| I know, I know, the most interesting race is the NY-23. Polling seems to indicate that it's a win for the wingnut branch of the GOP. Some may say that this isn't a win for the GOP, but it certainly is: with the support of the most established wingnut branch it is a gauntlet that says "you need to be Republican ENOUGH to win even a moderate Republican district." Next up on that dance card is the Texas gubernatorial primary. If Medina wins (and she won't) it will mean that even Rick Perry isn't right ENOUGH... But there is a tiny election that I'm betting you know nothing about. It's also a Republican election, and involves a town with a Borough Council and a Mayor. Welcome to Bridgeport. No, NOT Bridgeport, Connecticut, the city that went bankrupt, rather the slightly over half a square mile town (land area) of about 4,000 people (about 2,600 registered voters) in Pennsylvania. To try to give you a sense of HOW SMALL this place is, and where it is, well, you've probably heard of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The town has one of the largest malls in the United States. If you drive north from KoP, and cross the west bridge, you're in Norristown, the Montgomery County seat. (As an aside, amoung the Montgomery County Supervisors are Joe Hoeffel, current candidate for PA governor, and Chris Matthews' brother Jim, a Republican.) If you take the parallel east bridge, you will spend between 5 and 7 minutes (depending on how you hit the Fourth Street traffic light) traveling before you enter Norristown. Most everyone thinks that little strip of in-and-out markets, row houses, Catholic Churches and the big funeral home are still part of King of Prussia. But no - it's a little place. Historically home to factory workers and other blue collar workers: modest but affordable houses. Very ethnic. Generally Republican, but in Joe Sestak's district. In addition, their State Senator is a progressive named Daylin Lynch, who is a conscientious and effective pol, and as an aside, during his off hours, one of the funniest people I know. The election this year is council and mayor, in addition to the larger judicial races. The popular, multi-term mayor until 18 October was Jerry Nicola. He passed away (at age 71) too late to have his name removed from the ballot. He's still on it, and he very well might win. If so, the council will pick someone to fill out the two-year term. Next week, the council will pick the person to fill out the remaining two months of his current term. The two contenders are Eileen Nicola, Jerry's widow, and Ted Pruskowski, the other candidate for mayor. Ted is a lifelong Republican who lost the mayoral primary to Jerry on the Republican side, but won the Democratic primary. Ted is considered the young candidate, at 43. Eileen, by the way, is running for council in her own right. Eileen barred Ted from Jerry's funeral, along with about half of the Borough council. Among the barred was Jack Kowal, acting mayor, council president, and chair of Ted's campaign. So what's the issue? It's not just local personal politics, although that's a small part of it, rather it's about a six block stretch of Fourth Street. And trust me, they are NOT big blocks. Bridgeport is a poor town of rowhouses. The giant factories are for the most part all gone, although there is a little bit of new (last 15 years) business in the big factory area at the end of Fourth Street, before it curves over toward the river. There's not a lot of tax base to speak of, and the population is old. Rather, let's be politically correct and point out that the median age is higher than in many towns in Pennsylvania, which already has one of the highest median ages in the country. Ted wants to develop Fourth Street, and bring in high tech and any other business he can. Many of Jerry's supporters feel that would diminish the "feel" of the town. We'll know in 48 hours who wins. As an aside which has NOTHING to do with politics, one of the neat things on Fourth Street is a place called Suzy Jo's. They make, in my estimation, the very best donuts in the world. I'm not much of a donut person: I probably eat 2 or 3 of them a year. But these things are actual works of art. I've never seen cream sticks or bing cherry donuts anywhere else...and warm, they are worth eating junk food for. |
