Dear editor,
Former Democratic Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill once quipped that “all politics is local.” He was correct in his assessment, yet city elections continually go unnoticed. Only 10 percent of Philadelphia’s registered voters will be voting on Nov. 3.
Voters should be deeply concerned, specifically with regards to two important positions that are up for grabs. They will be selecting a new city controller and a new district attorney. Crime and fiscal policy are two areas in need of serious reform and for the first time in quite a while, there are two competitive, competent Republican candidates running for these offices that people should consider supporting.
The Philadelphia Inquirer recently endorsed Al Schmidt’s city controller campaign. The reason behind his growing support is that he has experience as an auditor that his opponent, the incumbent city controller, Democrat Alan Butkovitz, doesn’t have. Schmidt spent four years as a senior policy analyst for the Government Accountability Office, a non-partisan investigative arm of congress.
In a city wrought with government waste, fraud and abuse, it is vital for a city controller to be nonpartisan. During his campaign, Schmidt has been very critical of both parties, including Republicans who oversee the Philadelphia Parking Authority. In order to bring common sense back to Philadelphia we need an individual outside of the entrenched Democratic Party to act as a fiscal watchdog.
Mike Untermeyer will provide a strong foundation for law and order and is the best choice for district attorney. He supports many common sense firearms proposals. A zero tolerance policy toward illegal handguns and a proposed mandatory minimum sentence for gun offenses are the cornerstones of his firearms policy.
His bail reform ideas are of equal importance, especially during a time when Mayor Nutter is whining to Harrisburg lawmakers about Philadelphia being broke like an 8-year-old who dropped an ice cream cone. The city is owed more than $1 billion due to this absurd bail system. Untermeyer has also proposed electronic monitoring for criminal defendants. Implementing this system could also save the city considerable amounts of money due to the fact that it only costs $97 a day to imprison an inmate versus $8 a day to use electronic monitoring.
For 50 years there has been a one-party rule in Philadelphia. Without a second party acting as a check on the majority party, the free flow of political ideas will continue to be stifled. When a city with the highest total tax burden in the country is crying broke, it is obvious that not enough is being done to make government run more efficiently. Untermeyer and Schmidt both dwell outside of Philadelphia’s political establishment and offer the checks and balances this city needs. This is the best chance that citizens of this city have had for real reform in years, and a vote for them is a vote against decades of the status quo.
Barry Scatton
President of Temple College Republicans
Just random comments between the lines
for Mr. Barry Scatton on his letter to the editor about local elections.
Politics begin with the individual who as a member of society and a citizen is inspired and motivated to vote, because he or she cares enough about how politics and politicians affect our lives as a result of their decisions.
Individuals have to be able to make the connection of how politics and politicians influence everything, from the tax they pay on items they buy at the store to the support or abandonment of the troops in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Politics and politicians can make a nation look like winners or losers.
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“He was correct in his assessment, yet city elections continually go unnoticed. Only 10 percent of Philadelphia’s registered voters will be voting on Nov. 3.”
When there are leaders who have passion to serve and who believe that they can make a difference, and present a clear and reasonable plan or platform, then there will not be a problem motivating more than 10 percent of registered voters.
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“For 50 years there has been a one-party rule in Philadelphia. “
Why? The opposition needs a leader who will stand to make a difference and who is a strong leader to take the heat and not run at the first intimidating statement.
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“Without a second party acting as a check on the majority party, the free flow of political ideas will continue to be stifled.”
Again, to have a second party, depends on the kind of leaders who will rise to defend what they stand for, without basing their choices on what others will think about them.
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“When a city with the highest total tax burden in the country is crying broke, it is obvious that not enough is being done to make government run more efficiently. “
What do you propose?
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“This is the best chance that citizens of this city have had for real reform in years, and a vote for them is a vote against decades of the status quo.”
Why is it “the best chance that citizens of this city have had for real reform in years? How would you have inspired citizens to vote and which facts would you have presented to motivate them to vote?
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“Mayor Nutter is whining to Harrisburg lawmakers about Philadelphia being broke like an 8-year-old who dropped an ice cream cone.”
In this part you need to present detailed facts about what “Mayor Nutter is whining to Harrisburg lawmakers;” not everyone knows the details and in addition they cannot read minds, so you need to consider this the next time you write. I appreciate your participation and your letter.
Reina Howard
Facts, truth, courage; service, strength, boldness; passion to stand and defend principles = leaders who inspire.
Reina, I appreciate your input. I only had a 500 word limit for this thing so it was incredibly difficult to add a lot of details. However, your points are duly noted.