McDermott ousted from
GOP race in 172nd

Campaign Bits
By Tom Waring

John McDermott has switched gears and plans to enter the 172nd Legislative District race as a candidate of the Constitution Party.
Frustrated in past runs by the difficulty of running as a minor-party candidate, McDermott tried to challenge Rep. John Perzel in the Republican primary.
Candidates for state representative must file at least 300 signatures of voters in their party to gain a spot on the ballot. McDermott filed just 312, and 55th Ward Republican leader Chris Vogler challenged the petitions.
On March 6, both sides appeared in Harrisburg in front of Commonwealth Court Senior Judge Barry F. Feudale.
Feudale struck three signatures because the date blocks were improperly filled in or left blank. Seven signatures were stricken because the date blocks were filled in by the same hand. Six more petitions were ruled invalid because the signers were not registered Republicans at the time.
Those decisions put McDermott under the 300 minimum. The candidate decided not to appeal.
McDermott and his attorney, Tom Butler, noted that there was no challenge to the authenticity of the signatures. They described the decision as being made on technical grounds and called it an "injustice" to the people who signed the petition.
"It doesn’t make me feel good about the election system or the judicial system," McDermott said.
McDermott spoke with Jim Clymer, a leader of the Pennsylvania Constitution Party, and agreed to run for the seat on that ticket. The ticket is expected to be headed at the presidential level by Roy Moore, the former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court who was ousted for refusing to remove a monument of the Ten Commandments from the state courthouse.

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Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 has endorsed its former president, Rich Costello, in his race in the 172nd district.
Costello faces Tim Kearney in the Democratic primary. Perzel is unopposed in the Republican primary. McDermott will run under the Constitution Party banner.
"I think it will have some influence on rank-and-file members," Costello said of the endorsement.
The former union leader said his presidency was highlighted by negotiating a good health-care plan for members, battling then-Mayor Ed Rendell during tough contract talks and defending officers accused of wrongdoing.
The FOP has made three endorsements. Costello used his influence with the union to help Democrat Brendan Boyle receive an early endorsement in his race in the 170th Legislative District. The union is also backing state Attorney General Tom Corbett, a Republican running for re-election.
Kearney, meanwhile, last week paid a $1,000 fine to the state for missing the deadline to file campaign-expense reports from his 2006 challenge to Perzel.

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A hearing is scheduled for Monday in Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court to determine if state Rep. Tony Payton has enough signatures to remain on the April 22 primary ballot.
The petitions submitted by Payton (D-179th dist.) are being challenged by his Democratic primary opponent, Guy Lewis.
The Lewis campaign alleges that many of the signatures are forged, illegible or from Republicans, independents, unregistered voters and dead people.
Meanwhile, Lewis is asking Payton to disclose the names of anyone associated with fraudulent nominating petitions. The incumbent told the Philadelphia Daily News that his campaign had "disassociated" itself from some individuals who had collected petitions.
The Lewis campaign is also claiming that there are forgeries on the petition for Payton to run as a Democratic National Convention delegate for presidential candidate Barack Obama.
That petition allegedly includes the names of one dead person and a 23rd Ward Democratic committeewoman, two relatives of Lewis and Frankford Civic Association president Frances Clay — all of whom deny signing the form.
Nobody officially challenged Payton’s petition to be a delegate, and he will remain on the ballot in that race.
In non-petition news, Lewis recently picked up the endorsements of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll and former City Controller Jonathan Saidel.

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Bell’s Corner resident Marvin Barrish, who hosts a weekly radio show on WNJC (1360 AM), has made some additions to his lineup of guests.
State Rep. Angel Cruz will appear on Sunday, March 23, from 6 to 6:30 p.m.
Bob Gormley, a Democratic candidate in the 182nd Legislative District, will be the guest on the following Sundays from 5:30 to 6 p.m.: March 9, 16, 23 and 30. He is expected to be joined for a portion of the program by his main supporter, electricians union boss John Dougherty, who is challenging state Sen. Vincent Fumo in the Democratic primary.
Barrish will also welcome police officer Brian King to his show on Sunday, May 25, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. King will discuss a June 21 benefit at Cannstatter’s for slain 15th Police District community relations officer Gary Skerski.
To call the show, dial 1-856-227-1360 or 1-856-232-7077. To listen online, visit www.wnjc1360.com and click "Listen now." ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com