Senate hopefuls trade shots
on Section 8 issue

Campaign Bits
By Tom Waring

Sam Mirarchi, the Republican candidate in the 5th Senatorial District, is criticizing his opponent, Democratic Sen. Mike Stack, on the issue of Section 8 housing.
"Stack has been in Harrisburg for three-and-a-half years and yet he has not spent three-and-a-half minutes telling the taxpayers of Northeast Philadelphia how he would tackle the mess that is the Section Eight program," he said.
Mirarchi said he’s not surprised that Stack isn’t fighting for the Northeast. He contended that Stack is more interested "in helping the state senator from South Philadelphia, who bought and paid for his election in 2000."
The challenger is referring to Sen. Vince Fumo, the influential Democrat whose financial resources helped Stack topple Republican Sen. Hank Salvatore four years ago.
Mirarchi blames Mayor John Street and "his good friend Mike Stack" for being idle as Section 8 increases in the Northeast.
The Republican has developed a four-point plan to combat Section 8. He wants a moratorium on vouchers, except for the elderly, disabled, veterans, police officers and firefighters.
The candidate also calls for strict maintenance standards of Section 8 properties, with quarterly inspections. Any property that receives three maintenance or nuisance violations will be ineligible for the program.
Stack, noting that Section 8 is a federal program administered by the Philadelphia Housing Authority, said he’d have a one-point plan if the state were in charge.
"If it were up to me, I’d outlaw Section 8," he said.
The Democrat said his challenger should know it’s not easy for the state to address Section 8, since his biggest supporter, Pennsylvania House Speaker John Perzel, has not been able to downsize the program.
Stack said he immediately reports complaints about Section 8 houses to PHA. He’s also introduced a bill giving nuisance property owners three months to bring the house up to code. If they don’t, they’ll lose their state-issued license to rent and wouldn’t be able to collect their check from the federal government.
"I have a well-documented track record of being anti-Section 8," Stack said.
Stack believes it’s "silly" for Mirarchi to suggest that he’s too closely aligned with Fumo and thinks it’s plain wrong to refer to him as a "good friend" of Street.
The incumbent pointed to his opposition to Street’s proposed cuts to the fire department and the mayor’s refusal to accept hepatitis C as a work-related illness for firefighters. Also, he opposes the proposed surcharge that Philadelphia Gas Works wants to impose on ratepayers to cover the cost of deadbeats.
"I bet I have the best record of being opposed to Street, even including the Republicans," he said.

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Mirarchi visited Father Judge High School last week to voice his support for a school-choice tax credit program.
The candidate spoke to students, parents and teachers about the program, which he believes would provide financial relief for families paying tuition and give students a better education.
"It is the parents’ right to teach and expose their children to specific values that may or may not be taught in public schools," Mirarchi said. "School tax credits give parents the means to provide proper values to
their children."

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Tim Kearney, the Democrat challenging Pennsylvania House Speaker John Perzel (R-172nd dist.), held a campaign rally last week at the Smylie Times Building.
Kearney outlined his views to lower the costs of health insurance, prescription drugs and property taxes.
The Democrat, who predicts a close race based on high voter turnout for the presidential election, is challenging his opponent to a debate.
"He has failed the people of the 172nd district, and this year, in this fifty-fifty election, he cannot hide behind low voter turnout," Kearney said of Perzel. "He is going to have to face the voters’ questions."
Among those in attendance were Sen. Stack, City Councilman David Cohen, state Reps. Mark Cohen (the councilman’s son) and Babette Josephs, and Brendan Boyle, the Democratic candidate in the 170th Legislative District.

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Boyle, who is challenging Republican Rep. George Kenney, supports increasing the minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.25.
"Right now, if you have two parents working full-time who earn the minimum wage, they and their children would still be in poverty," he said. "That is simply not right, and it should be changed."
Boyle believes increasing the minimum wage would also lead to higher pay for middle-income workers. He said the working poor and middle class deserve higher pay since the wealthy are the biggest beneficiaries of tax cuts.

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Ross Schriftman, Democratic candidate in the 152nd Legislative District, has pledged to donate to charity any business income he may receive during the time he serves in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Schriftman believes the move would show people that there is integrity in government.
"The best way I can demonstrate my commitment is to ensure that I have no financial gain from any legislative actions that I undertake," he said.
Schriftman, an insurance agent, would earn $66,000 a year if elected. He would also be entitled to free comprehensive health insurance and long-term care insurance.
"I plan to propose that legislators begin to pay a portion of their benefits just like most Pennsylvanians do," he said. "This action will show empathy for people who are struggling with their premiums."

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The National Federation of Independent Business last week endorsed Republican Melissa Brown in the 13th Congressional District.
The NFIB is backing Brown because it sees her as a pro-growth, pro-jobs candidate. The group also likes her view that President George W. Bush’s tax cuts should be made permanent.
Meanwhile, Brown’s Democratic opponent detailed her small business priorities.
Allyson Schwartz wants to increase tax incentives for companies to locate in struggling business areas, lower the cost of health insurance to spur hiring and invest in technology.
As a member of the Pennsylvania Senate, Schwartz has supported Keystone Opportunity Zones, which provide tax breaks for businesses that create jobs in certain geographic areas.

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Republican Mike Fitzpatrick leads Democrat Ginny Schrader, 46 percent to 30 percent, according to a survey of 8th Congressional District voters conducted by Anzalone-Liszt Research, a Democratic polling company.
However, the research firm has potentially good news for Schrader. Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee, leads President George W. Bush in the district, 48 percent to 44 percent.
Also, Bush has a 63 percent negative job rating on his handling of post-war Iraq and a 57 percent negative job rating on handling the economy. The Republican-led Congress received a 52 percent negative job rating.
Schrader edged Fitzpatrick in the poll when voters were told of her business background and her focus on controlling healthcare costs, improving education and creating jobs.
Also, 54 percent of voters in the district are, like Schrader, pro-choice on abortion. Fitzpatrick is pro-life.
Anzalone-Liszt Research conducted 500 telephone interviews with likely voters between Aug. 25-30.
The four-day Republican National Convention was held in New York City beginning Aug. 30. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com