McDermott stumps
to oust Perzel
Campaign Bits
By Tom Waring
The race in the 172nd Legislative District promises action in both the primary and general elections.
That’s because there will be primary fights on the Republican and Democratic sides and a likely competitive battle in the general election.
The race features four familiar faces.
Rep. John Perzel (R-172nd dist.), a former House speaker who was first elected in 1978, faces a primary battle against John McDermott, a frequent candidate for various offices.
The Democratic candidates are Tim Kearney, who challenged Perzel in 2004 and ’06, and Rich Costello, former president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5.
While Perzel, Kearney and Costello all indicated their intentions earlier, McDermott tried to make a quiet entrance into the race. That’s because he was most recently a member of the Constitution Party, running under that banner against Perzel and Kearney two years ago.
Still, Perzel allies saw him collecting nominating petitions to run as a Republican. The challenger explains that he hasn’t changed his pro-life and other conservative views.
“I just have an ‘R’ after my name,” said McDermott, who became a Republican late last year.
McDermott was a Republican for years, running for city commissioner and twice for the state House of Representatives seat held by then-Democratic Rep. Roland Greenfield. He lost to Greenfield by just 74 votes in 1980. He was a close ally of John Egan, who ran for mayor in 1983 and ’87.
Tired of what he saw as the Republican Party becoming too liberal, McDermott joined the Constitution Party and ran for mayor, state treasurer, Congress and the 172nd district seat. He was frustrated by the Constitution Party’s lack of financial resources and the difficulty of running as a third-party candidate.
Looking back, McDermott wishes that he had challenged Perzel in the 2006 primary, when voter anger was highest over the pay raise that legislators including Perzel voted themselves in the middle of the night in July 2005.
“Maybe I should have done this two years ago,” he said.
The deadline was Tuesday for filing nominating petitions for the April 22 primary. Candidates for state House seats need 300 valid signatures.
As McDermott sought signatures door to door, he told voters that he’s from Fox Chase, is the third of 11 children and attended St. Cecilia Elementary School, Bishop McDevitt High School and King’s College. He mentioned his 35-plus years in politics, proudly reminded residents of his run for mayor against John Street and Sam Katz and informed them that Perzel has been in office for 30 years.
“That’s enough,” he said.
McDermott is self employed. He sells electricity and natural gas to commercial and industrial operations.
The candidate opposes state funding to build a stadium in Chester to attract a Major League Soccer franchise. He thinks the team should play at Villanova, Franklin Field or Lincoln Financial Field.
If elected, he vows to opt out of the state’s pension, health insurance and long-term care programs.
“I don’t want to become a government man,” he said. “I can take care of myself.”
McDermott generally received a positive reception going door to door, though one elderly woman on the 9200 block of Annapolis Road expressed hope that Perzel would be successful in passing his bill that would eliminate property taxes for senior citizens making under $40,000 a year.
Marty O’Rourke, a spokesman for Perzel, said the legislator is busy promoting the property tax bill and one that would add 10,000 police officers across the state.
Some 1,345 of those officers would be for Philadelphia, and all four police districts in the Northeast would likely benefit. In arguing for more officers, Perzel cites the decrease in crime in New York after that city beefed up its police department.
O’Rourke described Perzel as a natural leader and said the incumbent will run on his record of serving constituents and helping the district. He must be doing a good job, O’Rourke said, because he has been re-elected overwhelmingly in recent years.
“John Perzel’s number-one priority is Northeast Philadelphia,” he said.
While Perzel will have the full backing of the Republican Party, the Democratic endorsement is somewhat up for grabs.
Bernice Hill, the new Democratic leader of the 63rd Ward, has already indicated that she’s backing Costello, who recently retired after 35 years as a police officer. Her committee people helped the first-time candidate collect the nominating petitions.
Costello has been focused on getting his name on the ballot rather than lining up endorsements.
“I wanted to get the signatures first,” he said.
Costello has backed Perzel in the past but believes it is time for a change.
“I think since he lost the speakership, he’s focused almost exclusively on getting it back at the expense of the constituents in the 172nd,” he said.
Kearney thinks he’s the best candidate because he opposes Fox Chase Cancer Center’s proposed expansion into Burholme Park and is in favor of an existing bill that would provide universal health care.
“I’m the only one who’s trying to save the park and give health care to everybody,” he said.
Now that the filing deadline has passed for candidates, voters have until March 24 to register or change parties for the primary.
Voter registration forms can be printed at the election watchdog Committee of Seventy’s Web site, www.seventy.org
The Montgomery County Republican Committee will endorse a candidate in the 13th Congressional District on Feb. 25.
That night, the committee people will vote to back one of three candidates: Marina Kats, Lee Falgoust or Frank Szabo.
The Philadelphia Republican City Committee backs Kats.
The two candidates who do not receive the endorsement have until Feb. 27 to drop out of the race, if they choose.
The Republican candidate will challenge Democratic Rep. Allyson Schwartz. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com