Nov. 7, 2017.
Write down the date.
It's the day Delaware County Democrats made history by bringing two-party rule back to a county that has been lorded over by Republicans for four decades.
For the GOP, it is their very own day of infamy, the day when Democrats finally put some teeth into those registration figures. Republicans found themselves in a position they have not been in since the Home Rule Charter was adopted in the mid-'70's: The loser's bracket.
Democrats stunned their Republican counterparts and reversed history by taking both seats for County Council that were up for grabs. They also ran the board on the three county row offices, posting wins in the sheriff, register of wills and controller races.
The only Republican to come up a winner was Jack Whelan, the district attorney who managed to hold off Democrat Kelly Eckel for a seat on the county Court of Common Pleas.
Stunning does not seem to quite capture what happened on Tuesday.
History comes a little closer.
Simply put, this has never happened before.
Democrats Kevin Madden and Brian Zidek become the first Democrats ever elected to Delaware County Council, besting incumbent Republican Dave White and his running mate, former longtime magisterial district judge John Perfetti. In the process, Zidek and Madden will be the first Dems to sit on the county's ruling body since the Home Rule Charter was adopted, eliminating the mandated minority representation.
Republicans will retain a 3-2 majority on the board, but it seems clear that the days of the perfunctory 5-0 votes are over.
And the Dems were not done. They also swept all three county row offices. Jerry Sanders beat incumbent Mary McFall Hopper for the sheriff's post. Joanne Phillips knocked off Republican Robert Kane in the controller's race. And Democrat Mary Walker defeated Republican Beth Naughton-Beck to be the next register of wills.
Turnout was stronger than expected at 32 percent, despite a cold rain that started at mid-day and continued through the evening until after the polls closed.
Democrats also made gains in several municipalities, taking control of ruling bodies in Brookhaven, Nether Providence and Rutledge.
The Dem wave extended into Upper Darby, where a very familiar race wound up on the short end of the vote count. Current County Council Chairman Mario Civera, who could not seek another term on council, lost in his run for Upper Darby Council. Before running for the county post, Civera served the 164th District in the state Legislature for three decades. When he gave up his seat, it also went to a Democrat, state Rep. Margo Davidson.
Count me among those who find themselves flabbergasted at the results.
The question now becomes why.
I think I know part of it.
It wasn't just here in Delaware County. Chester County also saw historic wins by Democrats - something simply unheard of in one of the state's most reliable GOP power sources
It was in New Jersey and Virginia, where Democrats captured governor's seats.
His name was not on the ballot, but make not mistake, a lot of this was about Donald Trump.
But that is for another day.
Right now it's time to give the Delco Democrats their due.
"It's been a long time coming, let me tell you," said county Democratic Party leader David Landau.
Tell me about it, Dave.
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