going and not only pick up more municipal seats, but add a county office as well.

"We believe it is time for some independent candidates," said David Landau, chairman of the Democratic Party of Delaware County. "They are very well-grounded in municipal problems and issues."

Republicans feel they have a strong base of voters and a proven track record, but acknowledge that the narrowing registration numbers may present challenges.

The election will come down to open-minded and independent voters, said Andrew Reilly, chairman of the Republican Party of Delaware County.

But even with some gains, Democrats have had their losses.

In 2010, they lost the Seventh congressional seat held by Joe Sestak, who left to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate. Republican Pat Meehan defeated challenger Bryan Lentz.

In this year's campaign for council, Republicans cite as examples of job and economic growth Harrah's Casino, which opened in 2006; the PPL soccer stadium in Chester; and the newly opened Sun Center Studios, a movie-production firm in Aston. The county also improved the 911 emergency communication system, which now covers all 49 municipalities.

The GOP "has provided core services in a fiscally responsible way," Reilly said.

With the potential closing of two riverfront refineries - Sunoco in Marcus Hook and ConocoPhillips in Trainer - the increasing cost of operating the county-run nursing home, Fair Acres, and the unsettled issue of who will head animal control, county officials concede that they have their work cut out for them.

Democrats hammer their counterparts on lack of transparency in government, citing council meetings that typically last less than a half-hour and have little to no discussion.

Unlike nearby counties, no council seat has been reserved for minority representation.

The three Democrats running for council are the Rev. Keith Collins, 51, of Ridley Township; Lin Axamethy Floyd, 58, of Nether Providence; and Jayne Young, 55, of Lansdowne Borough.

Collins is pastor of the Church of the Overcomer in Trainer and is making his second run at the office. Floyd is a Nether Providence Township commissioner who retired from DuPont after 20 years as a patent attorney. Young has been mayor of Lansdowne Borough since 2002 and is a project administrator for the Pennsylvania Resources Council, an environmental organization.

Running as Republicans for the council job are John P. McBlain, 45, of Aldan Borough, the county solicitor; Colleen P. Morrone, 44, a member of the Board of Supervisors in Concord Township and chief mission officer for Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County; and incumbent council member Thomas J. McGarrigle, 52, who owns a Springfield Township auto business.

For the first time in 16 years, a Democratic candidate will be running for district attorney.

M. Kendall Brown, 54, a lawyer from Nether Providence Township, worked for private firms, handling commercial litigation and white-collar-crime cases, before opening an event-planning business.

Brown's state law license is currently inactive. An active license is needed for the office. A paperwork error occurred, Brown said, when she filed with the state to reverse the status. She would not comment further.

Brown will challenge John "Jack" Whelan, 51, of Ridley Township, for the position. Whelan is the current council chairman and was an assistant district attorney from 1986 to 1991.

On the ballot for Common Pleas Court judgeships are lawyers Sally Ann Heckert Bikin, who is also a registered nurse; G. Lawrence DeMarco; and Michael F. Schleigh. All are running as Democrats to sit in the Media courthouse.

Running on the Republican ballot are Christine Fizzano Cannon, a current council member; John P. Capuzzi Sr., a District Court judge; current District Attorney G. Michael Green; Public Defender Spiros E. Angelos; and Widener University law professor Nathaniel C. Nichols.

Nichols and Fizzano Cannon have filed to appear on both ballots.