Parthenia Izzard And Elvira Berry Join Amanda Cappelletti, Filing To Run Against Daylin Leach In 17th District Senate Race. GOP Will Nominate Ellen Fisher
Will Cappelletti Challenge Berry’s Petition?
Despite massive oppostion from Democratic Party leaders across Pennsylvania, as well as in Montgomery and Delaware Counties, incumbent Daylin Leach filed to run for re-election this week. East Norriton Supervisor, Amanda Cappelletti also filed her petition to challenge Leach in the April 28, 17th District Senate Primary.
In addition, two other candidates filed to join the fray in the SD-17 Race – Parthenia Izzard of Haverford, and Amanda Berry of Wynnewood. That’s two more candidates than Cappelletti would have preferred to see on the ballot (well three, if you include Leach).
It appears now that Cappelletti represents a far greater threat to Leach’s winning re-election than either Izzard or Berry. She came within a handful of votes of winning the endorsement of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee. And Cappilletti won the endorsement of the Delaware County Democratic Committee.
Both Berry and Izzard have also been critical of Leach, so it would seem likely that any votes they get, would have otherwise gone to Cappelletti. Therefore, if Cappelletti is able to force either Izzard or Berry off the ballot, it would be to her advantage to do so.
The election code requires candidates for the state senate to collect at least 500 valid signatures on their petitions in order to have their names placed on the ballot. Cappelletti and Leach easily exceeded the minimum, as did Izzard. However, Berry only presented 556 signatures.
Elvira Berry’s Petition
Click here to see full petition.
Given that Berry is cutting it so close with the number of signatures she delivered, and knowing that her presence on the ballot will at least in some way benefit Leach, it’s probable that Cappelletti will file an objection to Berry’s petition.
The only reason for Cappelletti not to file an objection would be because she does not perceive Berry as enough of a threat to justify the cost of challenging her petition.
On the other hand, Berry’s campaign finance report for the period that ended December 31, 2019, shows that she raised $62,986, and that she had $48,663 on hand at the end of the year. If Berry stays in the race, and is able to raise even more money, she could prove to be more than just an annoyance to Cappelletti.
And then there issue of ballot position. On Wednesday (February 26), a lottery in Harrisburg will determine which candidates get which ballot positions. The importance of ballot position is debateable. But what is not debateable is that the top ballot position is to better to have than the bottom one. And the more candidates who appear on the ballot in a particular race, the more importance that ballot position takes on.
Tuesday (February 25), is the last day that petition objections can be filed.
If Cappelletti does decide to object to Berry’s petition, she can do so by asking to strike signatures for any of the following reasons.
- Not Registered
- Not Registered At Address
- Not Registered In District
- Not Registered on Date Signed
- Illegible
- Line Information Omitted
- Duplicate
- Line Information in Hand of Another
- Nickname/Initial
- Printed Signature,
Ellen Fisher of Haverford, is only Republican that filed to run in SD-17. Last fall she ran unsuccessfully for the Haverford School Board.
Amanda Cappelletti’s Petition
Click here to see pages 1-70 of petition
Click here to see pages 71-140 of petition
Click here to see pages 141-208 of petition
Parthenia Izzard’s Petition
Click here to see pages 1-47 of petition
Click here to see pages 48-94 of petition
Daylin Leach Petition’s
Click here to see pages 1-79 of petition
Click here to see pages 80-158 of petition