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A challenge to the nominating petitions of state Rep. Tony Payton (D-179th dist.) will be heard on March 17 in Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.
The campaign of challenger Guy Lewis is asserting that most of Payton’s signatures are invalid because they are altered or forged, illegible, printed or from Republicans, independents, unregistered voters, dead people or abandoned houses.
At least three signatures will definitely be tossed by the court. That’s because Payton signed his petition four times on different dates.
The Lewis campaign is prepared to offer about 20 witnesses who will testify that either their signatures were forged or that they signed the petition only after being told it was for a scholarship.
On a related matter, Payton’s lawyer withdrew a challenge that claimed Lewis was not a registered Democrat when he circulated his petitions. Lewis is demanding that the court make Payton pay legal fees, arguing that the challenge was frivolous because a simple check of the voter registration files would have shown that the candidate was a Democrat.
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The Montgomery County Republican Committee is criticizing U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-13th dist.) for negative comments her office spokeswoman made about Republican challenger Marina Kats.
In an article in The Bulletin, Rachel Magnuson said Schwartz would fare well against an opponent "who has made her money being an immigration and criminal defense lawyer."
Athan Koutsiouroumbas, executive director of the Montgomery County Republican Committee, described Kats as a Ukraine native who came to the United States penniless and worked her way through college to become a successful attorney and entrepreneur. He said she helps people to legally immigrate to America.
"For a career politician like Schwartz to be acting this flagrantly, this early in the campaign, she must be wary of being part of the most unpopular Congress in American history," he said.
Koutsiouroumbas said Schwartz’s record on immigration is out of touch with voters. He cited votes against full funding for construction of a border fence and against an amendment reaffirming existing law prohibiting illegal immigrants from obtaining food stamps.
Schwartz’s office put out a statement saying, "Congresswoman Schwartz has a tough record on illegal immigration. She has cracked down on employers who hire illegal immigrants, she has voted for tough sentencing for those who aid illegal entry, and she is aggressive in demanding we deport illegal immigrants involved in gang activity.
"In addition, Schwartz is a steadfast supporter of law enforcement and has fought to see that they have the tools they need to protect America’s borders.
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Mike Livingston is a Republican running against an incumbent in an overwhelmingly Democratic district, but the challenger sees an opening.
Livingston, a professor at Rutgers-Camden School of Law, will face U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-2nd dist.) in the general election. Both are unopposed in next month’s primaries.
The Republican acknowledges that Fattah has had a stranglehold on the seat for 14 years, but he points to last year’s Democratic primary for mayor. In that race, Fattah finished a distant fourth.
"He’s somewhat weakened. He ran for mayor and didn’t do very well," Livingston said.
Livingston, who ran a strong, but losing, campaign last year for Cheltenham School Board, describes himself as a moderate, progressive Republican and labels Fattah as "very, very radical" and not in the tradition of predecessors Bill Gray and Robert N.C. Nix Sr.
The challenger criticizes his opponent for favoring a new trial for convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal and the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. He points to a loss in population and jobs and an increase in crime in the 2nd Congressional District.
If elected, Livingston would focus on issues such as tax and education reform and foreign policy, with a greater emphasis on China and India.
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Joe Montone has dropped out of the Republican primary in the 8th Congressional District, leaving Tom Manion as the only GOP candidate.
Manion, who has the endorsement of the Republican Party, is challenging freshman Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy.
Party officials backed a challenge to Montone’s nominating petitions, arguing he did not have the minimum 1,000 valid Republican signatures.
After reviewing the paperwork, Montone acknowledged that enough non-Republicans signed his petitions to bring him under the 1,000 threshold. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com