October 27, 2016
As a journalist that frequently writes about local politics, I have the luxury of being familiar with candidates, their positions and their opponents — at least more so than the Average Joe. Nevertheless, with Election Day looming, I checked Ballotpedia – a handy website for voters — to make a final review of my options.
Beyond the much-covered candidates for president and U.S. Senate who've been at each other's throats and the statewide races for attorney general and auditor general, are the candidates for Pennsylvania's First District State Senate seat, which covers Center City and much of South Philly.
Excuse me, candidate, not candidates. I make the clarification because the only option for much of Philadelphia will be incumbent Sen. Larry Farnese, indicted on federal charges earlier this year.
Farnese is accused of buying political support. According to federal prosecutors, Farnese allegedly bribed former Eighth Ward Democratic Committee member Ellen Chapman with a $6,000 payment to a college study-abroad office that benefited Chapman's daughter. The alleged payment switched Chapman's support from another candidate to Farnese in a 2011 election for Democratic Ward Leader of the Eighth Ward, prosecutors claim.
And he'll be the only candidate on the ballot this November. After handily defeating perennial challenger John Morley Jr. in the April primary — before charges were announced, but after an Inquirer report about an FBI probe — Farnese's seat is safe, sans a spontaneous and well-organized write-in campaign.
Raising this point feels like throwing a throwing a pebble into the ocean; The number of Democrats in Philadelphia outnumbers Republicans by an oft-cited and comical margin, and corruption — or at least an appearance of it — seems to be the norm.
So as a journalist, a ballot with no options isn't fazing. But as a voter, it's infuriating.
Sure, the charges against Farnese are merely accusations, as prosecutors are always keen to point out. If they lead to a trial, his presumed innocence may prevail, and Farnese has said through an attorney he isn't guilty.
But wouldn't it be nice for someone to force him to say it again? Even if Farnese is innocent and the best man for the job, wouldn't it be satisfying to have another voice, holding his feet to the fire, forcing him to argue those points?
Again, anyone familiar with politics in Philadelphia is probably laughing. After all, Farnese's alleged misdeeds are chump change compared to his predecessors. Vince Fumo held the seat for 30 years, dropping his bid for re-election after an indictment – and subsequent conviction — on federal corruption charges. Before him? Henry "Buddy" Cianfrani held the seat for 10 years before being convicted of racketeering and mail fraud.
But as naive as the desire for more competitive elections may be, it's a point worth making over and over and over again – every election, until elections are more like elections.
While one presidential candidate is threatening to upend an important Democratic tradition and making a baseless claim about the integrity of our city elections, wouldn't now be the time to take our outrage over Trump's nonsense a step further and create more balanced political ecosystem?
Whatever the answer, it won't be an easy path to get there. The city's Republican Party has been hopelessly irrelevant for years. Mounting a campaign independent of party resources is costly and usually an uphill battle with name recognition.
That doesn't mean it isn't worth trying. And it almost goes without saying that young people — who candidates are always trying to attract – are behind it. During his farewell tour, former Mayor Michael Nutter asked, “Where are younger people? Are they even thinking about running for office?”
Those young progressives behind Bernie Sanders' insurgency, for example, were urged by their beloved candidate to continue his political revolution, specifically to run for office.
Obtaining political clout doesn't just mean running for president, congress, the state legislature or even student council. Those incensed with how government doesn't work for them should remember an adage a political science professor once told me: Your local school board will likely affect you far more than the president ever will.
(Granted, in Philadelphia, the school board analogy doesn't really work. But there are other ways to make a difference.)
Farnese's record is innocent until proven guilty. And he could be the best damn senator in Harrisburg — he has certainly pushed on some important issues.
But shouldn't he have to prove that to you?
