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John Danford, the individual challenging the validity of state Rep. Tony Payton’s nominating petitions, last week filed an appeal to Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Danford, represented by attorney James C. Crumlish III, is appealing a Commonwealth Court ruling certifying Payton’s place on the April 22 primary ballot.
Judge Doris Smith-Ribner ruled that Payton (D-179th dist.) had 385 valid signatures, more than the required minimum of 300.
Guy Lewis, Payton’s opponent in the primary, supports the appeal.
Payton filed 1,361 signatures, but Payton attorney Clifford Levine withdrew 791 signatures, acknowledging that they were invalid for a variety of reasons.
The Lewis campaign said most of the bad petitions were forged, from non-Democrats and dead people and from vacant homes.
The judge discounted 107 signatures because the circulator on the petition lived outside the district or the signatures on the petition were not notarized. Others were eliminated on a line-by-line challenge, but not enough to remove Payton from the ballot.
The appeal is generally based on Smith-Ribner’s preventing Crumlish from calling to the stand Payton and other circulators of the petitions to show alleged fraud.
Meanwhile, Lewis participated in Saturday’s citywide cleanup. He helped clean streets in Frankford and the grounds of the Whitehall Apartments.
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Marina Kats, the Republican candidate in the 13th Congressional District, is criticizing Democratic U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz for what she sees as a lack of action on the nation’s financial crisis.
Kats notes that, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, Schwartz has received more than $762,000 from the financial, insurance and real estate industries since 2003.
The challenger faults the federal government for a "massive rescue" to allow for the sale of Countrywide Financial and Bear Stearns, which both collapsed financially.
"The rescue is rewarding bad behavior, and taxpayers are paying for it," she said. "As your congresswoman, I will work to ensure that middle-class investors and their retirement funds are provided better information on the activities of companies like Bear Stearns and Countrywide."
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Tom Manion has raised more than $400,000 for his campaign in the 8th Congressional District.
Manion, a Republican, is challenging freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy. He’s a vice president at Johnson & Johnson and a retired colonel in the U.S. Marine Reserves. His son Travis was killed in the war in Iraq in April 2007.
The challenger said he’s met voters who are fed up with high energy and food prices, runaway government spending and increasing taxes. He promises to work for immigration reform and to establish security in Iraq before bringing soldiers home.
"Instead of solving these important problems, Patrick Murphy has occupied himself with writing a self-serving book and serving as Barack Obama’s campaign chairman," Manion said.
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The Laborers District Council of the Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia and Vicinity has endorsed Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for president.
The labor organization consists of more than 10,000 members.
Obama is battling New York Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.
"He was the first to call for the reclaiming of millions of American jobs sent overseas by the last two administrations," said Wade Stevens, business manager of the union. "He has fought for the rights of workers to organize and join unions without harassment."
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Bell’s Corner resident Marvin Barrish, who hosts an hour-long radio show on Sundays on WNJC (1360 AM), will be interviewing guests before and after the primary.
Democratic state Rep. Babette Josephs will be the guest on April 13 from 5:30 to 6 p.m., followed by 13th Congressional District Republican candidate Marina Kats from 6 to 6:30 p.m.
On April 20, state Rep. Payton will be on from 5:30 to 6. Jim Kernaghan, the Republican candidate in the 195th Legislative District, will follow from 6 to 6:30.
On May 4, former Republican at-large City Council candidate David Oh will appear from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
On May 11, John Farley, the Republican candidate in the 5th Senatorial District, will discuss his candidacy from 5:30 to 6:30.
On May 18, a representative from a local visiting physicians group will talk about the service for the full hour.
On May 25, police officer Brian King will be on for an hour to discuss a June 21 benefit at Cannstatter’s for the family of slain 15th Police District community relations officer Gary Skerski.
On June 1, an official from the Companion Nursing Agency will speak about the group from 5:30 to 6. The following half-hour will feature John Morganelli, the Northampton County district attorney who is the Democratic candidate challenging Attorney General Tom Corbett.
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