Wednesday Bucks County Dem Wrapup

The following Guest Opinion appeared in today’s Bucks County Courier Times from Steve Santarsiero and Diane Marseglia…

With Republicans in charge of Bucks County, property taxes have risen 46 percent in just six years. As we approach Election Day, taxpayers should ask themselves: What have we gotten for our money?

During this campaign, we have been saddened by the missed opportunities and disturbing pattern of misplaced priorities we have uncovered. Just a few examples should make our point.

We suffered three catastrophic floods recently. Congressman Patrick Murphy quickly offered to help launch an Army Corps of Engineers study of the Delaware River. The current county commissioners refused to help fund this critical initiative even though significant federal funding will not flow unless the study is done. Our opponents found $250,000 for political mailings and self-serving signs, but ignore the health, safety and welfare of our residents along the Delaware. There is no excuse for their indifference. As commissioners, we will approve the funding in our first week in office.

The commissioner election four years ago focused largely on the county's $140 million courthouse proposal. Four years later, the county commissioners have yet to break ground on the project even though millions of dollars in professional fees have been spent. As commissioners, we intend to rethink the entire courthouse project before spending any more money on it. We believe that satellite courts located in existing district court buildings in the lower and upper end of the county will better serve the people and save residents tens of millions of dollars.

The newspapers have been filled recently with revelations of the total imbalance on our county boards and commissions, based solely on party registration. As commissioners, we will staff our offices, boards and commissions with competent people, not party loyalists. Our administration will reflect the wealth of talent and the breadth of skill found throughout Bucks County. Our records underscore our commitment - even though we are both Democrats, the townships we help run have more Republicans than Democrats on their boards - and significant numbers of independents as well.

One of the great scandals of local government is the pay-to-play culture that tilts the playing field in favor of political contributors. The press has reported multiple instances of county contracts being awarded within days of political contributions being received by the Republican Party. As commissioners, we will institute a Citizens Board of Ethics to evaluate professional appointments and contracts. There must be a wall of separation between political donations and county contracts.

Lastly, while our opponents constantly point to the land preserved with our tax dollars, they never mention the land lost forever from their inaction. Consider that 34,000 acres have been subject to development in the past six years. Our traffic congestion is worse and school expansion has led to massive tax increases. As commissioners, we have a different vision to revitalize our older boroughs and communities. We are committed to economic redevelopment that means jobs, safer neighborhoods, and a growing business tax base which provides relief to homeowners. We will also modernize the county comprehensive plan, which has not been fully updated since 1993, to help local municipalities fight on an equal footing against developers.

Some say things are good enough; we ask how they can be better. We have proven records as municipal and regional leaders. We have led on nationally recognized environmental initiatives and local anti-sex offender legislation to protect our children. We have kept taxes low and improved the quality of life for our communities.

We ask for your consideration and your vote on Nov. 6. We offer a proactive vision of progress, fairness, and fiscally responsible stewardship for Bucks County.

Steve Santarsiero is a Lower Makefield supervisor and the former chairman of Residents Against Matrix.

Diane Marseglia, Middletown, is the mother of Becky, May 1, 1988-Feb. 7, 2005; a licensed clinical social worker, member of the Neshaminy School District Suicide Task Force, member of the Middletown Township Teen Task Force, a former Middletown Township supervisor, a former member of the Neshaminy School Board and a 10-year chairman of the Middletown Youth Aid Panel.

To help Diane and Steve, click here.

The paper also published this letter from Deb Wachspress, running with Matt Maloney for the Lower Makefield Board of Supervisors…

A knowledgeable and involved electorate is the foundation of a healthy democracy. It is only when voters have full access to information about issues impacting their communities and their wallets that they can cast educated and informed votes. While for some this may be stating the obvious, my opponents in the upcoming race for the Lower Makefield Board of Supervisors appear to think otherwise.

Several months ago, my running mate Matt Maloney and I challenged Pete Stainthorpe and Grace Godshalk to a debate to be held at the township building, televised on Comcast's public access channel and rebroadcast five times. We also invited our opponents to participate in an additional two debates to be held at Makefield Glen and at a local house of worship. To guarantee fairness, we invited the non-partisan League of Women voters to moderate the televised debate.

What followed that original invitation was nothing less than surreal. For months, we were subjected to a series of statements ducking and dodging to avoid appearing before the public at election time. These excuses included never receiving the invitation to questioning the legitimacy of using a public building and public access channel to televise candidates running for public office.

Stainthorpe went so far as to express fears about footage being copied and posted on YouTube, a curious concern given he was recently quoted as saying, "We're not running for president. The issues in Lower Makefield aren't that complex." If that's the case, then why all the concern about what appears on YouTube?

I and my running mate stand for open government. We stand for transparency at election time and throughout the rest of the year when the people's business is being done. The "public" in "public servant" actually means something to me.

One would think that with a combined 36 years experience, our opponents would eagerly welcome any venue to tout their accomplishments. Going to such great lengths to avoid our challenge, one must ask, What have they got to hide?

For those with cable access, the live debate will be featured on Comcast Channel 22 on Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. It will be rebroadcast Oct. 28 at 4 p.m. and again on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.

To help Matt and Deb, click here.

Also, the paper also published the following editorial indicating that the Upper Makefield Veterans Cemetery is all but a done deal except for those 16 idiots who filed suit to stop it. I’ll let out a sigh of relief when the case of the litigants is dismissed, and not until then.