Photos From Election Day 2010

Elections and those with Mental Health Challenges

The Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition is committed to trans-forming the mental health system statewide by promoting, supporting and advocating for peer support in Pennsylvania.

http://www.papeersupportcoalition.org/resources/PPSCNewsletter_Fall2010.pdf

Read about those in recovery from mental health and co-occuring challenges and how they are reversing the old ideal that recovery is not possible.

If you have a loved one, family member, friend or co-worker that is struggling with a challenge let then know that recovery is a reality!

Jeff Bohen

Local Winners of the 2010 Election

Warminster Township Supervisor, Leo Quinn, at Abington Medical Center in Warminster, yesterday greeting voters and seeking support for eventual winner, State Rep. Bernie O'Neill.

Rep O'Neill, soundly defeated Democrat Frank Feinberg by a 2:1 margin in yesterday's polling.

Hopefully before the new legislative session we'll get to speak with the re-elected Rep of the 27th legislative district.

Sen. Greenleaf was also a winner last night, turning back Democrat Ruth Damsker with 64% of the vote. Welcome back Senator Greenleaf.

Election Day 2010 LIVE BLOG (video)

BuxMontNews.com Staff Writers Tom Sofield and Jeff Bohen are covering the local elections that affect you. We are looking for you to submit polling place updates/problems or election related to photos to vote@buxmontnews.com. Keep checking our site for the latest election day information updated through-out the day as updates come in.

November 3, 2010 6:12 a.m.: Thank you following our live blog coverage of the 2010 election. This is the end of our election live blog. Be sure check back with BuxMontNews.com all day for updates, recaps and other local news.


12:30 a.m.:This e-mail about absentee ballot counting was sent out by Bucks County.

http://www.buckscounty.org/news/2010/2010-11-01-AbsenteeBallotCounting.aspx - Jeff Bohen


12:05 a.m. With Close too 99 % of the Preceints reported Pat Toomey is now Senator Elect and Mike Fitzpatrick will be the 8th Congressional Dist Rep in the House. - Jeff Bohen

We will have an Early Morning Wrap-Up Tomorrow with all the big winners! - Jeff Bohen

11:52 Speaker Elect Bohner Cries while challenging Obama "To work with the peoples house." Toomey's Lead Grows, Fitzpatrick is a Winner! Senate Majority Leader Reed Leads by 8 % in Las Vegas. - Jeff Bohen

11:18 p.m.: Out of 67 counites in PA Onorato leads in only four and one of them in Montgomery County.

Via. Twitter @ericrace1: "PA-8 House Race: Mike Fitzpatrick vs. Patrick Murphy...most Irish campaign ever." - Tom Sofield

96 percent of polling locations reporting in for the Fitzpatrick - Murphy race and Fitzpatrick has won. - Tom Sofield

11:09 p.m.: With all of Philadelphia counted, Toomey leads by less than 4400 votes. - Jeff Bohen

11:02 p.m.: Toomey is leading Sestak by 31,000 votes. The GOP seems to leading in the area now. - Tom Sofield

10:50 p.m.: It is safe to say at this point that Sen Greenleaf will be re-elected! He leads by a 2:1 margin at this point in time.

Rep. O'Neill is leading by the same ratio and appears to have been sent back to Harrisburg.

The real question one has to ask about the Rep for the 29th Legislative Dist of Pa is when does he run for a National Seat? - Jeff Bohen

10:46 p.m.: Mike Fitzpatrick is increasing his new found lead by the thousands. He leads Rep Murphy by 16,000 votes! - Jeff Bohen



Toomey voting with his children. (UPI/John Anderson)



10:40 p.m.: Toomey and Sestak are tied right now with 50 percent of the vote in the national watched race.

86 percent of the polling places are reporting in so this is a close race. - Tom Sofield

10:36 p.m.: Sources are telling us that with a 20,000 vote lead Mike Fitzpatrick is about to announce his win over Pat Murphy. - Tom Sofield

10:30 p.m.: The AP is calling Democratic Rep. Allyson Schwartz the winner over Dee Adcock in the Montgomery County race. - Tom Sofield


What did local voters have to say about today election check out our video...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqs1eb9B7JM. Also e-mail us at vote@buxmontnews.com with your election opinion. - Tom Sofield


10:45 p.m: Toomey Takes lead over Sestak at 10:42 p.m.

10:12 p.m.: In a surprise Toomey is losing to Dem. Sestak by 4 points with 74 percent of polling places reporting in.

Just yesterday a poll was released that showed Toomey with a 5 percentage point lead.

Sestak campaigned all day yesterday and has been bringing in Democratic heavy weights like Bill Clinton. - Tom Sofield

9:25 p.m.: CNN is projecting that the GOP will be taking over the house.

Fitzpatrick at this point is losing to Murphy by 4 percentage points. Again reporting has just began and these numbers can and most likely will change. - Tom Sofield

8:35 p.m.: State Senator Greenleaf leads Damsker by a large margain in early reporting from Bucks County.

State Rep Bernie O' Neill is out distancing Challenger Feinberg in early reporting.

MSNBC is reporting that the Republicans will take the House of Representatives with estimates of having a total of 237 House Seats to Dems 198 Seats.

Reports have the Republicans gaining three seats in the Senate as of 9:05 PM

Democrat Joe Sestak is leading Republican Pat Toomey in early reporting by about 21,000 votes for the Senate Seat in PA.

MSNBC is calling Tom Corbett the winner in the Govenor's race in PA as of 10:03 PM

Were approaching the top of the hour with [polls closing in a number of states. Results soon to follow. - Jeff Bohen

8:36 p.m.: At 7:40 the polling location at the Southampton Youth Center still had a good amount of voters and District West 2 had almost 540 voters, a high turnout which was reported all over the area.

No serious problems were reported at local polling locations.

The Murphy - Fitzpatrick results may not be in until tomorrow when over 8,000 absentee ballots will be counted in Doylestown.

Numbers from local polls are starting to come in to us...stay tuned for numbers they will be coming in soon...

8:09 p.m.: Polls are closed in P.A., no precincts are reporting yet. Stay Tuned... - Tom Sofield

7:56 p.m.: We talked to some local voters this afternoon and evening here is what they had to say.


6:26 p.m.: Ivyland borough the smallest in Bucks County with about 800 residents and one polling location reported very good turn out today. - Tom Sofield


At Crooked Billet Elementary School in Hatboro a poll worker who did not want to be named said turn out seem to be large. The same poll worker also said, "How good turn out really was will not be seen until the end." - Tom Sofield

Crooked Billet Elementary School in Hatboro. (Tom Sofield)



5:32 p.m.: Mary Avino of the Churchville section of Northampton who voted at the fire station on Hatboro Road said, "This is election isn't who I am for, It's who I am against." - Tom Sofield



4:30 p.m.: In Upper Moreland ward 5 - 1 turn out is much higher than most mid-term elections. Officials tell BuxMontNews.com that 371 out of 900 people in the ward have voted as of 4 p.m. Election workers say an average number for past mid-term elections has been near 100 voters over the course of the entire day.

Good weather and a desire for change are what officials are thinking is leading to a high voter turn out. - Tom Sofield

1:52 p.m.: If you have any questions about voting go to the states website at http://www.votespa.com/.

Site is great you can even look up your polling location.

We are going to be heading out soon to check out some local polls.- Tom Sofield




Turn out seemed heavy this morning shortly after polls opened at Klinger
Middle School in Upper Southampton. (Tom Sofield)



1:08 p.m.: Joe Sestak's campaign just put out a tweet saying, @Sestak2010 "Polls close in 7 hours. We have not yet begun to fight."

A poll released yesterday showed Toomey in lead by five points. - Tom Sofield



12:02 p.m.: Twitter user @jtrex0830 " Actually stood in line to vote. Good sign in battleground 8th District of Pennsylvania race between Murphy and Fitzpatrick."



Republicans Kathleen Williams and Thomas McLaughlin hand out s
ample ballots to voters at the Upper Moreland School District Adminstration
building. (Tom Sofield)



The 8th District Race is getting even more ugly, The Trentonian newspaper reports a van carrying Murphy suporters was caught in Bristol, PA after residents called police saying the van with NY plates was taknig Fitzpatrick signs and replacing them with Murphy signs.



Police arrived and found no crime being commited.



Police tell the paper that the people in the white van were putting Murphy signs directly blocking Fitzpatrick signs. - Tom Sofield

Countdown to Election Day

Election signs dot the grass along Pine Road in Lower Moreland Monday morning less than 24 hours before the polls open for election day. (Tom Sofield)

Senate Race is Close

A Quinnipiac University Poll that was released this morning showed the U.S. senate race between republican Pat Toomey and Democrat Joe Sestak is very close with Toomey up by 5 percent.

With less than 24 hours until area polls open Toomey’s 5 percent lead is not enough to make his campaign feel confident, Toomey and P.A. GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett left from Northeast Philadelphia Airport this morning on a plane, the plane will take them to campaign stops all over P.A.

Former Navy admiral, Joe Sestak and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato make visits to transits stop across Philadelphia.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor

And in This Corner, Democratic Challenger, Ruth Damsker

Jeff Bohen-Staff Writer.

(Pictures taken by Ronald Mills for BuxMontNews.com)

On an early Thursday morning a little over two weeks ago, Democratic challenger for the State Senate seat of District 12, Ruth Damsker greeted Philadelphia bound passengers on the platform of the Warminster SEPTA station.

It was approximately 6:45 a.m. Damsker accompanied by one her many campaign workers were meeting and greeting potential voters in the area at the well-traveled train station.

Smiling, welcoming she encouraged would-be riders to join her in a brief, clear and concise conversation as to why the locals need to vote for her, and not the incumbent of 32 years, (R) Senator Stewart Greenleaf.

Surprising a number of passengers greeted her with the eager curiosity that many have come over them when meeting someone from the political arena. Often we see our federal representatives but that us usually with a phalanx of protectors around them warding off questions from the public.

This wasn't one of those times.

As a result of the chance meeting, on the platform, b the Damsker Campaign for State Senate Dist 12, obliged our still young and growing blog with an interview.

When we sat down with former Montgomery County Commissioner for an interview, my sense of that meeting is, the Damsker Campaign smells victory in the air and are now going for that proverbial knockout punch of the "RE-Elect Greenleaf ,"Campaign.

Talking with Damsker outside of her "War Room" where the direction's for victory on Election day are mapped out, Damsker immediately pointed out that, "Sen. Greenleaf refuses to debate me," saying the need for such a debate is "unfounded."

Damsker now goes on the offensive.

The former Montgomery County Commissioner points out that if Greenleaf was "a leader, he should have attended the caucus meeting called by Governor Rendell, so a vote could be had on the the Shale Tax Bill, instead the Republican Majority in the Senate decided to go home and" kill the bill ." Senate democrats attended the caucas meeting, But no Republicans, not even Greenleaf attended," the candidate said.

Damsker points out "an opportunity was missed ..." to help Pennsylvanians with tax dollars that the state could have made, "...from that bill." Going on further Damsker said, a number of other states "...tax gas and oil companies, why not us?" The gas that's underneath us, isn't taxable because?

"The Republican Senate and my opponent say so? That's just wrong," she said, responding to her own question.

"Everyone should pay there fair share in taxes, and that includes those gas companies," she responded, when asked what she would do about the issue if she were the sitting Senator.

When asked why she is getting back in to the local political scene, she tells the story that "in a one-year period my three daughter in laws gave birth to three beautiful grand daughters and because of those exciting events I tossed my hat back in to the race."

"The future is about them too," she continued.

When asked if she had any last words for the voters of the 12th Senatorial District, Damsker said, "I believe I am the voice of the people., and I won't let bi-partisan politics get in the way of that, with my Republican friends we can work together on issues that effect us all."


Seems to me, Senator Greenleaf your going the 15 rounds cause it doesn't appear Democratic Candiate for State Senate Ruth Damsker is finished fighting by a long shot.

Election day starts in about 72 hours with polls opening at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Don't forget to vote!On Election night we will be bringing you live coverage of the state and federal election numbers as they roll in. Put http://www.buxmontnews.com/ on your favorites list so you can keep track of election night winners and losers.


Please note that Sen. Greenleaf, was contacted to be a part of this article, however he choose not to take part.

For more information about the Damsker Campaign go to http://www.voteruth.com/

For information on the Sen. Greenleaf re-election campaign you can go to http://www.senatorgreenleaf.com/

Updated at 6:50 AM

For the 2010 Cycle 3 Campaign Finance Reporting Period

"Citizens for Greenleaf" received approximately $183,000 in Campaign Contributions.

"Damsker for Senate" received approximately $17,000 in Campaign Contributions.

Open Secrets: Financial Contributions of 18974 Residents

Factoid- 1


Residents of the 18974 Zip Code contributed a total of $ 78,832 to in and out of state election bids since the beginning of 2010, according to the Center for Responsive Politics .

A full listing of those contributors and who they were made to is available at http://www.opensecrets.org/

There are a number of ways to search through financial contributions of citizens and ones received by candidates.

Stay tuned for more intresting tid bits about Election 2010 up until the final race for election in Pennsylvania is called.

Congressman Patrick Murphy is currently holding a Town Hall Meeting via Phone (Live Blog)

Jeff Bohen-Staff Writer.

At approximately 5:25 p.m. Congressman Patrick Murphy (D) commenced a Town Hall meeting via telephone, calling local residents in his voting district.

Murphy, in a dogfight with Republican Mike Fitzpatrick, is calling voters listed as "undecideds," of the 8th Congressional District in Pennsylvania.

In his opening statement, the campaigning congressman pointed out th "significant differences," between him and Fitzpatrick.

Rep. Murphy is now taking questions from callers covering topics such as "Social Security, Veterans Benefits, Jobs, Foreclosures, and the economy."

As of 6:12 p.m. 600 voters are listening in and asking questions.

At 6:25 PM the Congressman ended the call asking for the support of those on the call and stating, "these elections are about choices...., our country, and about taking care of our own."

GOP Accuses Dems. Of Voter Fraud



Murphy (left) and Fitzpatrick (right) at a debate in Bristol last
 week. (Tom Sofield)

Update 5:41 p.m.: After a hearing in Doylestown that lasted hours the Bucks County Board of Elections agreed to let people who absentee ballots were rejected to correct the mistakes.

The deadline for corrections in election day at 8 p.m.

Local Republicans are accusing Democrats of playing dirty in the 8th District Congressional race, between Republican Mike Fitzpatrick, who is leading in the polls, and incumbent Democrat Patrick Murphy.

Members of the Bucks County GOP say that democrats sent out a letter, which was purported to be from a state voter assistant program that doesn’t exist, the letter urged voters to send in absentee ballots if they would be out of the area on the November 2 election day.

The problem is the ballots were sent to the Murphy campaign in Bristol instead of the county voting board.

GOP leaders say the Murphy campaign could have tampered with the ballots before sending them to the county.

Fitzpatrick told reports that the Bucks County District Attorney has begun an investigation into the claims of voter fraud.

The Bucks County Board of Elections is sorting through ballots and so far has tossed 900 for being suspicions.

The county Democrats are claiming the board of elections is biased toward the party, which the board is denying.

The county election board is saying ballots were tossed after birthdays and signatures didn't match up with voter registration records were discovered. The county reports that more than 80 percent of the ballots tossed were from democrats.

The deadline for absentee ballots it today.

Murphy said the county republicans are engaging in “Florida-style Bush tactics.”

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor

Mike Fitzpatrick, Patrick Murphy Oct. 21st Debate Video

This is some video of a question about Social Security asked and how Fitzpatrick and Murphy responded.

Give you opinion by leaving a comment.

For a full text story on the debate click here.


Visit our YouTube page by going to http://www.youtube.com/user/buxmontnews

Fitzpatrick, Murphy Debate Health Care, Jobs

Murphy (L), Pezza (C), Fitzpatrick (R) (Tom Sofield)

People packed the lobby of the Bucks County Community College’s Bristol Campus Thursday mid-day as the final debate between incumbent 8th District Congressman Democrat Patrick Murphy and Republican opponent Mike Fitzpatrick was held in front of a packed room of people.


The debate was the last of five scheduled face-to-face debates between the two candidates who represent large parts of Bucks, Montgomery and a small portion Philadelphia county before the November 2 elections.


Murphy and Fitzpatrick prepared for the debates in small rooms on campus, fittingly Democrat Murphy was in the room on and left and Republican Fitzpatrick was in the room on the right of Murphy.

Bucks County Community College instructor Bill Pezza who personally knows both the candidates and their families moderated the debate.

Pezza said, “These gentlemen deserve our civility” and urged audience members to make their voice heard at the voting booth not during the debate.

Which candidate would speak first was chosen by a coin toss which Murphy won.


In opening statements the incumbent Murphy who in recent polling is trailing Fitzpatrick said he wanted to bring manufacturing jobs back to the area because, “we can’t remain a service based economy.”
“I’m running for U.S. Congress because I disagree with our direction”, said Fitzpatrick in his opening remarks he then focused on Murphy’s support of the stimulus, health care reform and big government.

Canidates Debate in Bristol

Patrick Murphy and Mike Fitzpatrick candidates for the U.S. Congress debated at the Bucks County Community College's Bristol campus. More on the debate will be posted tomorrow morning. (Tom Sofield)

State Senate District 12 Candidate Gansker Releases Video

Ruth Damsker (D) Montogmery County released a cartoon video yesterday poking fun at Senator Stuart Greenleaf'.

The video is getting some good play on Youtube and according to the campaign press release received over 200 hits in the first two hours of viewing.

Damsker, making a serious run for the Senate seat, is calling out the Senator for his unwillingness have a real debate "the voters want to see, and should get to see a debate" Damsker, said.

BuxMontNews will have more on a interview we did with the Hopeful candidate this Sunday.

We also hope to have an interview with Senator Greenleaf prior to Sunday's publication.



If you are a local candidate and want your message heard through the BuxMontNews.com contact Jeff Bohen Jeffman0930@Gmail.com

Matthews plays Hardball at Temple Main Campus

Chris Matthews, a Philadelphia native, and host of the MSNBC show "Hardball" will be broadcasting the show from Temple University in North Philadelphia today according to numerous campus sources.

The Broadcast will be at 13th and Liacouras Walk a main walkway on campus.

Stay Tuned for details.

2010 Elections News.......

Polling Place Change

If you are a resident or Warminster Township Districts 10 & 16 please be aware that your polling place for Election day has been changed from William Tennet High School, to a new polling place.

Abington Health Center (Fornerly Warminster Hospital)
at 225 Newtown Road, Warmintser, Pa 18974.

If you have any questions or concerns about this change please call the County of Bucks Board of Elections at 215-348-6145

2010 Bux - Mont. Voting Guide

Welcome to the BuxMontNews.com 2010 Mid-Term Election Guide. Our guide with canidate position, name and profile has been compiled with information from VoteSmart.org, SmartVoter.com and candidates websites.The 2010 edition covers all the candidates that represent the Bucks & Montgomery county area.

Position: United States Senator

Joe Sestak (Campaign Website)


Party: Democratic

Occupation: U.S. Congressman

• Former 3-Star Admiral, 31-year distinguished military career
• Commanded the George Washington carrier battle group (30 ships, 15,000 Sailors/Marines/SEALs) that conducted combat operations in Afghanistan & Iraq
• After 9/11, first Director of "Deep Blue" - the Navy's anti-terrorism unit
• Earned a PhD in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University
• Graduated from the US Naval Academy (2nd in his class)
• Grew up in Delaware County and attended Cardinal O'Hara High School with his brother and 6 sisters (and where his Mom taught math)

Priorities:

• Economic Security
• Health Security
• National Security

Pat Toomey (Campaign Website)

Party: Republican
Occupation: Small Business Operator

• Former congressional representative 1998-2004
• Attended LaSalle University and then graduated from Harvard
• President, Club for Growth, a conservative political action committee (2005-2009)
• Grew up in Providence, Rhode Island in a working class catholic family
• Toomey is married with 3 children

Priorities:

• Economy

Position: United States Congressional Representative

District 8 (Map of the 8th District)




Michael G. Fitzpatrick (Campaign Website)

Party: Republican

Occupation: Lawyer

• Represented 8th district for one term, lost to Pat Murphy in 2006
• After losing 2006 election he held job at a Bucks County law firm
• In 2008 was diagnosed with colon cancer, doctors reported it went into remission in late 2008
• Involved with the Boy Scouts and many other local civic organizations
• Attended St. Thomas University and Dickinson School of Law
• Married and his 6 young children

Patrick J. Murphy (Campaign Website)

Party: Democratic

Occupation: Congressman 8th District

• Former member of the US Army deployed in Bosnia and Iraq
• Awarded Bronze Star for his tour in Iraq
• Took lead in fight against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
• Married and has two young children
• Attended Bucks County Community College, Kings College and Widner University

District 13(Map of the 13th District)




Carson Dee "Dee" Adcock (Campaign Website)

Party: Republican

Occupation: President, W.W. Adcock

• BA in Economics
• Past Chairman of Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission
• Past Chairman of Urban Family Council
• Past President of WINDO
• Vice-Chairman Liberty U.S.O.
• Married with three adult sons

Priorities:

• economy
• jobs
• health care

Allyson Y. Schwartz (Campaign Website)

Party: Democratic

Occupation: US Representative

• Member, Ways and Means Committee
• Vice Chair, House Budget Committee
• Married and has two adult sons

Priorities:

• Ensuring that economic recovery reaches all Americans
• Putting Americans back to work
• Investing in our nation's future in a responsible way

Position: Pennsylvania Governor

Tom Corbett (Campaign Website)

Party: Republican
Occupation: Attorney General

• Captain, Pennsylvania National Guard 28th Infantry Division
• Undergraduate Degree from Lebanon Valley College
• History and Civics teacher at Pine Grove Area High School
• Law Degree from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas
• Corbett is married and has two children

Priorities:

• More Jobs, Less Taxes
• Expanding Pennsylvania's Economy
• Government Reform

Dan Onorato (Campaign Website)

Party: Democratic

Occupation: Allegheny County Executive

• B.S. Accounting, Penn State
• Certified Public Accountant
• J.D. University of Pittsburgh, School of Law
• Onorato is married with three children

Priorities:

• Making PA the Leader in Next-Generation Jobs and Helping Our Core Industries Grow
• Delivering Honest, Accountable Government Pennsylvanians Deserve
• Promoting Smart and Sustainable Growth

After the jump we have more races...

Number of Voters Down Statewide

In the two years since high voter turnout of the election that made Barack Obama the President of the United States new figures released show that the numbers of registered Pennsylvania Democrats is down 3.9 percent and Republicans are down 3.7 percent.

Monday was the last day Pennsylvanians could register to vote in the upcoming November 2 mid-term elections. Many voter registration offices were open late Monday to accommodate late comers but officials from the Pennsylvania Department of State report new voter registration was light which was to be expected for a mid-term election year.