Not too long ago, the future looked bright for the Democratic party, nationally and locally. Donkeys trotted into power in Washington, propelled by an inept president with one of the lowest approval ratings in history. In Quakertown, they seemed poised to increase their representation and reputation on council. But things have gone south all around, as Senate Dems failed to deliver a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, county Dems endured an expensive, nasty squabble for Commissioner, and borough Dems are fighting among themselves. There are even rumblings that Richland Dems may replace their supervisor candidate, even though the primary is history.
Qtown is a Brave New Borough - at least for the Republicans. Jim Roberts topped the primary vote, leaving little doubt that he will be re-elected, and by all rights should be the next council president. He is greatly respected by both parties. Likewise, Ed Scholl is a thoughtful community icon, whose popularity crosses partisan lines. He raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer research through his Relay For Life and Wifflepalooza.
Mike Johnson's work as a QCSD baseball coach, and his no-nonsense reputation as a police sergeant in Doylestown, resonated well with voters demanding a quantum change in attitude in borough hall, after suffering years of Woglom-itis. With four seats open in November, these three pillars of the community will be hard to beat. Barely surviving is current president Dennis Hallman, whose poor showing should finally convey the message that he needs to do more than just appear twice monthly for meetings. He narrowly escaped the humiliation of being the first Qtown president to be ousted in a primary, and now faces very long odds for re-election.
Finally, a fond farewell to 28-year council stalwart Elfriede Werner. At age 78, Elfi didn't seriously want to run again, but was a good soldier when asked to consider an eighth term. Though she dutifully answered her party's call, she would really rather spend more time with her nine great-grandchildren. Her loss will be her gain.
Democrats suffered a major blow when incumbent Dave Wilsey inexplicably chose to campaign in much the same way he ran - unsuccessfully - for State Senator against Rob Wonderling. He literally did nothing, expecting that his reputation would carry him, even after missing almost half of the council meetings last year. Like Hallman, he paid the price for his arrogance. His reputation did carry him - to a fifth-place finish that ended his council career after only one term, and left Dave Zaiser as the only donkey in the circus.
Zaiser has been working since he was elected in 2005 to support fellow party members who share his get-out-into-the-community approach to government. He backed John Flynn and Michele Scarborough, the best-qualified of the six Dem candidates. But unlike the Republicans, who appreciate and respect each other, the D's are deeply divided. Steve Biddle and Nancy Roberts represent a continuation of the wink-wink, special-favor, good ol' boy politics. They have the backing of long-time county committeewoman Shirley Andres, and Richland's two-time loser for supervisor, Brian Kline.
The camps are at opposite points of the ethical compass. Biddle and Roberts curried favor with council for years, while Flynn and Scarborough, who share values but will run as individuals, promise fresh thinking, and no hidden agendas. The four won't even stand in the same room together, let alone cooperate on the same ticket. When a large group of Dems celebrated the primary results at McCoole's, there was no Andres, and no Roberts. Biddle strategically arrived after almost everyone had left.
Dems lay much of the blame for this situation on Andres. She led the fight to withhold any official party endorsements, perhaps knowing that her old-guard buddies Biddle and Roberts would not be chosen. Then she refused to hand out the party's "goldenrod" sample ballot at the polls, angering her colleagues. Kline chose to spend election day in Easton, campaigning for the unsuccessful mayoral candidate. He may now be on the way out as the party's supervisor candidate in Richland.
With the strong united Republican showing, and the Democratic infighting, it is very possible that only one QT Dem will be elected in November. And, ironically, if it is Biddle or Roberts, after years of cuddling up to council, they will be serving with new folks who don't even want them! But, of course, primary election results are not necessarily a good predictor of the final outcome. Former council president Ray Fulmer found that out in 2003, when he was his party's top vote-getter in May, only to be shocked by finishing last in the general election.
Perhaps you saw bitter ex-Republican Fulmer, the poster-child for We-Have-No-Problems-In-Quakertown, at the polls - campaigning for Dems Biddle and Roberts. Once a cuddle-up, .....
With the party primaries now history, Independent voters are the wildcards in the reshuffled deck. There are over 63,000 in Bucks County, the fastest-growing segment of the electorate. They had no say in May, but could well make a difference in November. This has historically been bad news for incumbents, since Independents tend to be, well, independent. Anti-establishment. Free thinkers. Or so they say...
Actually, these free thinkers may be outsmarting themselves. Voters register as Indys because they don't want to be affiliated with any established political party. They can boldly say that they are "Independent". Sounds intellectual and brave. "I don't take orders from anyone. No party is gonna tell me what to do, or how to vote. I'm Independent!!"
And who is happiest to hear these words? Who is best served by the growing number of Independents? The established political parties! The last thing party bosses want in their caucuses and discussions are people who have a different agenda. As a result, the folks on the final ballot are the candidates chosen by the very people, and parties, the Indys reject! How "independent" is it to be forced to choose between the endorsed Republican and the endorsed Democrat? Is it worth it, just to be able to say "I'm an Independent"?