Being a Doylestown Democrat

Being a Doylestown Democrat
by Ann Shenkel

I've learned that being a Democrat in a small town is about being somebody. By that I mean you get to be known as a person who gets involved, seeks information, makes decisions and earns respect. It's not easy. In fact, it would be easier to just go along and just vote for the party that seems to have been in charge forever in a lot of small towns across America. That is a mystery, too, because if ever there was a philosophy that mitigated against the little guy in the small town, that philosophy would be Republican. Republicans, as a group, are known to be against minimum wages, public safety that costs money, environmental controls, diversity, publicly supported transportation, child care, product standards, access to lawyers if you can't afford them, access to medical care, the list goes on and on. Even here, where people have great access to information and certainly ought to know the facts, you will find Republicans supporting the war in Iraq. Like I said. It's a mystery that the Republican party has gained so much with so little for so long.

But being a Democrat in Doylestown is an experience to the contrary. In this town, Democrats have grown and grown and grown. Democrats have begun to stand out in Borough Council. Democrats are putting up real battles for the courthouse and for the county. A challenge by exceptionally well qualified Democratic women has resulted in winning the offices of Tax Collector and Mayor. Doylestown Democratic leadership extends its influence throughout the county, and has helped Doylestown get noticed for carrying the vote for exceptional Democrats at the state and national level. The achievement has not been automatic. Getting out the message and the vote has involved hours of work by countless volunteers. Maybe that is the secret: each one reach one. Being a Doylestown Democrat means speaking up and reaching out. It's a really satisfying situation watching my small town wake up to the pleasure of competing successfully in a political arena that the other party thought it owned and operated exclusively for their own benefit.

Sometimes people like to say that political service in a small town should be more about community and less about party. Perhaps. But politics is about values; politics is about making change in the service of what you believe to be important. Democratic values work for me. I'm proud to be a Doylestown Democrat.

The Inquirer endorses the team of Diane Marseglia, a Middletown Township supervisor, and Steve Santarsiero, a Lower Makefield Township supervisor.

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER - MAY 3RD, 2007

Editorial | For Bucks Commissioner, Democratic Primary

Two who favor smart growth

The Democratic Party is resurgent in Bucks County , giving hope to the faithful that it could win control of the three-member county commission for the first time since the mid-1980s.

Voters in the May 15 Democratic primary will choose two nominees among four well-qualified candidates.

The Inquirer endorses the team of Diane Marseglia, a Middletown Township supervisor, and Steve Santarsiero, a Lower Makefield Township supervisor.

Marseglia, 46, is a school social worker employed by the Bucks County Intermediate Unit and a part-time instructor in criminal justice at the College of New Jersey .

She believes the county needs to be more assertive in limiting development, and also is pushing for more openness in county government, including televised commissioners' meetings.

In light of the county's plans to build a new $100-million-plus courthouse in Doylestown, Marseglia wants to explore moving some courtrooms to locations in the northern and southern portions of the county for easier access.

Having served in the minority on the local level, Marseglia understands that this role calls for speaking out at times to keep the majority from becoming complacent. That's an attitude lacking sometimes at Bucks commission meetings.

A former environmental lawyer, Santarsiero now teaches social studies at Bensalem High School . He's the first-ever Democratic chairman of the Lower Makefield supervisors, and has used his environmental background effectively on smart-growth and flood-control issues in the township.

Santarsiero, 42, wants the county to consider purchasing "blue space" to limit development in flood-prone areas. He believes overdevelopment in the county is the leading cause of property-tax increases. "We do have the power to control these problems," said Santarsiero.

The winners in November will oversee an annual budget that has grown to about $448 million to serve the county's 620,000 residents.

Incumbent Commissioner Sandra Miller, 62, of Lower Makefield , has been on the board 16 years, paying special attention to social services, tourism and historical preservation.

While she is a serious public servant, Miller too often acquiesces to the GOP majority on the commission. She says she is simply judicious about picking her battles. The county Democratic Party apparently disagreed with Miller, declining to endorse the incumbent.

Andy Warren, 64, of Middletown Township , is a former Republican who's still trying to convince people he embraces his new party. He has experience, serving four terms as a commissioner ably in the 1980s and '90s. But he isn't offering much of a vision for how he would lead now.

Buckman appointed to Doylestown Borough Council

By CHRISTINA KRISTOFIC
The Intelligencer

Doylestown’s new council member is Republican John Buckman.

>

At the end of a 50-minute meeting Friday afternoon, the predominantly Republican vacancy board voted 5-3 along party lines in favor of Buckman.

Democrat Joan Doyle and Independent Curtis Cowgill also applied for the vacancy created when 2nd Ward Republican councilwoman Lori Clipner resigned in January.

Vacancy board chairwoman Mary Howe, Council President John “Chip” Thome, Mark Douple, Darrin Hoffman and Jenn Corr, all Republicans, voted in favor of Buckman. Democrats Melissa Bond, Det Ansinn and David Bull opposed. Democrat Council Vice President Lou White was absent.

Buckman is a long-time borough resident and Army veteran who owns a woodworking business in Dublin. He has volunteered in the past as a firefighter. For the full story, see Saturday’s paper.

March 9, 2007 4:02 PM

Announcements

Please plan on attending these important meetings:

1) Monday, Feb. 12, Borough Hall, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Personnel Committee of Borough Council will interview the three candidates who have applied for the seat vacated by Lori Clipner’s resignation: two Republicans and our candidate, Joan Doyle.
Because of the mixed composition of the committee it is very important to have a good showing of Boro Democrats at this public meeting. Each interview will take 20 to 30 minutes. Public comments will not be allowed; the conversation is between and candidates and the committee. The committee may make a recommendation to council, or simply a report.

2) Thursday, Feb 15th, 7:00 pm
Central Bucks Regional Screening for County Races
DOYLESTOWN LIBRARY
150 SOUTH PINE STREET
DOYLESTOWN, PA 18901

3) Saturday - Feb 24th at 10 am - registration begins at 9 am
BCDC ENDORSEMENT MEETING
Council Rock South High School
2002 Rock Way
Holland, PA

4) Monday, Feb. 26, Borough Hall, 7 p.m.
Doylestown Borough Council meeting - Council will vote to fill the vacant seat from Ward 2. This is poised to be an historic moment for Doylestown and the Democartic Party. Boro residents, please plan on attending.

Keep up the good work…..

- Jordan

Harry Fawkes

Anyone find the picture of Bucks County Republican Committee Chairman Harry Fawkes standing behind Commissioner Charlie Martin on the front page of the Intelligencer a bit bizarre? Kind of made me think of the "man behind the curtain" in the Wizard of Oz. That picture might make a good subject for a letter to the editor. Hint, hint!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Doylestown Democrats Blog.