Study: Democrats are scarce on boards
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/113-09132007-1406733.html
Bucks County's boards and authorities that deal with
development, planning and emergency services are dominated
by
Republican appointees by a margin of more than 11 to 1,
according to a new
Democratic study.
The study, conducted by the campaign for Democratic
commissioner candidates Steve Santarsiero and Diane
Marseglia, found that 14 of the county's boards and
authorities that deal with those issues are made up of 111
Republicans and 10 Democrats.
Eight of those 14 boards, including the county's
Agricultural Land Preservation Board, the
Redevelopment Authority, the
Local Emergency Planning Committee and the
Housing Finance Board, have no Democratic members, the
study found.
The total 46 county-related boards and authorities the
study looked at were made up of nearly three times more
Republicans than Democrats (254 to 88), as well as 47
members who were not registered to vote in Bucks County and
18 who may have another or unknown party affiliation,
according to the study.
Both Marseglia and Santarsiero said the imbalance of
party membership on the county's boards and authorities was
occurring "to an embarrassing degree." Both Democrats
painted the imbalance as examples of a culture of patronage
and pay-to-play politics they claim is prevalent in county
government.
"It is very troubling to learn that political favoritism
is occurring on these key boards," said Marseglia.
Positions on the boards and authorities are nearly all
unpaid positions, but can carry heavy influence in county
government, Marseglia and Santarsiero said.
Commissioner Chairman Charles Martin, who along with
fellow Republican Commissioner Jim Cawley is running against
Marseglia and Santarsiero in November's race, dismissed
claims of patronage.
"When somebody applies for a board we don't go running to
check their party affiliation," Martin said. "We want
qualified people."
Cawley said party affiliation has never played a role in
one of his appointments. He said he and Martin have spent
"zero time" researching the political party affiliation of
potential appointees.
"It has not and it will not be a factor," Cawley said.
"We make appointments based on abilities. I don't focus on
[party affiliation], but clearly Steve and Diane do."
Harry Fawkes, chairman of the
Bucks County Republican Committee, said party
affiliation bears no weight when the commissioners are
appointing people to boards and authorities.
"I think what [Marseglia and Santarsiero] are saying is
just outright wrong," Fawkes said. "We try to get people
that are qualified to do the job. That's it."
Santarsiero said the overwhelming number of Republicans,
however, is evidence that Republican registration may have
been one of the qualifications county commissioners were
looking for.
"I don't think anyone's being fooled here," Santarsiero
said. "I think party affiliation is being taken into account
when appointing these folks. If the numbers were a little
closer, I might be inclined to believe [county
Republicans]."
John Cordisco, chairman of the
Bucks County Democratic Committee, said that while
anyone can volunteer to serve on these boards and
authorities, several registered Democrats who have
volunteered were denied. Cordisco, a former teacher, school
board member, state lawmaker and graduate of
Bucks County Community College, said he was denied a
spot on the Community College board of trustees about two
years ago. That board has 11 Republicans, three Democrats
and one member with an unknown party affiliation, according
to the report.
"This is not government, it's a mere extension of the
county Republican Committee," Cordisco said. "If you look at
the numbers, they speak for themselves."
Martin said the large number of Republicans on boards and
authorities, however, is not surprising in Bucks, a county
long controlled by Republicans. "I think if I went to the
city of
Philadelphia I'd find more Democrats than Republicans
[on boards]," Martin said.
According to the
Bucks County Board of Elections, of Bucks County's
414,940 registered voters, nearly 45 percent are Republicans
and 40 percent Democrats. The other 15 percent are
Independents or members of another party.
Martin pointed out all appointments were unanimously
approved, including approval votes from Commissioner Sandy
Miller, a Democrat.
Martin also said the
Bucks County Economic Development Corporation, which has
18 Republicans and no Democrats, according to the study, is
a private corporation whose members are not appointed by
county officials.
Brian Scheid can be reachedat 215-949-4165 or
bscheid@phillyBurbs.com.
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