Democrats make endorsements for judicial races, commissioners, row offices
By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times
State Senator Andy Dinniman offers advice to candidates in the upcoming elections. “Just like you would talk to a neighbor, talk to the voter,” he said.
WEST CHESTER – The Chester County Democratic Committee selected Julio Malloy-Good for a second run at Chester County Court of Common Pleas, Kathi Cozzone and Bill Scott for county commissioners; and Tom Purl for district attorney at Thursday night’s endorsement convention.
The endorsements were as follows:
Chester County Commissioners – Kathi Cozzone, Bill Scott
Kathi Cozzone has been a county commissioner since 2008. Cozzone called income equality the defining issue of the decade and climate change the defining issue of the century.
Kathi Cozzone addresses the Chester County Democratic Committee. “We are Democrats are the best and only choice to move our communities, our county, our commonwealth, and our country forward,” she said.
“We Democrats also know that it’s good jobs, not the rich or billionaires that create the strong middle class our economy needs to make a real recovery,” she said. She said that she has worked to work for better public transportation and to reduce energy usage by the county. She also helped to create a pipeline information center to help inform citizens and local governments about the risks and rewards of pipelines in Chester County. She also advocates Planned Parenthood, pro-choice policies for women, and ending legal discrimination against the LGBT community.
Bill Scott is an attorney who has represented domestic abuse victims, low-income residents, and elderly people in the county. Scott, running for commissioner for the third time, said that he agrees with Cozzone on all the major issues. He has also served as president on West Chester’s Borough Council.
Chester County District Attorney: Tom Purl
Tom Purl makes his case for Chester County DA.
Tom Purl is a lawyer based in Downingtown where he has handled criminal cases, civil cases, family law, and dependency law. He also prosecuted tribunal cases in the military. Purl said that the DA’s job is to make sure laws are enforced equally for everyone. He wants to see breathalyzer ignitions installed in cars after the driver’s first DUI.
Chester County Court of Common Pleas: Julia Malloy-Good
Julia Malloy-Good is an attorney out of West Chester who beat out Danette Dean and John Carnes for the committee’s endorsement. She was the Special Master in the Court of Common Pleas, making decisions regarding child support and spousal support issues. She has been a lawyer in Chester County for over 20 years. She lost a close race in 2013 for the same post.
Other Chester County endorsements: Prothonotary – Tisha Brown; Recorder of Deeds – Hans Von Mol; Register of Wills – Lani Frank
Local Endorsements: District Justice – Gregory Hines, Jaquelyn Carter; Coatesville City Council – Carmen Green; Coatesville Area School Board – Greg Wynn, Chris Taylor.
Statewide Judicial races:
The Democratic Committee selected three candidates to endorse for the state Supreme Court for elections this fall. Christine Donahue also received the 55% needed for endorsement, but as three seats are up for grabs, the committee endorsed the top three vote getters.
Dougherty, whose May 19 birthday falls on primary day this year, is an administrative judge in Philadelphia and former assistant district attorney for Philadelphia County. He said that his experience in the Philadelphia Family Court allowed him to protect the constitutional rights of defendants, and his experience in the DA’s office allowed him to protect the community at large. He thinks that the state’s justice system needs to undergo changes similar to those in Philadelphia. “We’re never going to incarcerate our way out of crime,” said Dougherty. His decisions in Philadelphia have helped reduce human trafficking, provide services for the LGBT community, and give legal access to hormones for transgender citizens.
Lazarus is a Pennsylvania Superior Court judge who previously served in Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas. She is also an adjunct law professor at Temple and Widener Universities. “Every problem that people have eventually ends up in the Supreme Court,” she emphasized. Lazarus said that her history has allowed her to teach, advise, and as the chair of the judicial conduct board, prosecute judges. On the judicial conduct board, her work will forbid common pleas and superior court judges from serving on for-profit boards that could be a conflict of interest and judges’ relatives from working in the court system. She said that she would not make any promises about how she would rule on decisions but would serve with honesty and integrity.
Wecht is also a state superior court judge with experience as an administrative judge for the PA Supreme Court’s family division. He was elected as a common pleas judge for PA’s Fifth District 2003-2012 after being selected for both the Democratic and Republican ticket. As a family division judge, he designed the Unified Family Court program, which ensured that each family would get one judge for all of their cases. At the superior court level, Wecht designed an ethics and transparency plan unveiled a few days ago that bans judges from receiving gifts, puts cameras in the courtroom, and tightens nepotism policies. He thinks that the top issue that Supreme Court judges will have to rule on is reapportionment.
Pennsylvania Superior Court – Alice Dubow
Alice Dubow, who beat out Robert Colville for endorsement, is a judge in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and practiced law publicly and privately for 23 years. Dubow’s mother, Phyllis Beck was the first woman elected to the PA Supreme Court. She said that the most gratifying part of being involved in the judicial system is giving a voice to those who would not otherwise have one. “I hope that I always did the right balance in terms of getting people off the street but also understanding people’s backgrounds, trying to predict future behavior,” said Dubrow. She believes one of the important factors in choosing a candidate for endorsement is electability. She pointed out that 12 of the last 13 judges elected to the superior court have been women.
Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court – Todd Eagan
Todd Eagan is a Harrisburg-based attorney who practices state wide. A Scranton resident, Eagan earned the committee’s nomination in an uncontested vote. As a lawyer, he represents organized labor and works on discrimination cases. In 1999, he represented a woman in the first Family Medical Leave Act jury ruling in Pennsylvania’s Middle District. “That’s a snapshot of what I do. I’m proud to say that I’ve been the voice of organized labor, I’ve been the voice for working men and women in this commonwealth for the last 18 years as a practicing attorney,” he said.
