3 minute read
WINNERS LOSERS
Who was up and who was down last month
Oh, the weather outside is … well… starting to get frightful. And fortunately, 2021 is almost at an end, which, in year 2 of a pandemic, we likely all find delightful. But before we look ahead to the New Year, there are winners and losers in Pennsylvania politics to celebrate and admonish. So, before we close the book on 2021, find out below who finished the year strong, and who is likely getting coal in their stocking.
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TIM HOLDEN
Tim Holden, chair of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, deserves a drink. Under Holden’s leadership, state liquor sales saw a historic increase in the last fiscal year, with the PLCB recording $2.91 billion in sales – a 13.7% increase from the prior year. That figure also represents the largest yearly sales increase in the board’s history.
WINNERS
OUR PICK
THE BEST OF THE REST
ALA STANFORD
The Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity, a new primary care clinic in North Philly, opened in early November to help underserved communities. Stanford made a name for herself last year while running COVID-19 testing clinics in Black and brown neighborhoods through her Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium. This new clinic, funded by private dollars, grants and donations, will look to be a model for the city to address health care disparities in communities of color.
LORI DUMAS
Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Lori Dumas looked to be on the losing end of two elections for seats on the state’s Commonwealth Court. In the days following Election Day, Dumas inched ahead of Republican Drew Crompton and a statutorily-mandated recount of the race confirmed her victory, making her the only Democrat to win a statewide appellate court race in November’s election.
LOSERS
OUR PICK
MARGO DAVIDSON
Former state Rep. Margo Davidson pleaded guilty to stealing from the state, after Attorney General Josh Shapiro charged her with theft for filing fraudulent per diem requests and other expenses while a member of the state House. After entering a guilty plea, Davidson is now prohibited from holding public office in the state ever again.
THE REST OF THE WORST
JOHN DOUGHERTY & BOBBY HENON
Philly labor titan John Dougherty and City Councilmember Bobby Henon were convicted of a slew of charges in a federal bribery trial last month, and as a result, Dougherty resigned his position at IBEW Local 98, while Henon relinquished multiple city council committee roles. Henon has yet to resign from City Council, but the verdict likely marks the end of the duo’s political power in Philadelphia.
GLEN GRELL & JIM GROSSMAN
Amid investigations into the state’s public school pension fund over errors in investment numbers, executive director Glen Grell and chief investment officer Jim Grossman are planning to retire. PSERS board members have said they’ve lost confidence in the executives and Gov. Tom Wolf called for the PSERS investigation to be made public. This probably isn’t the way these two imagined riding off into the sunset.
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Vol. 1 Issue 6 December 2021
As the murder rate soars, DA Larry Krasner plays Good Cop/ Good Cop The Philly Power 100
Trash talk
Why Philly can't come clean
CITYANDSTATEPA.COM @CITYANDSTATEPA DECEMBER 2021
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