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Marcy Toepel Wins 147th House Nomination

Marcy Toepel captured the Republican nomination for 147th District House of Representatives seat. The seat was previously held by Bob Mensch, who resigned to move to the State Senate.

Marcy is the first deputy to the Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds and the first vice president of the Montgomery County Council of Republican Women.

A special election to fill the seat will be held May 18.

The 147th includes Douglas, Greenville, Green Lane, Lower Frederick, Marlborough, New Hanover, Pennsburg, Perkiomen, Red Hill, Salford, Schwenksville, Skippack, Upper Frederick, Upper Hanover and Upper Salford.

GOP Insiders See More Midterm Opportunities

March 4, 2010
By James A. Barnes

Senate Min. Leader Mitch McConnell is still likely to head the minority party in the next Congress, but he could have a lot of reinforcements, according to this week's National Journal Political Insiders Poll.

When asked how many Senate seats the Dems would gain or lose in the upcoming midterm elections, 98 Dem Insiders said on average that the loss would be 5 seats. GOP Insiders were even more bullish: the 97 respondents predicted the average loss would be 7 seats, which would bring the GOP total to 48, up from 41.

60% of the Dem Insiders surveyed said the party would lose at least 5 seats. While 51% of GOP Insiders said that the Dem losses would be at least 7 seats, only 4% thought that the party would gain at least 10 seats, giving them outright control of the upper chamber.

GOP Insiders are hopeful that their count will rise in part because of their recruiting prospects and a generally favorable political climate that may present opportunities even in blue states. For example, speculation that ex-WI Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) might take on Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI) prompted some GOP Insiders to up their estimates of potential gains. Added one GOP Insider, referring to the race in CA: "When Barbara Boxer has to look over her shoulder, you know it's going to be a bad year for Democrats."

In a separate question, the two parties' Insiders had diametrically opposed views on whether the Dems would be helped or hurt politically if they use the reconciliation process to complete action on health reform. A whopping 80% of the Dem Insiders said their party would be helped, while 85% of the GOP Insiders said Dems would suffer.

Many Dem Insiders suggested that the public was much less concerned about the process by which reform becomes law than the law itself. Some GOP Insiders actually agreed, but they felt the Dems were looking at trouble because they're convinced that voters don't like the substance of the Dem legislation. While Dem Insiders feel that failure is the worst of all possible worlds because it would show the party can't govern, the comments of some reflected a tone of weariness with the issue, which many Dems once felt would be a signature achievement. As one Dem Insider put it, "They need most of all to get the issue behind them ASAP."

Corbett has looked out for Pennsylvanians

When we elected Tom Corbett as attorney general, we did so because we believed he was best-equipped to serve the commonwealth as its chief law enforcement officer. Attorney General Corbett proved us right when he, among other things, investigated, prosecuted and convicted dozens of child predators and criminals while protecting consumers throughout the commonwealth.

Corbett also bucked the political system and risked his own political stature when he investigated, indicted and prosecuted elected officials from his own political party. Some say it is foolish (''political suicide'') for any candidate to prosecute his allies and deny contributions from them while running for office. To the contrary, I say it is courageous and deserves recognition for Corbett, who put the citizens' interests first led the fight for real reform in government in Harrisburg and beyond.

Our goal as free citizens is to recognize and support leadership and courage. Tom Corbett deserves recognition for doing something and exercising unmatched leadership. More compelling is that he did so at perhaps the most inopportune time in his political career yet the most opportune time for those of us who want reform in government and politics.

-- William H. Platt II,