Mayors decry campaign negativity, outside interests in 18th District special election
Beneath a portrait of George Washington and citing his farewell address, an organization billing itself as the Washington Project called on the electorate to be informed, be involved and vote in the March 13 special congressional election in the 18th District.
Mayors who have initiated the Washington Project announced on Presidents Day – in a city that bears the name of the first POTUS – hope that voters will ignore “political parties, political action committees and special interest groups outside the 18th Congressional District.”
The mayors decried the entities that have “descended on the district to promote their own agendas and interests for the purpose of influencing the outcome of this election in a way that is harmful to the democratic process.”
Canonsburg Mayor David Rhome said his constituents have complained to him about out-of-staters who “start knocking on doors at 8, 9 o’clock in the evening summoned by some special-interest PAC. The people just don’t want that.”
They also expressed disgust with political action committees whose members “may never have set foot in Southwestern Pennsylvania.”
As part of his 32-page farewell address, first published in 1796 when George Washington declined to seek a third term, he wrote, “Promote then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge.
“In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.”
Those who started the Washington Project said their objective is to have a congressman “elected by ordinary people, not special interest groups” going to Washington, D.C., with a mindset that he represents all the people of the district.
The mayors are not endorsing a candidate for the 18th District, and when asked about their political affiliations, Whitehall Borough Mayor Jim Nowalk said although those present in Washington Monday are Democrats, they were, in the general election, elected as Democratic-Republican nominees.
They’ve started a website, www.washingtonproject.org, that includes information about both Republican State Rep. Rick Saccone and former federal prosecutor Conor Lamb, a Democrat. A Libertarian, Drew Gray Miller, is also running, and although he was not listed on the website Monday morning, members of the group seemed amenable to adding a link to him.
“If you don’t come out to vote, you can’t make a change,” Rhome said.
Nowalk has been encouraged in at least one respect.
“I’ve seen signs on lawns where they’ve never put up signs before,” he said. “Just like us, the people are frustrated with what’s going on in Washington and they want to do something about it.”
The mayors plan to propose a resolution for a vote among their respective councils urging residents to become informed, be involved and vote in the upcoming special election.