AFL-CIO backs Prokopiak in 140th
The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Executive Council endorsed Democrat Jim Prokopiak in the 140th Legislative District special election.
“Jim is a strong advocate for unions and the issues our members care about,” said Angela Ferritto, president of the state AFL-CIO. “He will work to create family-sustaining jobs by attracting new businesses to the area and to raise the minimum wage. Jim will also invest in education so the Neshaminy, Pennsbury and Morrisville school districts receive their fair share of state funding. He will support our working-class communities as a state representative in the 140th District and in Harrisburg.”
Prokopiak works for the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority and was a Falls Township supervisor from 2002-09.
“Jim will protect workers’ rights, including the right to form or join a union,” said George Piasecki, secretary-treasurer of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. “He will fight for better pay and benefits, secure retirements, gender equality, workplace health and safety, high-quality public education and civil rights. The PA AFL-CIO is proud to support Jim Prokopiak because we know he will advocate and fight on behalf of our members.”
The Republican candidate is Candace Cabanas.
The 140th Legislative District consists of Falls Township, Morrisville and Tullytown and a portion of Middletown Township. The seat has been vacant since Democratic Rep. John Galloway’s resignation to be sworn in as a magisterial district judge.
The special election will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 13. ••
Pittsburgh firefighters endorse Solomon
Pittsburgh Fire Fighters IAFF Local No. 1 endorsed state Rep. Jared Solomon for attorney general.
“Jared Solomon stands with firefighters and we stand with him,” said Tim Leech, vice president of Pittsburgh Fire Fighters IAFF Local No. 1. “Jared will bring to the attorney general’s office the same strong commitment to public safety he’s shown in the state House making sure Pittsburgh’s firefighters have the resources we need to keep our neighbors safe.”
“Having the support of Pittsburgh Fire Fighters Local 1 means so much to me because Pennsylvania’s firefighters are amongst the bravest men and women I know,” said Solomon, who chairs the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee. “As AG, my mission will be the same as theirs: Protect the public.”
Solomon has also been endorsed by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 and the Philadelphia Firefighters’ and Paramedics’ Union IAFF Local 22.
Also backing Solomon are VoteVets as well as 20 members of the legislature.
A Democrat, Solomon is also running for re-election to the House.
Solomon is one of five Democrats running for attorney general. The others are former Bucks County Solicitor Joe Khan, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale and former Defender Association of Philadelphia chief Keir Bradford-Grey.
Candidates running in the Republican primary are state Rep. Craig Williams and York County District Attorney Dave Sunday. Former Delaware County District Attorney Kat Copeland dropped out after the party endorsed Sunday. ••
Williams runs on law and order
Republican state Rep. Craig Williams, a former federal prosecutor and U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran running for attorney general, said Republican lobbyists in Harrisburg and the political establishment of Washington, D.C. picked their candidate for attorney general.
“What they did not tell anyone was that they picked a Democrat in Dave Sunday. He runs his office like a progressive Democrat district attorney, rivaling Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner with his progressive policies of not prosecuting, letting people out of jail and not seeking prison sentences. Sunday has allowed the city of York to become one of the most violent places in the commonwealth. He offers no contrast to the other Democrats in this race,” Williams said.
Williams hired Mark Campbell as campaign manager. Campbell was campaign manager for Glenn Youngkin when he won the 2021 Virginia governor’s race.
“I will unify the Republican voters with a message of tough-on-crime law and order. That has been my life’s work – to keep people safe. Democrats – like Sunday – don’t get that,” Williams said. ••
Amtrak CEO comes to Bucks
U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick hosted Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner to recognize the impact of federal infrastructure funding and to observe ongoing safety and restoration efforts at the Randall Avenue Bridge.
At the Amtrak Training Facility in Morrisville, Fitzpatrick and Gardner celebrated an $8.8 million grant Amtrak received in September. The funds, made available by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will be used to implement a pilot engineering track foremen and inspectors apprenticeship program. This workforce development initiative will offer new knowledge, as well as mentorship and mobility opportunities, for employees. Recognizing there may not be an adequate number of seasoned, highly skilled employees providing knowledge transfer and mentorship, the project will support the development of a comprehensive training requirement for new employees and help provide upward mobility for current employees.
In Bristol Township, Fitzpatrick and Gardner were provided an update on the township’s efforts to maintain the structural integrity of the Randall Avenue Bridge in the near-term while considering future rehabilitation or reconstruction options. The township-owned bridge closed last February after concrete and debris fell from the underside of the structure onto the Amtrak and SEPTA tracks below.
“Amtrak is an important carrier, employer and economic partner for Bucks and Montgomery counties,” Fitzpatrick said. “I am grateful to Mr. Gardner for taking the time to visit PA-1 and engage with local officials as well as to highlight the successes of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. I look forward to continuing to support passenger rail and transit programs in Congress to ensure that Amtrak and SEPTA have the resources they need to keep our community moving.” ••
Get married or renew your vows
Bucks County Register of Wills Linda Bobrin will hold the third Vows and Valentines wedding and vow-renewal ceremony on Feb. 14.
The event will take place from noon to 2 p.m. in the third-floor rotunda of the Bucks County Courthouse Administration Building, 55 E. Court St., in Doylestown.
Bridal flowers, boutonnieres, photography, videography, live music and a catered lunch will be provided. Due to space restrictions, couples may bring up to two guests only.
Interested couples should email emarriage@buckscounty.org and begin a marriage license application. Bucks County marriage applications are accepted online and can be started at https://propublic.buckscountyonline.org/psi3/marriagelicense. To participate in the wedding ceremony, couples must submit a short, paragraph-long bio by Jan. 31 and must obtain their marriage license by Feb. 7. ••
Blocking foreign nations from buying campaign ads
U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Jared Golden introduced the Block Foreign-Funded Political Ads Act to prohibit foreign nationals from purchasing political advertisements on broadcast and cable television as well as online.
The legislation builds upon similar efforts by Fitzpatrick and Golden to counter any foreign influence in the U.S. electoral system, such as the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act. That bill, which would prohibit campaign donations by foreign nationals for state and local ballot initiatives or referenda, was passed by the House Committee on Administration unanimously in November 2023.
“Our nation’s foreign adversaries cannot be permitted to influence our elections, especially by funding political advertisements related to any candidate, issue, ballot initiative or referendum,” Fitzpatrick said. “Our bipartisan Block Foreign-Funded Political Ads Act will prevent undue foreign influence by prohibiting foreign nationals from purchasing political ads from television broadcasters, cable providers and digital platforms. I am proud to lead this effort with Rep. Golden and grateful for his continued partnership on legislation to ensure that American elections are decided freely and fairly by the American people.” ••
Farry office hours in Bensalem
State Sen. Frank Farry (R-6th dist.) is offering satellite office hours the first Wednesday of every month, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Bensalem Township Municipal Building, 2400 Byberry Road, Bensalem.
Farry’s staff will be on site to assist with state government services; Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications, birth and death certificate applications, SEPTA Senior Key card registrations and renewals; and unemployment issues. ••
Lower South supervisor meeting schedule
The Lower Southampton Township Board of Supervisors meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the Township Building, 1500 Desire Ave., Feasterville. The next meeting is Feb. 14. ••
Commissioners meeting
The Bucks County Commissioners meet on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 10:30 a.m. at the Bucks County Administration Building, 55 E. Court St., in Doylestown.
The meetings are broadcast on the county’s YouTube channel.
The next meeting will be Feb. 7. ••
Bensalem Council meeting schedule
Bensalem Township Council meetings are generally held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building at 2400 Byberry Road, Bensalem.
Meetings can be viewed live on Comcast Xfinity Channel 22 in Bensalem and on Verizon Fios Channel 34 throughout Bucks County. They can also be streamed live on the Bensalem Township YouTube channel.
The schedule is Feb. 12, Feb. 26, March 11, March 25, April 8, April 29, May 6, May 20, June 10, June 24, July 8, July 22, Aug. 12, Aug. 26, Sept. 9, Sept. 23, Oct. 15 (Tuesday), Oct. 28, Nov. 12 (Tuesday), Nov. 25, Dec. 4 (budget meeting) and Dec. 16. ••
Bensalem school board meeting schedule
The Bensalem Township Board of School Directors holds meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Dorothy D. Call Administrative Center, 3000 Donallen Drive, Bensalem.
The next meeting will take place on Feb. 27.
The public is invited to attend.
Future meetings are on March 26, April 30 (fifth Tuesday), May 28, June 25, Aug. 27, Sept. 24, Oct. 22, Nov. 26 and Dec. 17 (third Tuesday). ••
