Kampf Announces for 157th House Seat

NewsTalkPA » State & Federal Elections » State House Races

Kampf Announces for 157th House Seat

(2 posts) (2 voices)

Chris
New Cumberland, PA
Editor
Joined: May '08
Posts: 313
offline

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: WARREN KAMPF
FEBRUARY 5, 2010 267-334-1705

Kampf Announces for 157th House Seat
Fiscal Responsibility, Economic Growth Cornerstones of Campaign

PAOLI – Warren Kampf, Tredyffrin Township Supervisor, today announced that he
is seeking the Republican nomination for State Representative in
Pennsylvania’s 157th Legislative District.

Kampf, 42, is a husband and father of two young children. Married for nine
years, he and his wife Meg (a Chester County Assistant District Attorney) live
in Paoli. Kampf is an attorney with White and Williams LLP, and has served on
the Tredyffrin Township Board of Supervisors for the past six years, including
as Chairman in 2008 and 2009. Prior to becoming a Supervisor, Kampf served on
the Tredyffrin Zoning Hearing Board.

Asked what his campaign would focus on, Kampf made it clear: bringing fiscal
responsibility to Harrisburg, and supporting policies which help spark economic
growth and create jobs.

“Too many people are hurting in today’s economy and Harrisburg hasn’t
helped,” said Kampf. “Instead of always looking to spend more and then
asking more of taxpayers to pay for it, the state should tighten its belt the
way we taxpayers have to.”

Kampf pointed to his own record as a Supervisor as proof he knows how to bring
fiscal discipline to government as well as find innovative ways to bring
community members together to meet challenges. Kampf has held property taxes
stable in 4 of his 6 years as a Supervisor, including in this year’s budget
(during which he served as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors) when
surrounding communities were seeing significant tax increases; he also helped
lead a community funding drive to help provide monies that local fire companies
were requesting.

“As a Supervisor, I’ve made the tough decisions to cut spending. I’ve
avoided unnecessary tax and fee increases. I think everyone agrees we need more
results like that in Harrisburg,” commented Kampf.

Kampf also criticized the state for becoming less competitive in the economic
marketplace, particularly when it comes to attracting new jobs and providing
freedom for entrepreneurs.

“Government can’t create jobs, but it can make Pennsylvania competitive
with other states when it comes to attracting employers and supporting the
job-creating industries of tomorrow,” said Kampf. “Our business taxes are
among the highest in the nation, our regulatory structure is among the most
onerous, and we have spent hundreds of millions on stadiums instead of on
helping support technology and small businesses across the state. As a State
Representative, I will help get government out of the way so entrepreneurs and
small businesses can do what they do best: grow our economy.”

When asked why he believes he is the best candidate for State Representative,
Kampf cited his proven record at making government live within its means and his
understanding of what local families and seniors are concerned about.

“As a Supervisor, I hear every day from residents in every walk of life. I
know they are concerned about their jobs, the cost of living, the future we are
leaving for our children, and much more. As a taxpayer, husband and father, I
share those same concerns and will work to address them as State
Representative,” Kampf concluded.

While most voters are focused on fiscal issues this year, Kampf’s record as a
Supervisor also illustrates a well-rounded approach to meeting the needs of the
residents he serves – an approach that will help him appeal to voters across
the political spectrum.

“I am proud of my fiscal record as a Supervisor, but I am just as proud that
I have been able to balance fiscal discipline with other accomplishments,”
said Kampf. “I have voted to preserve open space, to improve our parks and
recreation system, to address water issues, to provide for public safety and
more.”

Originally elected to the Tredyffrin Board of Supervisors in 2003 and
re-elected in 2007, Kampf was the top vote-getter in both of his elections,
drawing strong support from Democratic and Independent voters as well as from
his own Republican Party’s voters. Political insiders say this strong,
bi-partisan base in the district’s largest municipality make him the best
positioned candidate in what could be a Republican year.

- 30 -

Posted 6 months ago #
johnvpetersen

Member
Joined: Feb '10
Posts: 1
offline

You knew this was coming. When you break it down, Warren's political future is in the hands approx 60 people, not the 16,183 R's in the 157th. Think about that, 0.37 % of the electorate controls who gets the endorsement One may argue that the people casting the votes were elected. That is true, but it was an apathetic vote. For the most part, there is no engagement. For years, the voting public has simply accepted their choice of 1 candidate in the primary. The rationale normally offered - "We don't want to bloody ourselves up and spend $ before November." This is specious reasoning at best. Since there is no recommendation, any $ spent is on the candidate. The candidate can spend as much or as little he/she wants. But in this tightly controlled party system, the regular primary voter often does not get a choice. And this year, choice is all too important.

Looking at Kampf's press release, one has to chuckle. If you are living outside Tredyffrin, you may have cause to feel that Kampf is a worthy candidate. The real fact of the matter is, his press release is the tail wagging the dog at its very best.

Let's feast on a few facts...

- Re: Fire funding

What Kampf won't tell you is that under his watch, he chose to keep fireworks funding, but cut fire funding. After the public uproar, Kampf, who is also a Tredyffrin Committee Person, along with CT Alexander, GOP Chair, Bob Lamina, new BOS chair and Paul Olson, new BOS vice chair, cooked up a scheme to solicit donations. The problem was, this was in violation of the home rule charter. In all likelihood, fire companies will have to return the money as the process was politically motivated. To accept the money means to place the 501c3 status of the Paoli and Berwyn Fire Companies at risk of being voided. In fact, this was all a publicity stunt to be used as political fodder - like this press release. The real fact is that Kampf has never been a friend of the first responder community.

- Re: Fiscal discipline

For starters, as the previous paragraph indicated, Kampf wanted to keep public funding for fire works, but cut public funding for fire fighters. The irony is that when the fireworks display occurs, the fire companies are there on stand by. That does not sound like a guy who is dedicated to fiscal responsibility.

Then, there is the matter of street lights. For years, street lights and their associated maintenance has run through the sewer utility fund. This has had the effect of artificially lower operating expenses. The sewer fund is funded via a fee that just went up by 25%. In a cunning move, BOS Chairman Kampf stacked the vote so that 157th opponent Judy DiFilippo would vote yes for the fee increase before his [Kampf's] vote. Knowing that it was going to pass anyway, Kampf voted no. Again, this was for political fodder - and we see such fodder in his press release. The irony here is that on one hand, Kampf approved the expenditures for the street lights - but declined to fund those expenditures. Does not sound like real belt tightening to me.

- Re: Fixing the problems in Harrisburg, Job Creation and Helping People

Warren Kampf is not interested in helping anybody else. All he is interested in is helping fuel his political career. To do that, Kampf has made odd choices in the past. The most notable of which is the recent St. David's Sidewalk Decision. The best thing I can suggest you do is go to the Tredyffrin Community Matters Blog: http://www.pattyebenson.org/ and search on St. Davids.

In a nutshell, St. Davids is as private golf club that has been a GOP benefactor in the past. Several GOP committee people are members. In 2007, when Kampf ran for reelection along with Bob Lamina, former supervisor Paul Olson was seeking election after his 2005 defeat. The golf club and neighbors were instrumental in his victory. Because Kampf was an at-large candidate, these votes helped him as well. In 2005, St. David's, as part of its development plan, agreed to put sidewalks on Upper Gulph Road. Sidewalks are a major component of the township's master plan - a plan that Kampf voted in favor of and a master plan that was unanimously approved. There have been several attempts by Paul Olson, on behalf of a few people and the club, the have the sidewalks obligation removed. This obligations was secured by a $25K escrow - which is typical in land development deals.

Normally, applicants request to have their escrows releases and such request is in writing. Not so with the St. Davids deal. In 2009, another candidate, EJ Richter was elected to the BOS. Paul Olson was her single largest campaign contributor at $750. Kampf donated $250 dollars. Between the two and a few others, EJ's campaign coffers were filled. EJ represented the all important 4th vote on the BOS. It should also be noted that EJ is a member of the Tredyffrin GOP committee.

On January 8, 2009, Kampf, Lamina, Olson and Richter voted to forgive St. David's of its sidewalk obligation and to return return the escrow. Never before has this happened where there was no formal request. Also, there was no agenda item. It appears that not following the rules set forth in the home rule charter as to escrows and the review of development plans was violated. Also, the rule that such items be placed on the agenda was violated as well.

This is inside dealing and corruption at its worst.

My question is if Kampf engages in this sort of behavior, what exactly is he going to do in Harrisburg? How does any of this support a record that could be considered to attract jobs. If anything, Kampf would be a continuation of the problems that plague Harrisburg. And know this too, no sooner would Kampf be in his first session at the state house would he be thinking about his next office.

Scratch beneath the surface and it becomes clear that Kampf is not the best we can do for representation in Harrisburg.

And if you want some video evidence , check out you tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2Ngs60RjuQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV1K9nuxMmw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydOzfvGFuMQ

There is however, hope... The GOP has another choice - Ken Buckwalter. You can find his web site here: http://buckwalterforpa.com/

Posted 6 months ago #