Lansdale Democratic PAC Not Supporting Re-Election of Incumbents

Democratic Borough Councilman Jack Hansen has directed a former borough solicitor, whose firm was ousted by a majority council vote in 2010, to urge a Lansdale Democratic Political Action Committee not throw its support behind the re-election of two incumbent Democratic councilmembers—and instead push for a "new slate" of Democrats that share Hansen's "progressive visions."

Hansen, chairman of the Lansdale Democratic Committee, said the PAC Friends of Lansdale is not supporting incumbents Mary Fuller and president Matt West because "they have not supported our party or our candidates since they started their campaign in February 2009."

"They have rarely shown up at our Lansdale Democrat meetings or supported our events," Hansen said.

So, Friends of Lansdale, including Hansen and Councilman Rich DiGregorio Jr., have planned a fundraiser for March 3 at Ristorante Toscano to support their slate of Democrats for this year's election: Jeff Howard in Ward One, Kathleen Becker in Ward Two and Liz Troy and Leon Angelichio in Ward Three. Howard recently submitted interest for the Ward One seat vacated by former council vice president Paul Clemente, but council chose Jason Van Dame to fill the seat.

Sean Kilkenny, of Jenkintown law firm Friedman Schuman, was solicitor of Lansdale from 2008 to 2010. His firm replaced longtime borough solicitor Dischell, Bartle and Dooley in Lansdale.

In 2008, a Democratic majority landed on council, which included Hansen and DiGregorio Jr.

In 2010, a new regime of council took over, whose members were supported by a political group calling themselves "Citizens for a Better Lansdale." This new council ousted Friedman Schuman as solicitor and brought on Wisler Pearlstine.

Citizens for a Better Lansdale endorsed five borough council candidates in the 2009 election: Democrats Fuller and West, and Republicans Clemente, Michael Sobel and Dan Dunigan.

On Feb. 12, Kilkenny wrote an email to prominent Montgomery County Democrats—which included county Commissioners Leslie Richards and Josh Shapiro, state Rep. Matt Bradford and Montgomery County Democratic Committee Chairman Marcel Groen—about support for a Friends of Lansdale Fundraiser:

Friends: In 2009 the Republican won 3 out of 5 seats on Lansdale Borough Council and each of those seats is up this election cycle. Those 3 Republicans partnered with two Democrats who broke with our party and supported the Republicans and actively campaigned against their fellow endorsed Democratic council candidates.

In 2011, the situation was rectified and the Democratic Party swept all 4 council seats to four year terms. Now it is the time to elect a new slate of Democrats that share the progressive vision of Democratic Party Chair and former council President Jack Hansen.

"I agree with Mr. Kilkenny's statements, because I gave these statements to him to pass along to his friends," Hansen said.

Hansen said he reached out to Kilkenny for help because he was impressed with how he handled things for Lansdale when he was president in 2009.

"I disagreed with the decision of council to replace Mr. Kilkenny in 2010. Mark Hosterman's law firm is owned by the uncle of the former council vice president Paul Clemente, and he charges $65 more per hour than Mr. Kilkenny's firm did," Hansen said.

Hansen said the appointment of Wisler Pearlstine "reeked of nepotism" and the replacement was done without an Requests for Qualifications process or review.

Futhermore, Hansen said he supports service members; Kilkenny had just finished a tour of duty in Iraq as a major in the Army when he was ousted.

"Winning elections depends on getting the message out," he said. "I asked him to contact every person on that list. I know them, so does he. Two contacts are better than one."

Kilkenny said it was an honor to serve as the solicitor of Lansdale.

"When I was solicitor from 2008 to 2010, there was bipartisan support for my firm's appointment among councilors as four Democrats and two Republicans voted for me," he said. "It was disappointing, of course, not to get reappointed, but I wish councilors West and Fuller well. I consider Jack Hansen a friend and support him as he supported me and my family during my deployment to Baghdad, Iraq."

Council Vice President Fuller said she is extremely disappointed by the email and lack of support for her re-election.

"Despite my strong commitment to Lansdale over the last three-plus years, and my commitment to the Lansdale Democratic Committee, where I continue to serve as Ward One committeeperson, the leadership of the Lansdale Democratic Committee and Mr. Hansen have decided I am not worthy of their support," she said.

"This, despite my clearly declaring, in person, my intent to run, as an incumbent, at the last two Lansdale Democratic Committee meetings," Fuller said.

She added that when she was elected in November 2009, voters made it explicitly clear they did not want partisan politics in Lansdale government.

"They know what I know: there is no place for that here," she said. "Lately though, it seems the LDC has made a practice of putting forward candidates whose sole purpose is to ensure there is a Democrat running who is loyal to the interests of LDC Chair Jack Hansen — whatever those interests might be."

Fuller said she disagrees with this approach to local government, and that her disagreement has been evident and clear.

"I am a Democrat, and I support our party's platform, but I am a Lansdale resident first. As a sitting member of council, I have an enormous responsibility to focus on what is best for my town," she said. "I am proud of the great progress we have made over the last three years by doing just that."

Fuller said there are no "blue" or "red" issues in Lansdale Borough. She said Lansdale has real problems that need fixing, and it needs the right people to do that job.

"That should be our focus. Instead, Mr. Hansen makes no secret of wanting us to focus instead on supporting his 'true blue' candidates that will support his good friend Mr. Kilkenny in his bid to regain the solicitorship," she said. 

"Lansdale voters should be very wary of any such 'progressive' vision, as it has nothing to do with what's good for Lansdale," she said.

West, too, seriously questioned Hansen's "progressive vision" of Lansdale.

"Based on this letter, I would imagine instead that it means supporting Democratic candidates that will support Mr. Hansen's solicitor friend and benefactor," West said. "Based on my experience with Mr. Hansen on council, I can tell you what it doesn't mean: continuing to work to place Lansdale on a sustainable path of growth."

West, who has not officially announced if he is seeking re-election, said Hansen is about playing partisan politics, and placing the interests of the Lansdale Democratic Party before the interests of Lansdale.

"Hasn't the rancor of our national political dialogue, where little is accomplished, shown us that putting party before the interests of our constituents leads to poor or no solutions at all?" West said. "I would never be interested in that kind of support."

Kilkenny, who is a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves and was recently assigned once a month to Butler, Pa., had no direct retort about accusations of regaining solicitorship in Lansdale, should a new slate of Democrats win the election.

"Jack Hansen, a fellow veteran, was council president at the time I was called to duty in Iraq, and was supportive of me and members of my firm who covered for me during my deployment," Kilkenny said. "My family and I remain close to Jack to this day, as we are grateful for the support he gave us during that difficult year."

Hansen said his progressive vision includes cutting borrowing and spending and stopping tax increases.

"This borough is now in debt until 2034. The cost to each man, woman and child in this borough has increased significantly in the last three years. This has to stop," he said. "We have to stop hiring consultants for everything."

He said the borough needs to pursue grants and stop self-funding.

"It is far too early in this campaign to discuss who will represent our borough in the coming years, but we will find the most qualified firms at a competitive price to save the borough taxpayers' money and prevent future tax increases," he said.