Another Dem emerges for Lt. Gov.

Almost two weeks after the state Democratic Party overwhelmingly endorsed Jonathan Saidel for Lieutenant Governor, a Centre County state lawmaker is gearing up for a late push at the second-ticket office.

State Representative Scott Conklin (D-Centre) is gathering signatures to get on the ballot, The Centre Daily Times reports. He is circulating nominating petitions both for Lt. Gov. and for reelection.

If he decides to get into the race full-throttle, he would…

February 17, 2010 at 5:32 pm | Comments (18)

LEFTOVERS: Dems hit Fitzpatrick, A Philly ward backs Hoeffel & Saidel

Bucks County Democrats on Wednesday criticized former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick for claiming he has “no interest in becoming a professional politician,” unveiling a Web video that juxtaposes the comment with 20 years worth of electoral campaigning as both a candidate and a political operative.

“It’s hard to believe, but Congressman Fitzpatrick, a guy who has been running for political office for 20 years, claimed that he has ‘no interest in becoming a professional politician,’” Neil…

February 10, 2010 at 8:30 pm | Comments (9)

Saidel easily wins Lt. Gov. endorsement (Video)

LANCASTER—It didn’t even need to go to a roll-call vote.

After campaigning for Lieutenant Governor for more than a year, former Philadelphia City Controller Jonathan Saidel easily won the state Democratic Party’s endorsement here Saturday, needing only a simple voice-vote to do so. Former Commonwealth Court Judge Doris Smith-Ribner is also running, but a candidacy that has struggled to get off the ground now seems even more unlikely to have a strong showing in the…

February 6, 2010 at 3:45 pm | Comments (9)

With deep local support, Saidel enters Lt. Gov. race

PHILADELPHIA—After more than a year of fundraising and building party support, former Philadelphia City Controller Jonathan Saidel formally entered the race for Lieutenant Governor on Monday, saying he was eager to return to public service and expand the role of an office usually seen as mostly ceremonial figurehead.

“I’m running because I miss helping people,” Saidel said before a cadre of elected officials and party leaders at City Hall here. “I really miss helping people.…

January 25, 2010 at 7:24 pm | Comments (4)

Saidel camp warns guv candidates not to go looking for a Lt. Gov. deal

Former Philadelphia City Controller Jonathan Saidel’s campaign has a stern warning for any gubernatorial candidates thinking they might be able to leverage their exit from the race for a spot on the ticket as Lieutenant Governor:

Don’t even try it.

Saidel has been laying the groundwork for over a year and will formally announce his candidacy for Lt. Gov. Monday afternoon. But responding to increased speculation that a candidate for governor could join Allegheny County…

January 21, 2010 at 3:45 pm | Comments (10)

Smith-Ribner opts for Lt. Gov. race instead of Senate run

Former Commonwealth Court Judge Doris Smith-Ribner has decided to forgo her underdog run for Senate in favor of a bid for Lieutenant Governor.

Smith-Ribner, a Democrat, made the announcement recently on her campaign Web site. She had faced the nearly impossible political task of garnering money and attention in the high-profile primary between Senator Arlen Specter and Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7). She said her decision was made “out of deference…

January 8, 2010 at 10:35 am | Comments (0)

For Smith-Ribner, no formal announcement till later, but paperwork is ‘in the mail’

Retired state judge Doris Smith-Ribner says she doesn’t want to distract from next month’s general election, so don’t expect a formal announcement of her Senate candidacy within the next few weeks.

But she’s definitely in.

“I put it in the mail today,” she said of the FEC paperwork needed to declare her candidacy and start raising money.

“I don’t want to take away from the local and state elections that are going on…

October 9, 2009 at 11:42 pm | Comments (0)

Smith-Ribner: This isn’t about Specter

With another Democrat diving into next year’s Senate primary, one might assume the latest hopeful to be in the not-happy-with-Arlen Specter camp.

Not so, says Doris Smith-Ribner.

“It didn’t play any role,” the retired state judge said Friday night of Specter’s party switch. “I’m not focusing on Senator Specter and his switch to the Democratic party. I’m not focusing on any candidate.

“I’m only focusing on myself,” she added.

October 9, 2009 at 11:38 pm | Comments (3)

Smith-Ribner not intimidated by high-profile race

Entering Pennsylvania’s Democratic Senate primary is about as close as one can get to a presidential run in 2010. All media and political eyes are watching. Millions of dollars are in play.

But Doris Smith-Ribner, a Democrat and a retired state judge, isn’t intimidated.

“I’m going to do what any candidate would do, whether it’s a high-profile race or a not-so-high-profile race,” Smith-Ribner, who has decided to enter the race, told pa2010.com Friday…

October 9, 2009 at 11:34 pm | Comments (1)

Retired state judge to run for Senate (Updated)

A former Commonwealth Court judge has decided to seek the Democratic nomination for Senate, adding another face to one of the country’s most high-profile and contentious primaries.

Doris Smith-Ribner, who served on the Commonwealth Court for more than two decades before retiring this summer, told Democrats gathered at an NAACP gala Friday night that she would be entering the race, according to someone who was there. She had been increasingly showing up at political events…

October 9, 2009 at 10:41 pm | Comments (11)