Supporting Policies and Candidates
for Economic Growth and Prosperity
Fighting for Our Town – Fighting for Our Country
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In This Issue
- Chairman's Message
- Candidate Statement: Benjamin Sydnes for School Board Director
- Tell Me More: “What do Common Pleas Court Judges Do?”
- In Their Own Words: Radnor School Board Candidates Interviewed
- Supporting Our Candidates
- Township Zoning Error Causing Garrett Hill Neighbors Grief
- Flood Safety in Radnor
- GOP Demands Stollsteimer Release of "Hate Hoax" Emails
- What YOU Can Do Now!
- Election Calendar
- Upcoming Meetings and Events
- Keeping You Informed (article and video links)
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Chairman's Message
Dear Radnor Republicans and Friends:
The end of summer brings about many changes to our daily activities and, in the world of politics, it brings a focus on our pending elections.
In 2019, it is all local – municipal, county and a few state-wide contests for Superior Court Judge.
In Radnor,
we have excellent candidates running to serve our community on our Board of Commissioners, our School Board and for County offices of District Attorney, County Council and the Court of Common Pleas.
The character of our community and its institutions are deeply affected by our local officials, and I hope that you can take the time to learn about each of them. When you do, I am certain they will have earned your vote on November 5
th.
You will be proud of each of our Republican candidates, who have records of serving their community thoughtfully, respectfully and competently. A profile of each candidate can be found on
www.RadnorGOP.org. In this issue, we include a profile of Radnor grad
Ben Sydnes who is running for School Board and bringing his information technology knowledge and local roots to better serve our community and his alma mater.
Tim Frey, 7
th
Ward commissioner candidate, is already wielding influence to “right a zoning wrong” that adversely impacts the residents of Garrett Hill (more below). Tim’s rational, selfless competence is just what is needed to represent 7
th Ward residents.
Our
District Attorney candidate, Katayoun Copeland, is a Radnor resident who we can all be proud of, and whose opponent models himself after Philadelphia’s D.A., Larry Krasner. Kat’s experience as a prosecutor and acting District Attorney and her success in drug trafficking convictions makes a vote for her in November critical to the future of Radnor and Delaware County.
Interested in assisting our exceptional candidates in the “home stretch” of their campaigns?
- Host a neighborhood “meet-and-greet” event for one or more of them.
- Volunteer to assist their campaign before and during the election.
- Ensure your vote counts. Not sure if you will be in town on Nov 5th? Request an absentee ballot, now, before it is too late to do so.
- Make a financial contribution here.
Read on for more information regarding our candidates and local issues of concern.
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Howard Gartland
Chairman
Radnor Republican Committee
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Candidate Statement: Benjamin Sydnes for School Board Director
My name is Benjamin Sydnes, and I am running for School Board Director.
As a member of the Radnor community for almost three decades, I am committed to continuing the legacy of excellence provided by the Radnor School District
and building upon that foundation for future students. I attended Radnor Schools, starting at Ithan Elementary, and graduated from Radnor High before pursuing higher education. In service to the community, I was a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee and Technology Committee for the District and would be honored by your vote for School Board Director.
Education in our evolving environment is core to becoming a successful adult and we must prepare our children to meet the challenges of the future by giving them the tools for success. My background in information technology, financial management, and operational improvement taught me that, in order to fully understand a situation, we must be able to apply a general set of knowledge to break down a situation before attempting to solve it. Similarly, our students deserve a focus on their general well-being and, as a school director, I intend to focus on the mental, physical, and emotional needs of our students in a holistic approach to collegiate excellence. This includes initiatives to improve our use of technology within the classroom, a focus on good digital citizenship, combating bullying in all forms, teaching effective stress management, and instilling an interest in continuous learning.
I hope you will join me in our shared goals of continuing Radnor’s legacy of leading the state in excellence and blazing the trail for our future students to unlock our community’s potential.
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Tell Me More:
“What do Common Pleas Court Judges Do?”
Common Pleas Court judges preside over litigation matters. Instead of serving as advocates for a single party, which is the job of the lawyer, judges serve as the umpires, calling the balls and strikes and facilitating resolution of the controversies.
Delaware County is the fifth most populous county in the state.- The Delaware County Common Pleas bench is comprised of 21 judgeships. Currently there are only 17 sitting judges, which is why
there are four open judgeships on the November 5, 2019 ballot
.
Radnor’s own Steve Gerber is one of the candidates for Delaware County Court of Common Pleas.
If Steve is elected to the Court of Common Pleas on November 5, Steve will be the first Radnor resident elected to the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas in 20 years.
In Delaware County, judges serve in divisions to which they are assigned by the president judge, one of the sitting judges who is elected by the other judges. The four divisions are the criminal division, the civil division, the family division and orphans court.
Judges in the
criminal division
preside over criminal matters, ranging from petty theft and drug offenses to homicides. Judges in the
civil division
preside over civil matters, including tort matters arising out of car accidents and slip-and-falls, contract matters arising out of commercial disputes, labor and employment matters, land-use disputes and other civil controversies. Judges in the
family law division
preside over controversies such as marriage dissolutions and child custody issues. In the
orphans’ court
, the issues before the court often involve appointment of a guardian for an elderly person who may be incapacitated and will contests. Each of these divisions involves controversies where there are at least two sides to a dispute, each represented by a lawyer, and where the judge’s role is to take pleas, pass sentences, and, when a case goes to trial, preside over the trial.
As Steve says, if someone finds themselves in the Court of Common Pleas, life has thrown them a curve ball.
Just as in Steve’s legal practice, the sorts of occurrences which might lead to someone finding themselves in court are not the sort of events folks plan on. As a litigant and as a lawyer representing litigants,
one wants a judge who will allow the parties to have their say, allow the lawyers to advocate for their clients and try their case, and then follow the law by calling the balls and strikes and facilitating a resolution to the controversy before the Court
.
Among the candidates for Court of Common Pleas,
Steve is eminently qualified to serve as a Judge
. Steve has spent 27 years as a litigator handling property damage matters for property insurers and property owners. In fact, Steve just won a two-week jury trial in Cleveland involving a fire at a restaurant where Steve represented the property insurer
. Steve is prepared to hit the ground running in whatever division to which he might be assigned.
Steve’s extensive experience in litigation and alternative dispute resolution (including mediation and arbitration), combined with his public service, including
serving on the Radnor School Board
, give him the
practical background, experience and compassion to serve as a judge
presiding over controversies and facilitating resolutions to those controversies, pursuant to existing law, with integrity and impartiality.
Review Steve's campaign collateral
here.
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In Their Own Words: Radnor School Board Candidates Interviewed
Radnor's Republican School Board Director candidates were recently invited to appear on
Radnor Studio 21's "Community Voices" program
to discuss their reasons for wanting to be School Board Directors.
Please click on the images below to watch what they had to say.
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Laura Foran
and
Ben Sydnes
:
Click the image above to
watch
.
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Mike Miller
and
Matt Mabe
:
Click the image above to
watch
.
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Chuck Madden
:
Click the image above to
watch
.
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Supporting Our Candidates
The Radnor Republican Campaign Committee and our township candidates need your help in funding their campaigns to support you and our community.
In addition to donating so much of their time and talent, they often fund much of their own campaign costs. You can help by making a donation today! Click on the yellow "Donate Now" button at right or mail a donation check to:
Radnor Republican Campaign Committee
242 Ravenscliff Road
St. Davids, PA 19087
The upcoming
General Election on November 5
is all about local government and is a critical vote!
Thank you for your support!
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Township Zoning Error Causing Garrett Hill Neighbors Grief
Tim Frey, Republican Commissioner candidate in the 7th Ward
, opined "Garrett Hillians showed again just how important preserving our neighborhood is by showing up in numbers, and staying for hours, at zoning hearing on a Thursday night in late August. Since the zoning violation was first evident in late February, the community worked hard as we tried to get the Township to take action. Based upon what zoning board members said during deliberations, I fear that the Township acted too late because Garrett Hill’s commissioner had already conceded that he would accept a fine (which likely would be used outside of Garrett Hill) instead of compliance. Thankfully, by mobilizing, we still have a chance to address this matter now, and,
by voting for me this fall, Garrett Hill will have a leader who will stand up for our laws and neighborhood
."
Radnor has a better choice for Commissioner of the 7th Ward: Tim Frey.
Tim will be professional, thoughtful and a great representative of his community. Most assuredly he will not attack members of the community. Even the Democrats are
embarrassed by Sean Farhy
.
Visit Tim's website
here and his Facebook page
here
.
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Flood Safety in Radnor
Republican Ward 6 Commissioner Jake Abel
posted the following on Facebook on August 13:
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the August 2018 floods, which impacted all areas of Radnor Township. While the Board continues to discuss stormwater issues, these projects are to manage water and will not prevent flooding during major storms. If the goal is to save lives and prevent damage to vehicles, we should adopt low-cost initiatives – prohibit vehicles from parking in flood prone areas, install arms to prevent vehicles from driving through flooded streets, and invest in a vehicle to support water rescues. We don’t need to spend millions to better protect our residents and first responders.
Democratic Ward 7 Commissioner Sean Farhy, who is up for election this year, had a "nickel-and-dime" approach that didn't go over well with our first responders.
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GOP Demands Stollsteimer Release of "Hate Hoax" Emails
Delaware County Republican Party Chairman Tom McGarrigle was joined by Delaware County Council Chairman John McBlain to demand answers and an apology for
the “Hate Hoax” coordinated by Democratic District Attorney Candidate Jack Stollsteimer and the Delaware County Democratic Committee
.
“This ‘Hate Hoax’ may be one of the lowest things I have ever seen in politics,”
said Delaware County Republican Party Chairman Tom McGarrigle, “Eight weeks ago, Jack Stollsteimer and other Democratic officials from across the county stood on the Courthouse steps to
falsely accuse innocent people of racism
.”
“Prosecutors believe those claims are false,” continued McGarrigle, “And now, people may be going to jail for their lies.”
On July 26
th
, 2019 Nik Hatziefstathiou, also known as ‘Nik the Hat,’ was criminally charged with three counts of tampering with public records, all felonies of the third degree. The records tampering involved forging racist content in emails from Delaware County employees. Led by Democratic District Attorney candidate Jack Stollsteimer, Democratic officials condemned courthouse employees on the courthouse steps via a press conference.
Read the full press release
here
.
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What YOU Can Do Now!
Interested in running for office
, in Radnor or elsewhere? Email us at
info@RadnorGOP.org
.
Make a donation
to support local and national Republican candidates representing our interests. No gift is too small. You can make a contribution by sending a check to Radnor Republican Campaign Committee, 242 Ravenscliff Road, St. Davids, PA 19087 or simply clicking
here
or on the yellow "Donate Now" button above or on any page of
our website
.
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In Case You Missed It
If you missed our recent newsletters, you can check them out here:
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Stay Current: Like Us on Facebook
We post a lot of articles and other useful information you might find of interest on our Facebook page,
Radnor Township Republicans. Please Like our page, enjoy the content, and join in the conversation.
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Last Day to Apply for a Civilian Absentee Ballot
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Last Day to Submit a Civilian Absentee Ballot
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GENERAL ELECTION
Radnor polls are open 7 AM-8 PM.
Find your polling place
here.
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Upcoming Meetings and Events
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Chester County Trump Victory Leadership Initiative Training
Click
here
for more information.
Where:
15 S. Church Street, West Chester, PA 19382
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South Wayne PorchFest 2019
Click
here
for more information.
Where: (South) Wayne, PA
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27th Annual Radnor Fall Festival
Visit with our Republican candidates! Click
here
for more information.
Where: Wayne, PA
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Radnor Board of Commissioners Special Meeting
Where:
Radnorshire Room in the Township Building, 301 Iven Avenue,
Wayne, PA 19087
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Republican Party of Pennsylvania’s 2019 Fall Dinner
Where: Hershey Lodge, 325 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033
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Radnor Board of Commissioners Meeting
Where:
Radnorshire Room in the Township Building, 301 Iven Avenue,
Wayne, PA 19087
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Radnor Township School District Board Meeting
Where:
Radnorshire Room in the Township Building, 301 Iven Avenue,
Wayne, PA 19087
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Fall Harvest & Great Pumpkin Patch
Click
here
for more information.
Where:
The Willows Park,
St. Davids, PA 19087
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Radnor Board of Commissioners Meeting
Where:
Radnorshire Room in the Township Building, 301 Iven Avenue,
Wayne, PA 19087
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On the Lighter Side:
Fantasy Island
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'More Jobs, Better Pay' Focus of Rep. Council Candidates
“More jobs with better pay. That’s what we want for Delaware County,” said Delaware County Council Jim Raith, “Together with our Delco attitude, we can build on our successes.”
Read more
delcocouncil.com
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Opinion | AOC Is the Gift That Keeps Giving
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez...offers slogans cribbed from the latest socialist bull session; wild utterances that receive enthusiastic nods from “woke” Democrats and looks of astonishment from much of Middle America.
Read more
www.wsj.com
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Opinion | Democrats' 'Big Ideas' May Re-Elect Trump
From Medicare for All to the Green New Deal, candidates work hard to repel swing voters.
Read more
www.wsj.com
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Opinion | The Left vs. the Crazy Left
The Democratic Party seems to be banking that voters dislike Mr. Trump so much that they’ll accept any alternative. That’s an enormously risky bet.
Read more
www.wsj.com
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Dem. socialists convention erupts due to 'sensory overload'
Jazz hands are considered less "triggering" to those sensitive to loud sounds.
Read more
www.foxnews.com
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Opinion | The Left's Lucrative Nonprofits
Mr. Chaffetz’s contribution is to refocus attention on the way liberal charities channel their huge funds into political work that benefits the Democratic Party.
Read more
www.wsj.com
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August jobs report showed a strong economy...bad for Dems
The new jobs report is in and the verdict is clear — no one should believe a single word the Democrats say about the economy.
Read more
www.foxnews.com
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Trump's economy is solid as a rock
U.S. adds 130K jobs in August; Trade and Manufacturing Policy director Peter Navarro weighs in.
Read more
video.foxnews.com
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Rep. Devin Nunes on what the future holds for James Comey
California Congressman Devin Nunes weighs in on the IG's scathing report on fired FBI Director James Comey.
Read more
video.foxnews.com
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Liberals haunted by social media tactics they use...
The liberal media have made an art form out of digging up controversial tweets in order to attack ordinary Americans who support President Trump, and now that they’re being given a dose of their own medicine...
Read more
thehill.com
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Opinion | Reclaiming History From Howard Zinn
Mr. McClay decries the impulse to “condescend toward history”—and tear down monuments or withdraw honors from historical figures who offend today’s sensibilities.
Read more
www.wsj.com
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On the Other Side:
Socialism
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