It's a sad but true observation that many Democrats - likely even many Daily Kos readers - focus so much on state and national races that they don't vote in odd-numbered years. It's also true that, in order for Democrats to build the local party infrastructure to carry those important House, Senate, and Presidential races, it's important to have Democrats in power at the municipal and county level. Having Democrats in those local offices - county commissioner, prothonotary, judge of elections, township supervisor, school board director - provides a foundation for successful races at the state and national level.
Voters in the Philadelphia suburbs, particularly in Montgomery County, have a historic opportunity in 2007 to swing control of Pennsylvania to the Democratic party for years to come. The Montgomery County Democratic Party is fielding a powerful slate of candidates for county and local offices, headed by former US Rep. Joe Hoeffel running for County Commissioner. (Joe is teamed with longtime Democratic commissioner Ruth Damsker.)
(Join me over the flip....)
Winning local races this year in Montgomery County could lead to solidifying Democratic control going into the 2008 election cycle. As political guru Terry Madonna wrote:
"The answer is rooted in Pennsylvania's tradition of strong local political parties. The party that controls county government is usually able to translate that control into electoral success beyond local offices. To rule a county government often means that the party will probably be successful in state and federal elections as well." (Read the whole article at http://www.fandm.edu/... For more information on Joe Hoeffel's and Ruth Damsker's race, visit http://www.votedamskerhoeffel.com)
One particularly hot race this year is for control of the Colonial School Board, which takes in Conshohocken, Plymouth Township, and Whitemarsh Township. The board has been under one-party Republican control for years and years, and year after year the Republican "Proven Team" has coasted to victory. 2007 could change all that: a determined 5-person team of Democratic challengers is poised to take majority control of Colonial's Board. Meet the Right Team for Colonial Schools at http://www.right-team.org.