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They provide a crucial link between Harrisburg and the districts they serve: state representatives, a job not to be taken lightly as these elected officials must juggle statewide concerns with local needs.
Prepped to serve the public, this year’s candidates – some incumbents, others newbies – plan to use their potential political clout to induce effective legislation, address neighborhood issues and make their areas shine above the rest.
However, the city’s primaries, this year on May 16, hardly bring out loads of voters, numbers pop-culture races on "American Idol" routinelytally in just one show.
But, through their visions outlined inside this issue, the candidates hope to change those lackluster statistics. The Review takes a look at the Democratic candidates each eyeing a seat in the 175th, 182nd and 185th House districts, respectively. Locally, these districts cover Bella Vista, Girard Estate, Grays Ferry, Packer Park, Point Breeze and Queen Village.
Since Republicans ran unopposed or had no candidate in these races, they were not profiled.
175th House District
A member of the House since 1993, state Rep. Marie Lederer has decided to call it quits. Three individuals looking to fill her shoes have aggressively stepped up to the plate.
Anne Dicker, a seven-year resident of Second and Fitzwater streets, has canvassed the area, honing in on concerns within the district.
"I’m very much in touch with my future constituents. I’ve gone door-to-door," Dicker, 33, said. "I really have a good knowledge of what the constituents want."
Judging from her feedback, riverfront development is one of the hot-button issues in the district, which includes Bella Vista and Queen Village.
The married candidate said she would support a riverfront master plan and an expansion of Gov. Ed Rendell’s moratorium to further examine the impact of casinos.
Casinos might "destroy the Italian market and make our walkable neighborhoods unwalkable," she said. "I think it would be a disaster."
As co-founder of the grassroots organization Philly for Change, Dicker led the fight against Social Security privatization and pay raises for politicos. This group was formed on the heels of a defunct campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean.
Dicker also was the statewide volunteer coordinator for the League of Conservation of Voters.
"My strengths come from my volunteer base," she said. "You cannot say that about my competitors, who are enmeshed in the political system as it stands."
Thinking long-term, Dicker added, "We need to end and reform lobbying in the state of Pennsylvania. It’s really corrupting the whole system of government and not letting us serve our neighborhoods as well as we should."
Combined with her business savvy, Dicker feels she is the prime candidate. The youngest executive in the history of Spencer’s Gifts, Dicker, the company’s former director of strategic planning and marketing, saved her employer from bankruptcy while securing coworkers’ jobs. The full-time candidate, who worked at Spencer’s for six years, said focusing on customer needs and empowering managers and store clerks to improve their store’s performance turned the company around.
GIVING DICKER A run for her money is Terry Graboyes, who began Graboyes Commercial Window Co. in 1984.
"My whole life has been about creating jobs," she said. "I’ve sponsored some 50 to 100 apprenticeships in the carpenters’ and glaziers’ union."
Prior to starting her own business, she worked as a legislative liaison for former Gov. Milton Shapp.
"I started my professional career as a lobbyist and always hoped I get to go back as a lawmaker," Graboyes, of the 700 block of Lombard Street, said.
When she found out good friend Lederer was retiring, Graboyes decided to run for office.
If elected, a big concern she plans to address is the impact of casinos in the district and the influx of traffic they would bring.
"I would not have voted for the casinos, but now that they’re coming, the important thing is to make sure the community has real meaningful participation in making the key decisions," said Graboyes, who is divorced and has a son, Noah.
Once the city begins assessing properties at their full-market value, the candidate would push for fair and balanced changes, including exemptions for seniors and long-term residents.
"As exciting as it is to see our property values increase, I’m in the exact same position as my neighbors in South Philly that I’m not going to be able to afford an increase in taxes," said the 53-year-old.
The arts also are important to Graboyes, who is the founding chairperson for 1812 Productions, now in its 10th year.
The candidate is endorsed by a slew of politicians, including Rendell, Mayor John Street and, more locally, 1st District Councilman Frank DiCicco and Councilman-at-Large James Kenney.
"I represent the diverse interests of this district and I represent those interests with the skill of bringing together coalitions," she said.
FELLOW CANDIDATE MIKE O’Brien feels he has the know-how to hold this position, considering he served as Lederer’s chief of staff for 10 years.
O’Brien also was involved with real estate appraisal and development. He is now a full-time candidate.
O’Brien calls this an "extremely volatile time" in the Commonwealth, since 30 new state representatives will fill the seats of retiring members. The Democrat fears a "hard step to the right" might occur.
Calling his competition "good and decent people," O’Brien added, "with this new legislature, there’s no time for the learning curve. You’ve got to be in the position to hit the ground running."
He plans to fight for the issues most important to him and the district’s communities.
"I’m deeply concerned about continuing development of the riverfront," said the 51-year-old Fishtown resident. "There has to be green space and access to the river."
He added, "I believe we need to create a riverfront special service district to allow us to derive a dedicated source of revenue to … maintain green space and access."
Regarding property reassessment, he would like to introduce legislation that puts a 5 percent cap on property tax increases and a "cap for life" for seniors.
O’Brien, married and a father of two, also wants to see more state funding distributed to education. Since wife Rita is a city schoolteacher, O’Brien said he’s well aware of budgetary issues.
"I’m very concerned about continuing cuts to funding public education," he said. "Over the years, we have put tens of thousands of dollars out of our own pockets and into my wife’s classroom in buying things that should have been provided."
In addition, O’Brien has witnessed signs of gentrification in the district he plans to serve.
"I think that one of the things that I have is the experience in dealing with emerging neighborhoods," he said. "That’s where I could be the greatest assistance in the South Philly area – to work with gentrifying and revitalizing areas, to help old-time residents maintain the traditional flavor that makes their neighborhood so appealing and so attractive [to new residents]."
182nd House District
Incumbent Babette Josephs has held her seat as state representative for 22 years and does not plan on abdicating her duties just yet.
Tackling a variety of issues, she was involved in funding a reward for missing person Taneke Daniels, whose body was found in New Jersey April 24.
Josephs takes great pride in supporting and acquiring money for neighborhood organizations and their fight for safer communities. The 182nd includes most of Grays Ferry and portions of Bella Vista and Queen Village.
"I think we can get a handle on crime if we continue down the road of public education," she said. "Philly could be a city of small towns – neighborhoods – where people know each other and look out for each other. That’s the most effective way of preventing crime and that’s why I’m so interested in helping the Town Watchers."
Quality-of-life issues, she said, also are on her front burner, including her support for the Santore Library, 932 S. Seventh St., which faced the threat of reduced staff and services due to citywide funding cuts that have since been restored.
"I’m part of the team that brings results to Philadelphia," Josephs, 66, said. "I’m a hard worker, articulate and effective. I reflect the values of the district. People know they can come to my office for help and get good help."
The chair of the House State Government Committee, Josephs’ goals include the implementation of more funds for stem cell research.
"The governor is committed to making that happen," she said. "I think that would bring much-needed jobs to the whole city."
As part of a public health initiative, she also would push for a state tax on other tobacco products besides cigarettes.
A supporter of gay rights, Josephs plans on working against the anti-marriage constitutional amendment that "makes second-class citizens of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters."
"CHANGE" IS THE operative word for Josephs’ challenger Larry Farnese, who has been practicing law in the city for nearly 13 years with a specialty in patent and trademark litigation. He also has conducted pro bono work for the Democratic City Committee.
The district needs a more aggressive representative in Harrisburg, said Farnese, who added not a single bill his opponent has written has made its way out of a committee in the last 10 years.
"It’s no longer good to be on the left side of the right issues," Farnese, 37, said.
Getting a handle on crime and handgun violence are two of the candidate’s biggest issues.
"What we have right now is a situation where Philly has had such a huge increase in crime and handgun violence," the resident of the 1400 block of Locust Street said. "We need a representative to go to Harrisburg and work with the district attorney’s office so that anti-crime legislation is passed in Harrisburg and passed on to residents in the community."
Farnese, who has been endorsed by District Attorney Lynne Abraham and the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, also is a staunch supporter of increased state funding for education. Class sizes, he said, should be decreased, while technology in schools should be increased. He supports a plan allowing public schools to provide more training for the trades.
A small business loan program funded by the state could spur economic development, while making other businesses flourish in communities.
"If the state can provide small business owners with these types of cash, that type of infusion usually makes the difference between a business making it or folding in the first three years," Farnese said.
Farnese is hoping voters will associate his hard-work mentality with his law experience.
"People forget that at the end of the day, lawyers are advocates and we are advocates for our clients," he said. "When I get to Harrisburg, I’m going to be an advocate … for the 182nd."
185th House District
State Rep. Robert Donatucci said it has been a pleasure serving his constituents with "integrity and credibility." He has represented the district since 1980.
"I’ve done the job to the credit of the 185th District," said Donatucci, whose district covers areas west of Broad Street from Passyunk Avenue to the Schuylkill River. "I have seniority that gets things done."
Serving as chair of the Liquor Control Committee, Donatucci currently is involved in introducing 14 pieces of legislation to curb underage drinking.
"This is a bipartisan issue that is on the front burner," he said.
A decrease in specific liquor taxes, something the representative also is supporting, would give Pennsylvania a competitive edge over neighboring New Jersey and Delaware.
A rash of gun crimes in the district also has gotten Donatucci’s attention.
"Ten years ago, very seldom you would hear about shootings in the lower end of my district," he said. "I’m hoping we get more police out there and that could put a big bite in crime."
Malina F. Williams, his rival for the seat, could not be reached by press time.
