Bucks County Candidates Come Out for Expo

Touted as the highest polling district in the county, it's no surprise that Ann's Choice's Meet the Candidates expo Wednesday night attracted many of the local, county and state campaigners. 

Organized by the retirement community's Political Interest Group, the event gave the approximately 2,000 residents of Ann's Choice a chance to meet the people they could be voting for on Nov. 8.

"We usually hold debates," said Sally Rosen-Plon, a member of the Political Interest Group for six years. "It didn't make sense to have 10 or 12 different debates, though. Nobody would sit through all of that. Instead, the residents got a chance to talk to the candidates on a one-on-one basis."

Candidates such as Mark McKee, Republican hopeful for the Warminster Board of Supervisors, welcomed the opportunity to meet people actively involved in the local government.

"It's been a pretty good turnout," said McKee. "And it saves us from having to knock on all the doors."

The interactions between the candidates and potential voters Wednesday night stayed mostly introductory, a handshake, greeting and a quick pitch on the campaigner's ideas and beliefs. Many of the questions revolved around the candidates' record of service and community involvement.

That was a conversation the incumbent Bucks County Commissioner Chairman Charley Martin and Co-chairman Rob Loughery (R) happily engaged, ticking off the county's Triple-A bond rating and 7.5 percent unemployment, which is below the national (9.1) and state (8.2) average as of July.

"We put in place several successful economic development strategies 10 to 15 years ago that are paying off now," said Loughery. We've fostered a strong, educated workforce after it suffered losses in the '80s and '90s. We have a good mix of businesses and great locations that make it more desirable to work and live in Bucks County."

With fewer than two months before election day, the Democratic candidates for county commissioner chair and co-chair are prepared to take on the Republicans' record, quickly pointing out the string of legal troubles their opponents are going through, specifically the activity of Register of Wills Barbara Reilly and the recent guilty plea by staffmember Candace Quinn.

"The voters have become more aware of the county government now," said commissioner co-chair candidate and Doylestown Borough Council President Det Ansinn. "Unfortunately, they are not aware of it in a positive light."

As part of their startegy to tie Martin to the Register of Wills scandal, Ansinn and commissioner chair candidate Dianne Marseglia signed an Tuesday that promised to refrain from using county resources for campaigning purposes.

Since 2011 is an off-year for elections, meaning there are no national campaigns to draw more people to the polls, both parties agree that turnout will be more key than usual.

"We're looking at probably a 30-40 percent turnout for the county," said Martin. "Even though the national mood and trend leans toward Republican, we think it will still be a close one."