Monday is Presidents Day, even though the federal government never officially changed the name from George Washington’s Birthday.
Still, it’s a good time to consider: Who was your favorite president and why?
Post your comments. Consider it your patriotic duty. OK, maybe not, but we’d still like to hear from you.
– John Guerriero
During a news conference call today with reporters in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald discussed the launching of a “truth team” for President Barack Obama.
The idea is for Obama’s supporters online and on the ground to be able to respond to attacks from Republican presidential candidates and their surrogates. Check out the website.
“We have seen the attacks already start to fly from the other side,” Fitzgerald said.
I asked for a response to any GOP argument that the “truth team’s” responses themselves could be false or half-truths.
“That would be untrue,” Nutter replied.
He added: “Even in politics, there is generally only one truth. We just want to make sure the record is set straight.”
From either side, it sounds like that slogan from “The X-Files” could apply: “The truth is out there.”
– John Guerriero
That race to replace state Sen. Jane Earll, R-49th Dist., of Fairview Township, is shaping up to be highly competitive, at least on the Democratic ballot.
Janet Anderson, the former executive director of the Northwest Regional Planning and Development Commission, is running on the GOP side. She has ties to Earll, previously working in her office as director of economic development.
Anderson might be the only one running for the Republicans. We’ll know after Thursday at 5 p.m., the filing deadline.
But the Democrats have at least six potential candidates, and five of them have already filed their nomination petitions to get on the April 24 ballot.
Those five are: lawyer Anthony “Buzz” Andrezeski, the senator who served the 49th District before Earll; Millcreek School Board member Terry Scutella; Sean Wiley, director of foundation at Saint Vincent Health Center; Brian Pitzer, former director of public relations at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; and Erie School Board member John Harkins.
A sixth Democrat, Larry B. Hiwiller Jr., owner of LBH Insurance, also is expected to meet Thursday’s deadline to file.
Democrats obviously see an opening to seize the seat. Republicans, of course, will make an all-out effort to keep it.
– John Guerriero
Republican Janet Anderson, the former executive director of the Northwest Regional Planning and Development Commission, will officially announce her candidacy for Pennsylvania Senate at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Intermodal Transportation Center, 209 E. Bayfront Parkway, according to information Anderson posted on her Facebook page.
Anderson is among six Democrats and two Republicans seeking the 49th District seat, currently held by Republican Jane Earll of Fairview Township. Earll decided against seeking re-election.
–Kevin Flowers
Tuesday is a big deadline for many candidates to get on the ballot in Pennsylvania’s April 24 primary.
Topping the ballot, of course, is the race for president.
A check of the Pennsylvania Department of State website shows that President Barack Obama and Rick Santorum, the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, are on the ballot.
Stay tuned for more details.
– John Guerriero
Sweater Vest Nation must be happy today.
Rick Santorum’s stunning sweep of the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses and the nonbinding Missouri primary vaults him back into contention for the GOP presidential nomination.
It was Santorum’s first wins since the leadoff Iowa caucus.
He and Mitt Romney now could be locked in a two-way race for the right to face Barack Obama in the fall. Then again, anything could happen in what’s been a roller coaster ride thus far.
What do you think? Is Romney in trouble? Who’s going to win?
– John Guerriero
Cathedral Preparatory School and Villa Maria Academy are mourning the loss of longtime math teacher Joann Mullen. But she had quite a presence in Millcreek Township, too, where she lived.
The contributions of Mullen, a fixture at Prep for 45 years and the school’s first female principal, were recognized at today’s supervisors’ meeting.
Mullen was the chairwoman of the Millcreek Township Study Commission, a seven-member panel that is considering whether to recommend changes in Millcreek’s government. She led the balloting for the unpaid job in the Nov. 8 election.
But in a self-effacing way, she chalked up her success in the election to Prep parents and alumni recognizing her name at the ballot box.
“She was so involved in the township. She will be greatly missed,” Supervisor Joseph Kujawa said.
Mullen, 72, lost a battle with leukemia.
If you had dealings with Mullen, what will you remember most about her?
– John Guerriero
On the campaign trail, you’ll hardly ever find presidential candidate Rick Santorum without his trademark sweater vests.
Now Santorum will visit the factory that makes the sweater vests he popularized during his successful win in the Iowa caucus.
Santorum is scheduled to tour Bemidji Woolen Mills in Bemidji, Minn., on Sunday afternoon.
The factory is the manufacturer of the “Official Rick Santorum for President Sweater Vest,” the campaign said.
That’s right. For a donation of $100 or more to the campaign, you can get a grey sweater vest, like the ones worn by the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania.
Santorum’s campaign website says, “Don’t let sleeves slow you down.”
– John Guerriero
Mentions include the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Gov. Tom Corbett and Joe Scarnati.
Check it out here. Have a great weekend.
–Kevin Flowers
Tim Burns, a GOP candidate for U.S. Senate from Washington County, announced today that he is dropping out of the race.
One of Burns’ opponents, Chester County entrepreneur Steve Welch, received the endorsement Saturday from the Pennsylvania Republican State Committee.
That’s what prompted Burns to drop out.
“When I began this process I put a premium on getting the endorsement of the Republican Party. … Those leaders spoke on Saturday, and while it may not have been the outcome I hoped for, I have always known it would be difficult to carry on without their support,” he said in a statement.
Burns campaigned in Erie in December, while Welch did the same in October.
The winner of the April 24 primary likely will square off against Democratic incumbent Sen. Bob Casey.
– John Guerriero
