Citizens group demands open primaries, calls upon area political leaders to “let the voters decide.”

SEE RELATED Philly Future NEWS FLASH: Party Endorsement Process "Undemocratic"

The grassroots citizens group PACleanSweep has come out in opposition to the Chester County Republican Party’s premature endorsement of candidates in the 156th and 167th legislative districts.

“Given the unprecedented public criticism of our state legislature and how recently these retirements were announced, endorsing candidates at this point is inappropriate,” said PACleanSweep Chester County Coordinator Mike Bergmaier. “These endorsements are a complete slap in the face of Chester County voters.”

Candidates cannot even begin circulating nominating petitions until mid-February. Rep. Robert Flick (167) announced his retirement in December. Rep. Elinor Z. Taylor (156) announced hers just two weeks ago.

“The intense public reaction to the pay-raise debacle shows that voters are fed up with shady backroom politics and the out-of-touch leadership we have in Harrisburg,” argued Bergmaier.

Instead of recognizing this and holding an open primary, local Republican leaders engaged in more backroom politics. In the case of 156th district candidate Shannon Royer, GOP leaders backed a close ally and staffer of maligned pay raise architect John Perzel.

PACleanSweep was quick to commend those within the county GOP who fought for a fair and open primary. The Daily Local News reported that several GOP committeemen, including Hugh Purnell and Dr. Robert White, pushed for an open primary.

“There are roughly 60,000 Republican voters in the 156th and 167th districts, and the taxpayers are paying for an election to decide who wins that nomination,” noted Bergmaier. “Those voters should be able select their nominee from a level playing field. Having 56 people choosing candidates or expending party resources defeats the purpose of free and fair elections, and will alienate many voters.”

Royer told reporters that the endorsement vote showed Republicans were “unified as a party.”

“It’s a contested primary. There’s clearly no unity. 53 party officials throwing support to John Perzel’s handpicked candidate doesn’t demonstrate unity. It demonstrates puppetry,” replied Bergmaier.

PACleanSweep has directed a statewide challenge to Pennsylvania’s political parties to ensure greater transparency and voter input by opting not to endorse candidates prior to the May primary election.

“2006 will see more contested legislative races than any year in recent history,” said PACleanSweep Chair Russ Diamond in an open letter to the Republican and Democratic State Committees. “Voters are demanding real choices. Party leaders who interfere in contested primaries do a disservice to their party, its members, and the spirit of a free electoral system.”

“Primary elections exist to allow the party’s rank and file to choose the nominee,” said PACleanSweep Strategic Director Mike Bergmaier. “The party endorsement process is undemocratic as it disenfranchises the vast majority of voters.”

Diamond noted that Pennsylvania’s current political climate makes the case for open primaries even more compelling. Public outrage over the legislative payjacking cuts across party lines, and voters increasingly feel that political elites are out of touch with the people they represent.

“Pennsylvanians spend millions of dollars on primary elections, and we deserve our money’s worth,” concluded Diamond.

Click here to read Diamond's open letter to Pennsylvania's GOP/Democratic big-wigs.

About PACleanSweep

PACleanSweep is a non-partisan effort dedicated to defeating incumbent elected officials in Pennsylvania and replacing them with true public servants. For more information, please visit www.PACleanSweep.com

Citizens group demands open primaries, calls upon political parties to "let the voters decide."

Continuing their battle to return government to Pennsylvania’s citizens, the grassroots citizens group PACleanSweep has called upon party leaders throughout the Commonwealth to refrain from endorsing candidates prior to the May 16 primary election.

“2006 will see more contested legislative races than any year in recent history,” said PACleanSweep Chair Russ Diamond in an open letter to the Republican and Democratic State Committees. “Voters are demanding real choices. Party leaders who interfere in contested primaries do a disservice to their party, its members, and the spirit of a free electoral system.”

PACleanSweep maintains that primary elections should be decided by the voters and not by a handful of power brokers.

“Primary elections exist to allow the party’s rank and file to choose the nominee,” said PACleanSweep Strategic Director Mike Bergmaier. “The party endorsement process is undemocratic as it disenfranchises the vast majority of voters.”

Diamond noted that Pennsylvania’s current political climate makes the case for open primaries even more compelling. Public outrage over the legislative payjacking cuts across party lines, and voters increasingly feel that political elites are out of touch with the people they represent.

Sunday’s Pittsburgh Tribune-Review underscored the need for open primaries when it reported on the inexcusable conduct of a Mercer County GOP state committee member.

According to the report, Cindy Robbins said she was refusing to support gubernatorial hopeful Bill Scranton, “because Scranton publicly dissed the recent pay grab that the Legislature – including her husband [state Sen. Robert Robbins] – voted in favor of.”

Robbins’ out-of-touch viewpoint runs in stark contrast to public opinion and underscores the reason voters deserve open primaries where candidates face off on a level playing field.

“The people are waking up and demanding more say. They want choices and are understandably skeptical of backroom politics,” said Diamond. “If party leaders meddle in primary contests, expect a backlash from the voting public.”

“Pennsylvanians spend millions of dollars on primary elections, and we deserve our money’s worth,” concluded Diamond.

Click here to read Diamond's open letter to Pennsylvania's GOP/Democratic big-wigs.

About PACleanSweep

PACleanSweep is a non-partisan effort dedicated to defeating incumbent elected officials in Pennsylvania and replacing them with true public servants. For more information, please visit www.PACleanSweep.com

Grassroots citizens group to run radio, internet ads to attract legislative challengers.

PACleanSweep has launched an advertising campaign aimed at encouraging citizens to run for a seat in the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2006. The Help Wanted" campaign will run throughout the month of January.

The initial advertising buy includes internet ads on Philadelphia area blogs (including Philly Future), the popular political site GrassrootsPA, and radio spots on WILK-AM in Luzerne County. Additional media buys are planned in coming weeks, and PACleanSweep is soliciting contributions to purchase airtime in a variety of markets.

"After criss-crossing the Commonwealth for the past few months, I'm convinced that Pennsylvanians are ready for a real change," said PACleanSweep founder and Chair Russ Diamond. "But change cannot take place unless the incumbents have challengers. We need honest, hard working citizens willing to go to Harrisburg and do the right thing."

Pennsylvanians demand accountable government by rejecting a Supreme Court justice for the first time in history.

A second justice was retained by a record-low margin.

Grasssroots citizens organization PACleanSweep declared a victory for the citizens of Pennsylvania and the Commonwealth's Constitution after learning the voters had ousted Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro in Tuesday's election. No appellate court justice has ever been not retained previously in Pennsylvania. The race was largely viewed as the first volley in a battle for the future direction of government in the Commonwealth.

Grassroots political organization PACleanSweep will have its first Southeastern PA regional meet-up this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Valley Forge Beef & Ale in Norristown.

CONTACT: Mike Bergmaier, PACleanSweep Chester County Coordinator

Russ Diamond, PACleanSweep Chair

Supreme Court Justice’s campaign finance reports contain 30 questionable contributions totaling over $130,000.

Publicly available documents suggest that Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro may be accepting illegal campaign contributions, according to the grassroots citizens’ organization PACleanSweep.

After poll shows Sen. Jubelirer trailing by 5 points to challenger John Eichelberger, notorious pollster G. Terry Madonna attacks the poll. A "battle of the pollsters" ensued.

For those who don't follow politics in PA (which begs the question, "Why are you reading this?"), Dr. G. Terry Madonna (a.k.a. "Professor Pomade") is an ever-present know-it-all who loves to hear himself speak.

He's a self-proclaimed pollster who is really more interested in being a pundit. In the past, I've had serious methodological objections to his polls. I've contacted him directly, only to receive a smarmy "it's nice to see you're interested in politics" response.

Corrupt Philly legislator reveals true reason he's staying in office: "I can lock my pension in, and my medical coverage."

Following his admission that he has never fully read the Pennsylvania Constitution and PACleanSweep's demand that he resign, State Representative Angel Cruz has once again demonstrated how out of touch and corrupt he truly is.

Cruz told the Philadelphia Inquirer, "I have two more terms to finish here before I can lock my pension in, and my medical coverage... it's silly for me to go backwards."

Philadelphia lawmaker swore to "support, obey and defend" the Pennsylvania Constitution, but confessed: "I've never read it."

Following a shocking admission by Rep. Angel Cruz (D, Philadelphia) that he has not fully read the PA Constitution, the Board of Directors of PACleanSweep voted unanimously to demand his immediate resignation for swearing a "fraudulent oath of office."

Cruz found himself in an impromptu sidewalk debate Monday with activist Gene Stilp, who criticized Cruz's support of the controversial legislative pay raise. When Stilp accused Cruz of violating the PA Constitution by accepting his raise early in the form of "unvouchered expenses," Cruz plead ignorance and admitted he wasn't familiar with the relevant sections of the document.

"I've never read it. I'd be lying to you if I said I'd read it," the Philadelphia Inquirer quoted him as saying.

"Angel Cruz clearly has no business serving in the General Assembly," said PACleanSweep Chair Russ Diamond. "We've been hammering the entire legislature since July for failing to obey and defend the Constitution. But here's an elected official who hasn't even read it.