Democrat wins special election to PA State House

[Freddie Stubbs]

By AARON APPLEGATE
Pocono Record Writer
[email protected]

MARSHALLS CREEK — It's been a long time since local Democrats have had much to celebrate, and last night they made up for it with hoots and hollers, back slaps, bear hugs, popping champagne corks and funky disco.

Democrat John Siptroth beat out Republican Diane Hannan by 209 votes to become state representative in the 189th District, according to unofficial results.

Pledging to light a fire under the stalled Marshalls Creek Bypass and to work for more school funding from Harrisburg, Siptroth, celebrating at the Hillside Inn resort near Marshalls Creek, lauded his supporters and scolded state Democrats for not putting more money into his successful campaign.

He mentioned that he won even though his campaign spent far less money than Hannan's. Campaign spending reports released last week showed Hannan outspending Siptroth $95,091 to $13,288 between Dec. 21 and Jan. 24, a margin of 7-1.

more: http://www.poconorecord.com/topstory/tp020905.htm

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

1. Yeah! Now he can fight that proposed tax on food/clothes

recently proposed to eliminate property taxes in PA.

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. Who has proposed that?

:shrug:

I really need to start reading the newspaper more.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

3. I posted in in this Pennsylvania forum...

Under lawmakers seek to revise tax plan. The article is from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the link is attached below.

www.postgazette.com/pg/05038/454106.stm

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. Thanks

[Penndems]

4. Who last held this seat? A Dem or Republican?

eom

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. It was a Republican

[Joy Anne]

7. Thanks for the good news

Here's the Harrisburg Patriot-News URL on it and the first 2 paragraphs.
Joy

http://www.pennlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/1108117396218030.xml?pennnpol
The results of a special state House election in the Poconos on Tuesday shocked both political parties: Democrats were stunned to wake up to a victory; Republicans shocked to have lost a seat they regarded as firmly GOP.

Democratic nominee John J. Siptroth, a long-time Smithfield Twp. supervisor, defeated Republican Diane Hannan, president of a public relations firm, by 209 votes, 51.5 percent to 48.5 percent in a district in Monroe and Pike counties.

[Irish Mafia]

8. Kelly Lewis

Republican Kelly Lewis held this seat prior to the special election. He resigned to take a job somewhere else.

Siptroth's victory really came out of nowhere. Many considered Hannan a shoe in, but obviously Siptroth ran the better campaign and was able to get out more of his supporters. Hopefully he can hold onto the seat.

[poconopatty]

9. Kelly Lewis etc

HI all I live in the 189th and I was VERY glad Siptroth won. I have a few comments though. Kelly Lewis apparently KNEW he was leaving last August, way before the November election. He chose to run anyway and then promptly announced after he won (he was unopposed except for a local write in campaign) that he was quitting. There seems to be some big sordid story also according to LTE I have read, but I don't know what's up with that....so I won't go into it. :-/ Therefore we had to pay for a special election which IMO was completely avoidable. Oh well....I guess. Anyway, the republicans spent MEGABUCKS all paid for the local repub party....I think anyway. Many many mailings and one thing I never understood is how they got our names because we are registered Democrats. Luckily Siptroth won with a much cheaper campaign :-) About that sales tax that was mentioned, unfortunately for us here in Monroe county the sales tax that eliminates property taxes would be a relief to most of us...we are paying between 4 and 5 thousand a year with no end in sight. Therefore a sales tax would most likely be cheaper first of all and as my sister said to me the other day it would be spread out over the whole year therefore much better for her also, they are paying a lot also in the neighboring county. We have all the people still moving up here very rapidly to say the least from NYC since 9-11 and also from the bigger cities of NJ. Patty

[mermaid]

11. Hey, Poconopatty!!

Thought I'd make your acquaintance, being as I am to be the second DU'er in monroe county in two weeks. I'm moving to Saylorsburg from Austin, Texas. Whereabouts in Monroe are you?

I used to live up here in the early 90's so I am familiar with much of Monroe County. Well, anyways, was looking for ya, just wanted to touch base, us DU folk up in the Poconos gotta stick together!

Ain't many of us Dems up in that area...leastways, it didn't seem so last time I lived up here...

[mermaid]

10. Yes. And Siptroth Will Be MY Rep In Harrisburg, Once I Get To PA.

I'll be in Siptroth's district. I already checked.