Ask most people in Delaware County who their congressman is and you will likely get a quick answer: Pat Meehan.
It's true. The 7th District does cover most of the county, along with snippets of Chester, Montgomery, Berks and Lancaster counties. You can blame the wonders of gerrymandering for that, but that's another story.
The truth is Meehan represents most of Delaware County - but not all of it.v
Many people along the eastern part of the county, and along the Delaware River as it snakes south - including the city of Chester - live in the 1st Congressional District and are represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Bob Brady.
Yesterday was not a good day for Brady, the head of the Philadelphia Democratic Party and one of the region's most powerful Dems.
Two political consultants who worked for him were charged by the feds in connection with a $90,000 payment labeled as a campaign donation but which the feds maintain was really meant to get the candidate to drop out of the race.
Former Philadelphia Judge Jimmie Moore did just that, giving up his challenge to Brady in the Democratic Primary.
Donald Jones and Ken Smukler, one of the most familiar names in political consulting in the region, were charged in the case.
Brady was not, and has denied any wrongdoing.
Federal law imposes a $2,000 limit on contributions from one campaign to another. That would mean there would be problems with a $90,000 donation. The feds say the payment, meant to allow Moore to pay off his campaign debt, constitutes an unlawful campaign contribution.
The indictment claims Smukler and Jones funneled the money to Moore by routing the money through their consulting companies. They are charged with violations of campaign finance and reporting laws as well as conspiracy. Jones also is charged with lying to the FBI.
It wasn't a good day for the region's Democrats.
Consider the case of former Philly District Attorney Seth Williams.
He was back in court to be sentenced after entering a guilty plea to a single count of bribery, as federal prosecutors laid out an ugly pattern of the city's top lawman lining his pockets with gifts, Eagles tickets, exotics trips and a lavish lifestyle all for access to Williams and his help in helping them in their business pursuits.
Since entering the plea, Williams has been jailed, held in an 8x10 prison cell.
He's already been fined $62,000 by the city's ethics board and been disbarred by the state.
Things didn't get a lot better in court yesterday.
U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond unloaded on Williams, sentencing him to five years in jail and summarily rejecting a plea from Williams that he be released for a few weeks to visit his dying mother. Yes, that would be the same mother prosecutors say Williams stole from during his glory days as the city's D.A.
Diamond blasted Williams for "feeding his face" at the public trough. He upbraided Williams: "Almost from the time you took office, you sold yourself to the parasites you surrounded yourself with," Diamond lambasted the former D.A.
Like we said, not a great day for the region's Democrats.
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