Apr 9, 2014 3 min read

CECIL – Six months after a political booth caused commotion at Cecil Township’s Fall Festival, officials approved a resolution barring residents from distributing political messages at events while volunteering on behalf of the township.

Whether it be manning the concession stand or an informational booth, anyone actively participating in events sponsored by the parks and recreation board will be prohibited from wearing political attire and distributing political materials during those functions. The resolution does not apply to general attendees, and political booths will continue to be allowed.

The motion was approved 3-2 at Monday’s meeting of the board of supervisors, with Frank Ludwin, Cindy Fisher and Andy Schrader voting in favor of the resolution. Opposed were Elizabeth Cowden and Tom Casciola.

Board Chairman Schrader, who drafted the resolution, said Wednesday his goal is to keep township functions “family-friendly and enjoyable without exposing the public to political rhetoric.”

Cowden and Casciola said they voted against the motion because it was not on the agenda, and they felt residents should have ample time to voice their opinions on the matter.

“It was completely unexpected,” Casciola said. “It shouldn’t be sprung on us like that.”

Casciola is running against incumbent Jesse White, also from Cecil, in the May 20 Democratic primary for representative in the 46th District.

Cowden said she felt the resolution infringes on residents’ freedom of speech. Additionally, she said stories about political rivalries at township events have been exaggerated by the politicians involved.

Yet this is not the first time supervisors discussed political tensions at township events. Volunteers manning a “Concerned Citizens of the 46th District” booth at last year’s Fall Festival solicited signatures for a petition to remove White from office.

The booth also displayed a controversial poster containing comments White posted under a false persona during online disputes over Marcellus Shale drilling last year. The ensuing discussion over what materials should be banned from township events sparked the resignations of two parks board members.

Supervisors asked the parks board in February to review and update its rules and regulation ordinance, which is several decades old. The board has not yet provided those revisions to supervisors.

Fisher, vice chairwoman of the board of supervisors, said political T-shirts were worn to last year’s Easter egg hunt, which she felt was inappropriate.

“That’s a children’s event, not the place to be pushing political agendas,” Fisher said.

Fisher said politicians and political candidates would still be permitted to share messages with constituents at township events. She said the main goal of the resolution is to eliminate hate speech.

“I think there’s a difference between freedom of speech and personal attacks,” Fisher said.