PGH 14 WIDC 2022 Primary Events!

MARCH 27: CLUB ENDORSEMENT FORUM AND ELECTION!

The candidates spoke and members voted.

Congratulations to our 2022 endorsed candidates!

U.S. Senate: Conor Lamb

U.S. House, District 12: Summer Lee

Governor: Josh Shapiro

Lt. Governor: Austin Davis

Pa. House Dist. 23: Dan Frankel

Pa. House Dist. 34: Summer Lee

 

Our March 20 Barbara Daly Danko Political Forum was a great tribute to Barbara and democracy in Pennsylvania

Watch the recording:

Watch Here

Coverage on WESA-FM, Tribune-Review, Post-Gazette,

Get the Club’s 2022 Newsletter!

 

Club Annual Meeting Sunday 6 February 2022

 

Democracy is on the Ballot.

The Fierce Urgency of Now:

Barton Gelman, a journalist covering American Democracy for The Atlantic, warns that America’s small “d” democratic forces are not organizing fast enough to counter the anti-democratic forces that have overrun the Republican party.

He also wrote about what we now know as the former president’s Big Lie and refusal to concede defeat in the 2020 election.

More is coming to light every day, including the submission of forged election documents to the National Archives in an effort to undermine the results of the 2020 Presidential election.

Will you be able to vote in the 14WIDC Endorsements?

Club Members: to be eligible to vote in the 14WIDC Endorsement Meeting to be held on Sunday, 29 March, you must pay your 2020 Club dues.

JOIN OR RENEW HERE

Here are the details as directed by our by-laws:

Current Members must pay dues by the March 29 Endorsement Meeting by March 29. If you paid dues in 2018 and 2019, you are considered a current member and must pay 2020 dues at or before the Endorsement Meeting to vote in the endorsement.

Lapsed members must pay dues by January 30. If you were a member, but you did not pay dues in 2018 and 2019, your membership is considered to have lapsed.  

New members must pay dues by January 30. If you were a member, but did not pay dues in 2018 and 2019, then you will be considered to be a “new” member. 

Two opportunities in January to learn about running for office!

#1 How to Run for Allegheny Democratic Committee

Feb 13 Petition Signatures to get on the ballot starts! Here’s a good manual for Committee Persons.

Wednesday, January 10 at the 14th Ward Democratic Committee Meeting

Meet and Greet 7:00-7:30pm.  Information Session at 7:30pm.

Sixth Presbyterian Church, corner of Murray and Forbes Aves in Squirrel Hill.

Discussion on how to run for the Democratic Committee and what it means to serve on the 14th Ward Democratic Committee.

NOTE: This meeting is open to the public. 

Please contact Sam Hens-Greco at samhensgreco@gmail.com or at 412-427-2486 for questions.

#2 Ready to Run Pittsburgh: Campaign Training for Women

Saturday, January 27 at Chatham University Shadyside Campus

8:00am – 5:00pm. Registration fee $65 before Jan. 6, or $75 on or after Jan. 6.

Ready to Run™ Pennsylvania provides bi-partisan political training to encourage women to run for government leadership positions. The day-long program targets women considering or recently deciding to run for political office, providing training and mentoring by campaign professionals, political women, and officeholders.

Click here for more information and to register.

Nov. 7 2017 is all about our Judiciary!

Nov. 7 is Election Day this year and many of the candidates are running for judicial office or retention to judicial office. These races are extremely important to Democrats all across Pennsylvania, but why are they important? Check out the information at the bottom of our Voting Resources page to learn about the different courts in our judicial system, what types of cases they hear and how they connect. Then flip over to our Current Elections page to see who our Democratic Candidates are for  Tuesday, Nov. 7!

Primary Election Day is Tuesday May 16

Make a plan to get to the polls on May 16!

The 14WIDC mailed our yellow 2017 Voters Guide with a list of the Club’s endorsed candidates to the homes of all registered Democrats in the 14th Ward on Monday, May 8. Please check your mailbox for the flyer, or print the Voters Guide here to take with you to the polls. 2017 is an important election year with many judicial races, along with local elections for mayor, sheriff, city council and school board seats among others. Go vote and encourage your family, friends and neighbors to do the same.

2017 endorsements

14th WARD CLUB BACKS PEDUTO FOR MAYOR

Ready to support him for a second term leading the City of Pittsburgh

29 of 30 candidates for office speak to PGH 14 WIDC members and interested citizens

The 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club has endorsed Bill Peduto for Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, affirming his handling of several opportunities and challenges thus far. He faces opposition in the May 16 primary election from Dr. John Welch and Councilwoman Darlene Harris. The Mayor in coming years will face the pressing issues of drinking water safety, public infrastructure, equity in development and gentrification displacement, engaging in the 21st century economy, immigration policy, and resilience in the face of climate change. All of these issues came up from questions from those present at the Endorsement Election Forum.

At its annual endorsement meeting today the club also selected incumbent Bill Mullen for Sheriff of Allegheny County, who has received praise for running the Sheriff’s office free of any credible accusations of misconduct or failure to perform the office’s duties fairly.

Dan Butler won the endorsement for Magisterial District Justice – District 5-2-35 – over Mark Sindler, Matthew Wholey, and Abbie Campsie in a 4-way race. The local judicial office deals mainly with criminal, small claims civil, and truancy cases. Butler was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf after his predecessor Hugh McGough was elected Judge of Common Pleas Court. The race for this office has been more controversial than many in past years.

In a five-way race for the Democratic nomination for PA Superior Court, Carolyn H. Nichols, Geoff Moulton, Maria McLaughlin, and Debbie Kunselman were endorsed by the Pittsburgh 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club membership. Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Ellen Ceisler and labor attorney Todd Eagen won the endorsement for PA Commonwealth Court.

In the Pittsburgh School Board District 5 campaign between first-time candidate Ghadah Makoshi and  incumbent Terry Kennedy, Ms. Kennedy was endorsed.

For Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, six candidates vied for two seats on the bench. The Club’s members endorsed trial attorney Patrick Connelly and appointed Judge David Spurgeon.

Two campaigns in particular were beset with “whisper campaigns” about shortcomings in performance or reactionary stands taken by candidates. The Pittsburgh 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club usually turns away from candidates who make unsubstantiated accusations of other candidates, and this year’s endorsements reflect that principle.

The Club further advocates for environmental, economic, and social justice. Questions from Club members and attendees at the April 23 Endorsement Forum frequently probed into candidates’ records and stands on these issues.

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 and has made annual candidate endorsements for 53 years.  Its endorsements are printed in a Voters’ Guide and mailed to 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 who best match their values and have best responded to important issues.

Here is the club’s full slate of endorsed candidates:

  • PA Supreme Court Justice: Dwayne Woodruff
  • Allegheny County Sheriff: Bill Mullen
  • City of Pittsburgh Mayor: Bill Peduto
  • Pittsburgh City Council – District 8: Dan Gilman
  • Pittsburgh School Board – District 1: Sylvia C. Wilson
  • Pittsburgh School Board – District 5: Terry Kennedy
  • Magisterial District Justice: District 5-2-35: Dan Butler
  • PA Superior Court: Carolyn H. Nichols, Geoff Moulton, Maria McLaughlin, and Debbie Kunselman
  • PA Commonwealth Court: Ellen Ceisler and Todd Eagen
  • Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas: Patrick Connelly and David Spurgeon

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Media release PDF

VOTERS’ GUIDE PDF

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