Strahm: Lansdale Dems Discrediting Non-Endorsed Candidates

Lansdale and its residents come first.  Period.  End of story.  But the local Democratic Party is reading from a different book.  Lansdale Democratic Committee chairman and current borough councilman Jack Hansen claims I am doing nothing but attack.  “Constant attacks”, “petty attacks”, “attack on Bev Dodds” – he makes it sound like it’s Shark Week on the Discovery Channel! 

He also said, “It is that time of the year again! Political season is upon us and some people will say anything to get your attention.”  Jack – you got that one right, because you’re the one who is “saying anything.”

First, a bit about Bev Dodds.  Jack has you thinking that I’ve wronged her in some way.  Give him enough time and he’ll most probably have me pushing little old ladies in front of speeding trucks next.  But here are the facts:

Bev Dodds responded to one of my blog posts (under her own name) with this:  “This sounds like sour grapes to me. If Strahm did get the endorsement, he'd be singing a different tune. This guy sounds really immature. Watch out, Lansdale!”  Not knowing who Bev Dodds was, I wondered why she was being quite rude.  I then found out the facts:

• Bev Dodds is a Vice Chair of the North Penn Democratic Committee
• Bev Dodds is the campaign manager for the Next S.T.E.P. slate of North Penn School District candidates
• Bev Dodds is running for a Supervisor’s seat in Montgomery Township for the second time.

I tried reaching out to her.  But she let me know she wants no part of sitting down and speaking with me. 

I then posted a comment letting readers know Bev’s party connections.  That’s an attack?  No. So Bev Dodds is not some innocent woman exercising her First Amendment rights, as she and Jack would have you believe.

Bev Dodds is Democratic Party operative who is working in lock step with Jack Hansen – and they will do anything to make sure that Party comes before people or good policy. 

Now you might wonder why I’m engaging Jack Hansen and Bev Dodds.  Neither of them is running against me.  Liz Troy and Leon Angelichio are. 

So you’re going to have to understand that this election is coming down to this: The local Democratic Party is pulling out all the stops to try and discredit non-endorsed candidates. And take the heat, if necessary, instead of letting their candidates do so.

But you have to ask yourself, do you want to be represented by council members who are either too afraid to speak up in public, or worse yet – can be muzzled by their own party? 

Lansdale and its residents come first.  That’s what you get with me.  Richard Strahm for Lansdale Borough Council – Ward Three. 

RICHARD STRAHM
Lansdale Borough Council candidate