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14th WARD CLUB BACKS HOEFFEL, SAIDEL
Sestak endorsed for U.S. Senate
The 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club has endorsed Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel in the Democratic primary race for governor of Pennsylvania.
At its annual endorsement meeting today the club also selected Jonathan Saidel for Lieutenant Governor, and U.S. Congressman Joe Sestak for U.S. Senate against incumbent Arlen Specter.
The club reinforced its support for Hoeffel after endorsing him in 2004 in his bid for the U.S. Senate against Specter.
Three Democratic gubernatorial candidates—Dan Onorato, Jack Wagner and Anthony Williams—spoke to club members and answered questions at the club's meeting at the Schenley Park Ice Skating Rink. Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto spoke on Hoeffel’s behalf.
The Democratic primary election is set for Tuesday, May 18.
With more than 18,000 registered Democrats, the 14th Ward is the largest ward in the City of Pittsburgh and second largest in the state. The Ward includes all or part of Squirrel Hill, Point Breeze, North Point Breeze, Regent Square, Park Place, and Swisshelm Park.
The Club, which is not affiliated with the Democratic Committee of Allegheny County, is the oldest independent Democratic club in the country. Its endorsements are printed in a Voters Guide and mailed to likely Democratic voters in the ward. The endorsements are also posted at the club's website http://www.pgh14widc.org
The Club's open endorsement process allows members to hear candidates present their positions before casting their votes for the office seekers that best match their values.
"The process gives our endorsements credibility in the community," said Club President Chris Zurawsky. "For more than four decades, the club's endorsement has helped candidates to receive a larger number of votes than they would have received without our endorsement."
Here are the other candidates who won the Club's endorsement:
U.S. Congress, Dist. 14 – Mike Doyle
State Senate, Dist. 38 – Jim Ferlo
State Assembly, Dist. 23 – Dan Frankel
State Assembly, Dist. 34 – Paul Costa
State Assembly, Dist. 24 – Joe Preston
County Democratic Committee, Dist. 14-16 – Saleem Khan
State Democratic Committee, Dist. 38 – Pamela Macklin, Cynthia Maleski, Daniel Jimenez, Brenda Frazier
State Democratic Committee, Dist. 43 – Barbara Behrend, Ernsberger, Barbara Daly Danko, Patrick Sweeney, Diana Kazour, Rich Fitzgerald, Marvin Leibowitz
Recent Events
Annual Endorsement Vote: Sunday,
April 18, Schenley Park Skating Rink
Annual Fundraiser Event: Saturday, April 17,
Schenley Park Skating Rink
New Voter? Welcome to the Club!
Did last year’s historic Presidential election inspire you to get involved in politics by voting or maybe even working for a progressive candidate? If you’re among the thousands of 14th Ward residents who registered to vote in 2008 — many for the first time — the Club extends a special invitation for you to join our efforts to put progressive Democrats in office locally, statewide, and nationally.
One of the most influential things you can do as a Club member is to participate in the endorsement vote before the primary elections each year. Statistical research has shown that candidates who earn the Club's endorsement see an increase in their share of votes by 6% on average.
Annual membership is $15 for an individual; $25 for a family. Check out the membership form or more information about the Club.
Don’t forget: There’s an election every year! So keep up the good work, keep voting, and stay involved with progressive politics in the 14th Ward.
Recent Events
January 31, 2010: Annual Membership Meeting and Democratic Gubernatorial Forum
Saturday, May 16: Squonk Opera PAC and Chris Potter
Sunday, April 19, Endorsement Day
Letter from the Club President
The Club is the oldest continuously-operating independent Democratic club in the country. Our members are registered Democratic Party members who believe in progressive, traditional Democratic Party ideals. Many of us come from activist backgrounds and have worked for peace, justice, economic equity, civil rights, equal rights, and other issues.
Although we are all Democrats, we are not associated with the official Democratic Party.
The 14th Ward is the largest Ward in the City of Pittsburgh, and the second largest ward in the state. It includes the neighborhoods of Squirrel Hill, Point Breeze, North Point Breeze, Regent Square, Park Place, and Swisshelm Park. Approximately 17,000 Democrats reside in the 14th Ward.
Each Spring, before the Primary Election, the Club has an endorsement meeting during which members evaluate the candidates and vote to endorse for the upcoming Democratic Primary. Our endorsements are printed in a Voters Guide which is mailed to all registered Democrats in the Ward. We believe our reputation for an open process of allowing our members to hear the candidates and vote for those that match their values gives our endorsements credibility in the community. The Club's endorsement has helped candidates to receive a larger number of votes than they would have received without our endorsement.
We hope you will find the information here useful, and will visit often as it continues to grow and change. Thank you for visiting.
Chris Zurawsky, President
Fourteenth Ward Independent Democratic Club
