With many eyes focused on the fast approaching presidential election in the fall, the Schuylkill County democratic Party has decided to get a head start on preparations for 2009. The Clarke Report learned earlier this week that a key figure in county politics is in the process of stepping down in order to give his chosen successor an incumbency edge leading into next year’s elections. Sources tell me that Pottsville Mayor John D.W. Reilly is expected to step down from his post within the coming months to be replaced by City Councilman Jim Muldowney. In addition, County Sheriff Harold Rowan, who replaced newly elected Commissioner Francis McAndrew is expected to step down in favor of a yet unnamed democrat. Some reports say that the prospect is from Ashland.
This decision has to enrage Michael Halcovage, the uber-popular Pottsville City Councilman and attorney, who looked to be a shoe-in for the democratic nod in an open primary. However, now that Reilly and the Pottsville dems have decided on the infallible writ of succession, Halcovage must decide whether to buck his own party leadership by contesting the nomination or slink into the background behind Muldowney and wait for his coronation in a few years.
Of course, if Mike really wants to be mayor now and believes he would be a superior choice to Muldowney, he could always pull a PJ Symons by turning his back on a lifetime of ideals and values to opportunistically switch parties in the lead-up to the election . . . . .
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September 10, 2008 at 8:17 am
[...] they were regular Clarke Report readers, it would not have been such a surprise. As was reported herefirst back on July 2nd, democrats began prepping for the next local election by planning to move [...]