Congressman Elect Joe Sestak

CONGRATULATIONS JOE SESTAK

Joe Sestak is a good man. He will be a great Congressman for all of us. I had the opportunity to meet and work with him this year. In my opinion, we who live in Delaware County are sending the Congress an American statesman. A Representative of, by, and for the people.

Legislator Perks-We Pay

Commentary - The Evening Bulletin

The commentary below, published in The Evening Bulletin, in my opinion captured the essence of the campaign for the 164th Legislative seat. I post it for those who don't get The Bulletin, or did not get to read it.
Casey


Commentary

21-Year-Old Roncaglione: The David To Civera's Goliath
By: JIM PANYARD, Special To The Evening Bulletin
11/06/2006
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Mario Civera took office as the state Representative from Pennsylvania's 164th District in 1980, the same year Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States.Five years later, Casey Roncaglione was born.Reagan served two terms and retired. After 26 years, Civera still has the same job.
Twenty-one years old and a junior at Temple University, Roncaglione now wants that job."I hear a lot about experience and I say, 'Look what experience has gotten us'," Roncaglione says.You've got to like Roncaglione. Thin as a string bean with penetrating brown eyes, he has a smile brimming with the kind of energy bubbling underneath it that led some aging wag to crack years ago, "It is a shame youth is wasted on the young."The Roncaglione team has hit 10,000 doors in the Upper Darby-Drexel Hill area since he started his campaign in the spring.One of his cordovan shoes has a split in the sole that is running into the upper part of the shoe. His dad keeps telling him to get a new pair. "Not until after the election," Casey smiles, looking down at the badge of effort, if not honor.
Roncaglione, a Democrat from Drexel Hill, has scrimped together about $4,000 in campaign money and his staff of volunteers is made up primarily of friends from high school and college.He lives in Delaware County, the home of the politically fabled GOP "War Board" that dates back to the 1920s and the iron-fisted rule of the late John McClure. Democrat wins in the county are as rare as World Series appearances by the Philadelphia Phillies.Republican Civera's campaign has raised something approaching $200,000. He has been a fixture in county political affairs for more than three decades.Welcome to David and Goliath, circa 2006.Just as King Saul could find no one to stand against the giant Philistine, Goliath, the county Democrat party could find no volunteers dying to take on Civera. So, Roncaglione, who began helping the party in high school, went out and got the necessary 300 signatures.
Just as the Israelite soldiers hid in the rocks to watch the anticipated slaughter of the young shepherd, the state House Democrat Campaign Committee in Harrisburg has sent no help to the young upstart and is viewing the race through binoculars.At the face off in tomorrow's election, the kid will be on his own.The kind of special help David received on the fateful day would be welcomed by the Roncaglione campaign. But, rest assured, the youngster will be there, on the ballot and in person.
Civera, 60, stands out in the crowd in Harrisburg primarily because of his sculpted Elvis-like coiffure. In real life, before Harrisburg, he was a barber, businessman and Upper Darby councilman. He has been a backbencher and good soldier during the House reigns of Republican speakers, the late Matt Ryan (Delaware County) and John Perzel (Philadelphia).Though he was elected Majority Policy Committee Chair in 2004, he is seldom heard from or seen speechifying on the House floor.The only albatross obviously being carried by Civera is his vote in favor of the payjacking attempt by the General Assembly in July of last year. Under the plan that was later rescinded in a torrent of public outrage, Civera's salary would have gone from about $79,000 per year to $106,000. He repaid more than $6,000 he accepted in "unvouchered expenses" between the passage of the pay hike and its rescission. In December, if re-elected, his current base pay will rise from about $82,000 to just under $85,000 in light of an annual cost of living allowance for General Assembly members.
The attempted pay grab, monarch-like perquisites and a "business as usual" attitude in Harrisburg are the issues Roncaglione keeps hitting on."Our representatives work for us, not for themselves. They seem to have forgotten that. I won't," Roncaglione vows.The young challenger wants to reduce perks, push for term limits and insists he will not vote for a pay raise. Above all, he says, "I want to do the right thing."If David does upset Goliath, he won't be the first 21-year-old to knock off a Republican incumbent this year. Mark Harris did it to veteran lawmaker Tom Stevenson in the GOP primary in the Mount Lebanon section of Pittsburgh in May.
Things happen.

Jim Panyard can be contacted at integritygp@comcast.net

About Tomorrow

It's been a week since election day and I've been asked over and over what my plans for the future are. Well, I'm going to concentrate mainly on my education. I also plan to become more involved in our community. Stay tuned here for an announcement about a new program to help our neighbors find solutions to problems and issues they need help with. We all should find ways to volunteer for those in need and I'll be doing that too. We live in a great Township and the more we do the better it will be, I'll be doing my best to do that and be an asset.
As far as my future political aspirations, that's yet to be decided, but not out of the question.
I will also offer my services to our Mayor and School Board for whatever needs they request of me. I will keep this blog active and hope you will all continue to contribute to it with your comments and suggestions. Thanks again to everyone and I hope to hear from you soon.

Casey

Election 2006 Report

Election 2006 Report-Casey Roncaglione

I'm going to buy new shoes today. Having worn out the soles of the pair I've worn during the campaign season, I am definitely going to need them.

Our effort here in the 164th legislative district was a success. The people I met over the past year were good people, it was my honor to get to know so many of them.

I did not get enough votes to be elected but I lost nothing.

We did better than any other House legislative candidate running against an incumbent in all of Delaware County, except for the victorious Bryan Lentz. My campaign was financially underfunded and discounted by the state party, that's politics, and things change. Those in my corner were ultra supportive, and had nothing to gain by siding with me except for better Government. Their day is coming. The half truths, dirty tricks, intentional blurring of party lines, and pork politics were hard to overcome. This time.

Overall, it makes me proud to have run a positive campaign, on the issues. I thank each and every person in East Lansdowne, Millbourne, Upper Darby, Drexel Hill and beyond for their consideration.

General MacArthur said there is no substitute for victory.

I suppose your definition of victory is what truly matters.

Thank you all, see you soon.

Casey Roncaglione
mailto:caseyroncaglione@excite.com

So much for loyalty

First off, I'd like to say I respect and admire the Republican organization here in Upper Darby. Over the years your efforts have produced great results, you should be proud.

On November 7th 2006, the solidarity that has made your organization the envy of others was not in evidence. At my polling place, and others, Mr. Swann, Mr. Santorum and Mr. Weldon were thrown under the bus in order to save Mr.Civera. So much for party loyalty. Then, the reality of the trend may have been what you saw and political reality set in. At precinct 3-3, your poll greeter posted signs of every Democrat other than Mr. Civera. When your voters came to vote they were told to vote Democratic except for Mr. Civera, and the final results bore that effort out.

It was like watching the men trample over the women and children heading for the lifeboats on the Titanic. I voted for Mr. Sestak, but I am grateful of the years of service and accomplishments of Mr. Santorum and Mr. Weldon. They deserved better than to be unsupported by the Delco Republican Party.
I place loyalty higher than that. Mr. Civera did win,
but at what cost.

Only the future will be the judge of that.

Casey Roncaglione
mailto:caseyroncaglione@excite.com

Vote November Seventh

Moving Pennsylvania
and America Forward



Vote November 7th

Thank you,

Casey R. Roncaglione

I ASK YOUR CONSIDERATION TO BE OUR
NEW STATE REPRESENTATIVE

MY PLEDGE TO THE PEOPLE OF
DREXEL HILL UPPER DARBY EAST LANSDOWNE MILLBOURNE

* RESTORE FAITH AND HOPE ** FORTIFY THE FAMILY ** IMPROVE TOMORROW ** DO THE RIGHT THING *

Restore Faith to our arrogant and out of touch government. Restore hope that newly elected representatives will work for us, and not themselves or the special interests, and defeat the career politicians who have forgotten that.
Fortify the family by improving schools and finding new ways to make property taxes less of a burden. Live, grow, and work without government taxes taking the joy out of family life. Make health care more affordable.
Improve Tomorrow with better roads and more public transportation. A better business climate will create better jobs. Make our schools the technological envy of the world, prepare our children for a new future.
Do the Right Thing by always acting in the best interests of our neighbors. Don't ever vote for a legislator pay raise. Institute twelve year term limits for representatives. Cut representative's perks like free cars, free health care, bloated pensions, free haircuts and gifts from lobbyists. Make government transparent, post all votes and legislation within 24 hours.

My message to you is simple. Stop partisan politics and start working together to make our Township a better place to live, work and grow.

I ask for your vote on November 7th.

Thank You,

Casey R. Roncaglione