Study: Democrats are scarce on boards

By BRIAN SCHEID

Bucks County's boards and authorities that deal with development, planning and emergency services are dominated by Republican appointees by a margin of more than 11 to 1, according to a new Democratic study.

The study, conducted by the campaign for Democratic commissioner candidates Steve Santarsiero and Diane Marseglia, found that 14 of the county's boards and authorities that deal with those issues are made up of 111 Republicans and 10 Democrats.

Eight of those 14 boards, including the county's Agricultural Land Preservation Board, the Redevelopment Authority, the Local Emergency Planning Committee and the Housing Finance Board, have no Democratic members, the study found.

The total 46 county-related boards and authorities the study looked at were made up of nearly three times more Republicans than Democrats (254 to 88), as well as 47 members who were not registered to vote in Bucks County and 18 who may have another or unknown party affiliation, according to the study.

Both Marseglia and Santarsiero said the imbalance of party membership on the county's boards and authorities was occurring “to an embarrassing degree.” Both Democrats painted the imbalance as examples of a culture of patronage and pay-to-play politics they claim is prevalent in county government.

“It is very troubling to learn that political favoritism is occurring on these key boards,” said Marseglia.

Positions on the boards and authorities are nearly all unpaid positions, but can carry heavy influence in county government, Marseglia and Santarsiero said.

Commissioner Chairman Charles Martin, who along with fellow Republican Commissioner Jim Cawley is running against Marseglia and Santarsiero in November's race, dismissed claims of patronage.

“When somebody applies for a board we don't go running to check their party affiliation,” Martin said. “We want qualified people.”

Cawley said party affiliation has never played a role in one of his appointments. He said he and Martin have spent “zero time” researching the political party affiliation of potential appointees.

“It has not and it will not be a factor,” Cawley said. “We make appointments based on abilities. I don't focus on [party affiliation], but clearly Steve and Diane do.”

Harry Fawkes, chairman of the Bucks County Republican Committee, said party affiliation bears no weight when the commissioners are appointing people to boards and authorities.

“I think what [Marseglia and Santarsiero] are saying is just outright wrong,” Fawkes said. “We try to get people that are qualified to do the job. That's it.”

Santarsiero said the overwhelming number of Republicans, however, is evidence that Republican registration may have been one of the qualifications county commissioners were looking for.

“I don't think anyone's being fooled here,” Santarsiero said. “I think party affiliation is being taken into account when appointing these folks. If the numbers were a little closer, I might be inclined to believe [county Republicans].”

John Cordisco, chairman of the Bucks County Democratic Committee, said that while anyone can volunteer to serve on these boards and authorities, several registered Democrats who have volunteered were denied. Cordisco, a former teacher, school board member, state lawmaker and graduate of Bucks County Community College, said he was denied a spot on the Community College board of trustees about two years ago. That board has 11 Republicans, three Democrats and one member with an unknown party affiliation, according to the report.

“This is not government, it's a mere extension of the county Republican Committee,” Cordisco said. “If you look at the numbers, they speak for themselves.”

Martin said the large number of Republicans on boards and authorities, however, is not surprising in Bucks, a county long controlled by Republicans. “I think if I went to the city of Philadelphia I'd find more Democrats than Republicans [on boards],” Martin said.

According to the Bucks County Board of Elections, of Bucks County's 414,940 registered voters, nearly 45 percent are Republicans and 40 percent Democrats. The other 15 percent are Independents or members of another party.

Martin pointed out all appointments were unanimously approved, including approval votes from Commissioner Sandy Miller, a Democrat.

Martin also said the Bucks County Economic Development Corporation, which has 18 Republicans and no Democrats, according to the study, is a private corporation whose members are not appointed by county officials.

Brian Scheid can be reachedat 215-949-4165 or bscheid@phillyBurbs.com.

September 13, 2007 6:25 AM