State Democratic Party boss considering stepping down

Jim Burn, chairman of the state Democratic Party, may be on his way out and Gov. Wolf apparently already has his successor in mind - Montgomery County Democratic Chairman Marcel Groen.

Burn, an attorney from Allegheny County, said in an interview Saturday that he told party regional caucus leaders in a meeting in Allentown on Friday that he was considering resigning the post he has held since 2010.

That news comes five months before the Nov. 3 general election, which includes Democrats running statewide for seats on the state's Supreme Court, Superior Court, and Commonwealth Court.

It also comes 13 months before the Democratic National Convention opens in Philadelphia, where the party will select a presidential candidate and the state party chairman will be thrust into the national spotlight.

Burn has a complicated and controversial relationship with Wolf, who wanted to install his own party chair after winning the Democratic primary for governor last year.

Burn resisted and Wolf avoided an ugly party fight by creating a new political action committee. He put Katie McGinty, a former state secretary of environmental protection and candidate for governor, in charge of that.

Wolf and McGinty then worked around Burn and their party to win the general election for governor. McGinty has since became Wolf's chief of staff.

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, Philadelphia's Democratic Party chairman, said Wolf called him last week, seeking support for Groen if Burn steps down.

"Wolf wants his own person," Brady said. "I'm for who Wolf wants."

Groen, an attorney who has been chairman in Montgomery County since 1994, said he thought he had enough party support to win the chairmanship if it becomes vacant.

"If the governor would like me to serve in that capacity, I'd love to do it," Groen said.

A spokesman for Wolf declined to comment about Burn or Groen.

Burn said he had been concerned about "this perception of infighting" in the party but that nobody tried to force him out.

"Nobody came and put a finger in my face," he said. "People in this state know better that to do that."

Burn said he'll spend the summer considering what to do. The party's next meeting is Sept. 11 in Gettysburg. An election for the new chairman could be held then.

Burn said he was already consulting friends and supporters about the conflict inside the party.

"I saw a lot of people this weekend, friends and foes alike, and they all had this look of concern," Burn said. "And it was about this issue."

215-854-5973@byChrisBrennan

Inquirer staff writer Jessica Parks contributed to this article.