Castor to Take Commissioner Seat in January
Castor will be the minority Republican member of a Board of Commissioners controlled by Democrats Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards.
County Commissioner Bruce Castor confirmed this afternoon that he would take his seat as the minority member of the county's Board of Commissioners in January, alongside Commissioners-elect Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards.
Castor, who finished third out of the four commissioner candidates in yesterday's election, made the announcement alongside erstwhile running mate Jenny Brown at their election team headquarters in Blue Bell.
In explaining the defeat of the Brown-Castor ticket, Castor said the biggest obstacle the Republicans faced in the election was going in with no money in the bank, where the Democrats went in with $1 million.
Castor explained that he was not able to raise money during his term due to Commissioner James Matthews "defection."
He also added that the Democrats were able to turn out more voters on Tuesday, which helped them to the victory.
Castor said, “When you go in $1M down and 30,000 voters down, it’s hard to generate excitement about your campaign.”
He added that if voters had been given a chance to evaluate the messages of the two campaigns equally, he thought that the Brown-Castor message would have resonated better with voters.
Castor said it is his job to implement the will of the voters, which is the agenda that Shapiro and Richards laid out. “Josh and Leslie said they adamantly oppose a tax increase and I will help them achieve that and do what it takes to implement that plank of their platform.”
He added that one of his primary goals is to bridge the administration and bring institutional knowledge and be a reference point for Shapiro and Richards.
As a Commission, he said, “[Our] first goal has to be dig out of the enormous hole the current administration has put us in. I believe Josh and Leslie when they say they recognize this is a problem. I think they do not realize the full extent of it.”
Castor said that during the past four years, “everything [he] complained about turned out to be true.” So true, he said, that both parties refused to endorse two of the incumbents, Matthews and Hoeffel.
“I think you will find that that relationship among the commissioners will improve dramatically because Josh and Leslie truly do want to try to better the health and welfare of Montgomery Countyians and do realize the problem Montgomery County faces and…help Montgomery County people,” Castor said.
“It is my sense that Josh and Leslie will work with me as I intend to work with them,” he said.
Castor said Shapiro and Richards did not demonstrate with their records that they were fiscal conservatives because they had raised taxes, fees or debt when fiscal challenges arose in other levels of government.
However, he said, “I believe that Josh and Leslie truly expect to run the government fiscally and in a fiscally conservative way. I believe them when they say they are going to keep taxes from going up, I believe them when they say they are going to trim government spending. It is going to be part of my job as an elected commissioner to help them keep those promises.”
Castor added that Brown was a great candidate and that Montgomery County lost a great opportunity at a public servant.
Brown said, “In terms of it being a relief – it is personally a relief to get back to my family and back to my law practice.”
“It was not a total loss,” Castor said, noting that Republicans won the critical position of controller, which decides the hiring and salaries of county employees.
Castor suggested that Commissioners-elect Shapiro and Richards should have full contact with senior staff at the county right away and should be part of the budget process this year.
The Voice
8:09 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Hey Bruce. Who’s the career politician now?
Marc L.
9:13 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
It's refreshing to hear the rhetoric disappear for the most part the day after the elections. Maybe that will last...what...three or four days?
Watcher1
1:00 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Hey, give the man a break. After all he was robbed of his right place 4 years ago.
PAposter
8:45 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Congratulations Josh and Leslie...I was happy to help you guys!
Kathleen
8:59 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011
You and, according to their press release, the AFL-CIO. Just what we need - two more union backed, union-endorsed, union-owned politicians.
tedtaylor
9:35 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Castor should be used to being the minority commissioner - he held that role for the past four years despite being the top vote getter. The way the Mathews screwed him over is why Shapiro and Richards got elected. The county Republican party is a joke and people have long memories. My mom, a lifelong county GOP stalwart (committeewoman, judge of elections, etc.) must be turning in her grave. The good news is that Josh Shapiro is a superior choice (I don't know about Ms. Richards) so the county appears to be in good hands.
fmrRPRez
3:14 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011
I hope you're right about Shapiro. I think we're just trading a disloyal incompetent commissioner who didn't bother to get along with another member of his own party (Matthews) for a totally self-serving empty suit more interested in currying favor with the leaders of his party and moving on to bigger and better things than in actually serving the people of Montgomery County. I don't think Shapiro has forgotten his ambitions of a US Senate run, and I think he's well aware that he needs to maintain his relationships with the old Rendell allies and the new guard of the left (the Soros minions). Between appeasing them and appeasing us, I don't think there's much doubt which Shapiro will find more important.
Marc L.
4:02 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Nothing but baseless supposition and opinion. How about letting the facts speak for themselves once Shapiro takes office. I wouldn't think he would have reached this level of success if he was nothing but a self-serving politician. He seems very popular amongst Democrats and Independents and even some Republicans. I'll have to respectfully disagree with your dire predictions on both the county and on whose interests Shapiro (and Richards) will be serving come January.
fmrRPRez
5:33 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Marc,
I'm not claiming to know the future. Nor do I know Shapiro personally. It's OBVIOUSLY supposition and opinion. But, based on his voting record in Harrisburg, his overall bio and basic human nature, my "suppositions" seem more likely than the alternative to me. And the ridiculous campaign he ran, where Jenny Brown was supposed to be the nation's first militant TEA Party tax hiker, hardly inspires confidence that he's going to usher in an era of honesty, cooperation and transparency.
But, I hope he does a good job, and maybe he will. If you guys know him to be a good leader whose dedicated to the county, I'm glad to hear it.
Kathleen
8:54 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011
I agree with you re Matthews and the county (state and national!) GOP....a disaster.
Disagree with you, totally, re Josh Shapiro. By the time he serves his one term Matthews will be thought of as the better of the two.
Victor B. Krievins
9:53 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
I agree Ted Taylor 100%. we will find out shortly if there will be any changes for the better. I hope so for the good of the people of Montgomery County.
Long live the Tea Party!
Watcher1
9:53 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
An additional comment, not only Matthews but Joe did not play fair. If he was honest and had integrity he should not have made the DEAL with Matthews. However, the past is like Betsy Ross, past history but one should always looks to the past so as to try to do the fair/honest/right choice in the future. We learn from our past mistakes? Hopefully.
Victor B. Krievins
10:00 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Wachter1, you are very correct. We need to include Joe Hoeffel for his part as well. History does repeat itself but how many people learn from our past mistakes? Obviously not enough people!
Michael Curtis Sr
10:18 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
I trust Shapiro and Richards as far as I can toss a 40 ton Semi Truck.
Victor B. Krievins
10:59 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Michael Curtis, well said!
Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
12:21 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Let's get this straight. As explored elsewhere...
http://norristown.patch.com/articles/shapiro-richards-win-election-to-board-of-commissioners?ncid=following_comment
...the problems run-deep, starting with the fundamental ability of GOP-"leaders" to TALK to one another.
To claim he was $1M behind Josh @ jump-shot and that he had been unable to $-raise due to his minority-status, this was an anticipated status that should have prompted him to defer to Kate Harper.
Bill Lipp
1:04 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011
This has been an interesting experience Dr. Sklaroff. The level of confidence of many of the folks that I encountered during the campaign season was incredible. I did not share that confidence and attributed it to my lack of political experience (I have been in marketing and communications for 27 years). Well, my marketing (and political) instincts were proven correct on Tuesday. Definitely time for a change.
Marc L.
2:38 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Better not use that word 'Change.' It has a negative effect on GOP sensibilities. May want to stay away from 'Hope' as well. Just to be safe.
Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
2:42 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011
To reinforce the comment of Bill Lipp....
A letter from Gleason states: "Voters increased the number of Republican-led courthouses from 40 to 51, with the GOP taking control of 12 courthouses."
That means that MontCo was the ONLY one to flip from R to D.
What message does that send, indubitably and undeniably?
Steve
9:40 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Montco did not flip. Ds were in charge and still are. Bob Sklaroff, the fundraising issue was from 08 through 10, not 11. You Harper comment makes no sense.
Mike Shortall
12:14 am on Sunday, November 13, 2011
Steve is right. This has already been a democrat-run county for four years, regardless of the voting results from 2007.
Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
10:12 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011
@ Steve
Officially, there were 2 R's and 1 D elected 4 years ago; now it's 1-2, Therefore, MontCo flipped.
The Fundraising-deficiency was known to Bruce this year, and if he secretly harbored awareness thereof, he should have passed the baton to Kate Harper.
Comprende?
Steve
9:37 am on Friday, November 11, 2011
Uh, no. Kate Harper? Are you daft? She would have started a million bucks down too, had no name ID outside her district, and could never have come close to raising the $1.5 million Castor did. The very notion that there is anyone out there who could have remotely from a political standpoint performed better than Castor is crazy. The party might have paired him with another candidate that brought something to the table whether it be money or a demographic (or both) like Jill Govberg, but even then it would have been nearly impossible to win. This party is finished. And it is because of people who would rather tear down one Republican in favor of another rather than fight the Democrats. Jim Matthews killed the Republican Party in Montco. Those so called leaders that refused to listen to Castor who said Matthews was dishonest let it happen. The man you "technically" call a Republican is about to send taxes through the roof to help out his Democrat buddies while Shapiro and Richards run and hide. Yet another prediction from Castor about to come true.
Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
10:51 am on Friday, November 11, 2011
[i lost the prior post, so will re-create]
@ Steve
You failed to admit that I had corrected your assertion, instead pivoting into other assertions...which will also be deconstructed [in sections, allowing for you to reply individually].
You feel Jenny offered less than Jill [demographics/$] without documentation; indeed, noting the following, you are challenged to show why the Jewish-vote would have swayed--recalling tremendous efforts by the RJC and "The Bob" [myself & Guzzardi] --had she been a nominee. And, lest we forget, Jenny had a significant $-backer who would not have rescued the MCRC had she not been endorsed.
Note:
documenting point #4:
"The two Democrats won by about 5,000-vote margins in the heavily Democratic municipalities of Abington, Cheltenham and even Brown’s home municipality of Lower Merion."
http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/the_intelligencer_news/turnout-in-strongholds-crucial-to-montco-dems/article_b548865d-52eb-5cd9-bce2-ba0d595f8b0d.html
Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
10:56 am on Friday, November 11, 2011
Why do you feel Kate would have been problematic, inasmuch as the coat-tail effect [touted by Bruce's campaign manager @ a meeting this past May sponsored by the Republican Jewish Coalition] was predictably limited [as "The Bob" publicly stated @ that event]?
And was Bruce solely responsible for $-raising?
Are those who suddenly blame Matthews for the sorry-state of the MCRC [known for years] should have absented themselves from leadership positions, rather than allowing for their negative-predictions to become manifest...as they were blindly trusted [judgment/actions] by the committee-people.
For example, I received a mailer from the MCRC that was of poorer graphic quality than the 5th grade newspaper I edited @ Friend's Select...and I received a mailer touting Becker on election day...and I received a mailer touting my local commissioner-candidate on the day AFTER election day.
Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
11:05 am on Friday, November 11, 2011
Finally, you lament "because of people who would rather tear down one Republican in favor of another rather than fight the Democrats"; please name-names.
Recalling the format of the "GE-College Bowl" of the 1960's, after you have answered this toss-up query, please award yourself a bonus-point for each time you can show that any of the following people talked to one-another: Castor, Bartle, Kerns, Asher.
Then ask yourself why Kerns refused to distribute copies of Guzzardi's set of row-officer profiles to the committee-people, instead choosing as a précis of each individual an occasional mailer that would summarize each of them in a length that could be measured in "words" [customarily] or "phrases" rather than "sentences" or [perish the thought] "paragraphs"! [and none ever even provided a hyperlink to their web-addresses]
Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
11:21 am on Friday, November 11, 2011
One more point:
"The Bob" met with Castor/Bartle in July, 2007 @ the West Conshohocken Marriott [I treated the $100 for lunch] and we PLED with them to drop Matthews. [Let's not recount the saga of how Bruce knew Ms. Weber wouldn't campaign if not endorsed, and then was shocked-shocked when she upheld her pledge.]
Thus, they received informed-consent and your lament ["Those so called leaders that refused to listen to Castor who said Matthews was dishonest let it happen"] is specifically self-referential to Bruce.
So, Pul-LEEZE, let's get-real. When Bruce stated [quoted in the Inqy] he had wished he had finished #4, he should have followed-through [he still can] and deferred to Jenny.
If you're going to shill for Bruce here, then let's let it all hang-out!
Kathleen
9:54 am on Friday, November 11, 2011
The only positive about Jim Matthews is he is living proof to others of his ilk that "What goes around comes around." The only positive the GOP in Montco (& PA!) can claim over the past decade is the fact it refused to endorse/support Jim Matthews in a reelection bid. Time to clean house, start over, and reclaim the Party.
Bob Guzzardi
11:58 am on Friday, November 11, 2011
Exactly. Bob Kerns has to go. He did nothing except take candidates money for the Green Ballot. Bruce Castors' well-known self-regard is not helpful in building an organization around ideas and ideas of fiscal common sense, Constitutional Limited Government Economic Freedom and Personal Responsibility.
There are those of us who will be meeting soon to rebuild the party around grassroots and people who are not getting rich from government.
Margaret Gibbons had an excellent article on the Ds Get Out the Vote operation on election day. The Rs were pathetically out-staffed at the polls.
Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
12:00 pm on Friday, November 11, 2011
Guzzardi referenced the article cited supra:
http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/the_intelligencer_news/turnout-in-strongholds-crucial-to-montco-dems/article_b548865d-52eb-5cd9-bce2-ba0d595f8b0d.html
Lansdale Republican
2:01 am on Sunday, November 13, 2011
The GOP didn't lose because of money or voter demographics.They lost because of the party apparatus. Simply put, Bob Kerns and his shills need to go. The party has become too dominated by special interests, and paying off political cronies. The MCRC has had these issues for years, but everyone decided to ignore it and just run with the "rock-star" Castor.
Bruce is WIDELY hated among Montco Republicans. I rarely hear a positive thing about Bruce, and very few view him as a "victim" of circumstance in 2007. He went toe-to-toe with Matthews during the campaign, and Matthews defected like a coward because he KNEW he couldn't work with Bruce. History could have repeated itself if it was Bruce and Jenny, because they HATED each other. Bruce didn't want another party "favorite" shoved down his throat. He let her take the lead in the election, because deep down he knew his ego couldn't stomach another term as the minority commissioner, which anyone with half a political brain could see coming.
The Democrats smelled blood on the county level this year, and they put up a slate of strong candidates across the board. They ran as a team, and stayed on message. Did the MCRC do that? No. They tried to make it seem like it was a "team," but Kerns threw half the candidates under the bus.
A good barometer for how bad it was? In Lower Providence a Republican candidate, endorsed by Kerns & Castor, placed THIRD to a Republican running on the Democratic ticket. Get Kerns out; start fresh.
Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
5:07 am on Sunday, November 13, 2011
http://rebuildingmcrc.com/about/
Elaboration of all-things-MCRC can be reviewed @ this site.
Bob Guzzardi
6:02 am on Sunday, November 13, 2011
Bruce "It's All About Me" Castor's ego did not create excitement around the ideals and policies that are key to energizing a base and winning an election. Along with Bob "Do Nothing" Kerns, this was recipe for victory.
In a way, the loss is good because it clears the way to remove Castor-Kerns-Bartle-Miles-Davis and the other sclerotic leadership and invigorate the party with ideas and policies that work and that activists and workers believe in.
Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
6:21 am on Sunday, November 13, 2011
Guzzardi's point requires amplification: THERE WILL BE NO SUBSTANTIVE PROGRESS during the crucial-year of 2012 IF THESE LEADERS REMAIN IN-OFFICE.
This pre-requisite is obvious, if for no other reason than the fact that the Committee-People are aware [1]--of their tendency to rationalize-away their faults, and [2]--of their inability to communicate with one-another.
Bob Guzzardi
6:56 am on Sunday, November 13, 2011
Bruce Castor whines that he started $1 million dollars and 30,000 votes down. How did Montgomery County's Republican Party get into that mess? Wasn't he a self-proclaimed leader? Yet, he could raise no money nor craft a message that would move voters to fiscal common sense policies personified by Jenny Brown.
Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
7:35 am on Sunday, November 13, 2011
Guzzardi's point requires amplification: CASTOR COMPLAINS, BUT HE KNOWS THIS IS HIS LAST TERM AS COMMISSIONER.
The committee-people will have held him [and Kerns, and their minions] to account, in the interim.