Kate Harper to run for Montgomery County Commissioner
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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 http://www.timesherald.com/articles/2011/01/09/news/doc4d29125293853712198618.txt?viewmode=fullstory Journal Register News Service Sunday, January 09, 2011 . She has represented the 61st District in Harrisburg since 2000 State Rep. Kate Harper, R-61st District, announced Saturday that she will seek the Republican endorsement in the upcoming race for Montgomery County Commissioner The Endorsement Meeting is February 9. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 A Brown-Harper ticket would be formidable in November 2011. Township Commissioner Jenny Brown and State Rep. Kate Harper have different and complementing backgrounds, experiences and perspectives which will, in my opinion, bring a synergistic dynamic to creatively engage the problems of the County finances and governance. A Brown-Harper ticket would be particularly formidable against the two likely Democratic tickets: Hoeffel-generic female Democrat ticket or State Rep. Josh Shapiro and generic female Democrat. In my opinion, Democratic Commissioner Hoeffel has been irremediably damaged by Sunshine Act violations detailed by Times Herald’s Jenny DeHuff and Keith Phucas so that a Shapiro-generic female Democrat is more likely Democratic ticket. Rep. Shapiro has been a state representative since 2005 and has voted for everyone of Democratic Governor and Democratic House Big Government, Big Spending Bankrupting Budgets and has not offered any realistic pension reform. In my opinion, the highly qualified State Rep. Harper would be a better Commissioner than Bruce Castor who has no legislative experience and who has demonstrated no more than a shallow grasp of County finances. Rep. Harper has voted on the $66 Billion dollar state budget and is respected in Harrisburg where her Harrisburg contacts and her Harrisburg insights will be beneficial to the County. As a municipal solicitor, she brings insights and experience from the municipal level. Rep. Harper brings a sophisticated and experienced perspective of breadth and depth to the position of County Commissioner that Bruce Castor cannot. Personally, Rep. Harper is far more pleasant, likeable, and down to earth than Bruce Castor. Rep. Harper is low key and is not a "drama queen". Rep Harper is far more open and accessible than the egocentric Bruce "It's All About Me" Castor. Who isn’t? Bruce Castor has high name recognition because of his successful tenure as DA and because he receives attention of reporters. A closer look shows his service has been shallow and mediocre and more razzle dazzle than substance. When one thinks about it, what does Bruce Castor bring to the County, to The Forgotten Taxpayer or to the Republican Party. During his time as Montgomery County Commissioner, Bruce Castor has not shown himself to have any real insight or understanding of budgets and county management. Bruce Castors’ service has been characterized by soap box drama, petty, public disputes and “sandbox” politics in his interactions with both Commissioners Hoeffel and Commissioner Matthews. The drama is “all about Bruce” and, while mildly entertaining, throwing drama does not have any benefit to the County’s Forgotten Taxpayer. Bruce Castor has not proposed any positive initiatives nor originated any policies nor advocated for more open government Bruce Castor’s tenure has been noted for criticizing the other two Commissioners for doing what had been the practices, in many cases, what the majority Republicans had done. Bruce Castor was elected largely on his reputation as MontCo DA, where he did a very good job. Unfortunately, it does not appear he has been able to rise to the challenges facing the County budget. His tenure has been mediocre and marred by useless personality conflicts rather than substantive analysis and discussion. Surprisingly, given his high profile in Montgomery County, Bruce Castor’s Campaign Finances shows him to be a weak fundraiser whose main contributors are himself and his mother. As of November 2010, Friends of Bruce Castor has Cash on Hand of $15, 839.68 and $72,000 of unpaid debts more fully detailed here http://webapp.montcopa.org/voterservices/CampaignExpenseRptFilings/ReportDocs/V20101209_11172236_00067.pdf The debts are loans to the campaign by Bruce Castor and Diane Castor totally $72,000. Bruce Castor is a poor fundraiser and has not been a contributor to Montgomery County Republican organization or to County candidates, or anyone else. The Castor Bartle Miles team has been very ineffective in inspiring voters as demonstrated by results of 2010 Montgomery County vote for Senate and Governor. Rep. Harper is a proven vote getter. In November 2010, she was elected with 59% of the vote when both Pat Toomey and Tom Corbett lost Montgomery County. And in 2008, a bad year for Republicans, she was elected with 56% of the vote. And in 2006, another bad year for Republicans, she was elected with 54.8% of the vote. Rep. Harper’s Harrisburg record demonstrates sensitivity to The Forgotten Taxpayer.
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The reasons for Rep. Harper's announcement, probably, have more to do with internal dynamics of endorsement. Kate Harper will draw votes from Marie Cavanaugh because Kate Harper is will be pulling from approximately same geographic committee person pool where she is well known and, undoubtedly, has brought back some WAMs.I don't think Asher/Davis would object to Jenny Brown or Jill Govberg but a Bruce Castor loyalist as co-commissioner is unacceptable to Asher/Davis/Ellis because they will be cut out of the pork distribution in my view.
Kate Harper is backed by getting rich from bad government Asher/Davis and Marie Cavanaugh by the feckless Bruce "It's All About Me" Castor.
As I pointed out above, Kate Harper wins with ever increasing margins. In 2010, Toomey Corbett Adcock lost Montgomery County by wide margins and Kate Harper won by wide margins. Her seat is safe.
The Committee people will make their decision on Feb. 9th.
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I am pleased to see that PaWaterCooler and Lisa Mossie are attacking me and fronting for Bruce Castor. http://pawatercooler.com/?p=21692 Other than exposing his political rivals, it is not clear what positive contribution Bruce Castor brings to electorate or to Montgomery County Republican Party.
Kate Harper’s candidacy in 2007 drew 23 committee endorsement votes, blocking Bruce Castor’s choice Melissa Murphy-Weber as running mate. Asher/Davis are, again, using Rep. Harper to block Marie “I’ll do whatever Bruce tells me to do” Cavanaugh who is Bruce Castor’s choice for running mate in 2011. Policy positions are irrelevant as far as I can tell.
Rep. Harper has held her job for 10 years and her generous defined benefit pension increases every day. She also receives car allowance, platinum health insurance and per diems. I would think that if Rep. Harper were elected, she would have to give up her municipal solicitorships. http://www.timoneyknox.com/Bio/CatherineHarper.asp It would not seem to Rep. Harper’s interest to give up a secure job, that she likes and is good at, for County Commissioner.
Marie Cavanaugh is a very nice Republican lady who has been avidly, loyally devoted to the Montgomery County Republican Party for more than 20 years without complaint or criticism.
Kate Harper? Interesting.
So why is Kate Harper taking the step down from state rep. to county commissioner?
This might help explain:
When Kate Harper voted for “one-gun-a-month” in the above YouTube, she was over heard stating to a fellow Rep: “I’m screwed! I just voted for it and the NRA is going to hate me. Oh well”.
I actually give Harper credit for voting on her principles. However, she does not live in anti-rights Lower Merion. She lives in pro-rights Lower Gwynedd and she knew this vote would harm her chances for re-election in her district.
Harper is pro-life and voted for one-gun-a-month. As I Posted in this Thread, I don’t see one-gun-a-month as a terrible anti-gun law if passed in a constitutional manner by the General Assembly (which Harper is a member) as opposed to in an unconstitutional manner by township commissioners. I don’t think it will reduce gun crime in urban cultures of violence as a criminal just needs one friend or girlfriend who can legally purchase a firearm to illegally but him a gun to cause a lot of damage with that criminal using that gun, but if the General Assembly passed one-gun-a-month, I don‘t see it as the end-of-the-world for those who believe in constitutional rights, but I always do worry about a slippery slope. There is no doubt in my mind the law would not put a dent in gun crime, so then you have anti-rights types calling for one-gun-a-year, which would be dead wrong.
As for me personally being pro-choice and Harper being pro-life, I don’t see a big concern with that as Harper can’t do anything about the abortion issue as a county commissioner.
I will have to look into Harper further to see how she stands on other issues.
One thing for sure, I am not impressed at all with the three bozos who are currently county commissioners.
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Brotherhood of Thieves ~ As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence.