A few weeks ago, I wrote a diary about the Colonial Area School Board race.  The Colonial Area School District is located in the "swingingest" area of Montgomery County, itself a "swing" county key to Democratic control in Pennsylvania.  This area is part of the PA 6th district, in which Lois Murphy is running for US Congress.

Our website, www.colonialareadems.org has been updated with candidate pictures and information, as well as information on how to contribute by credit card or check.  Currently, all seats on the Colonial School Board are held by Republicans.

Short of impeachment, there's no way to remove Bush from the presidency in 2005.  We won't be able to vote Righteous Rick Santorum out of office until 2006.  Likewise, Jim Gerlach will be supporting the radical Republican agenda in the House until 2006.  But we have a chance to break the Republican lock on control of the Colonial School Board, while laying the groundwork to make this area of Montgomery County a reliable source of Democratic votes in years to come.

It is heartening to see all the excitement among the Philadelphia-area progressive blogosphere   around the 2006 elections.  There'll be joy in the morning on that day when we send Santorum and Gerlach and other Repugs back to life in the private sector.

However, there are important local races coming up in November 2005.  While these races don't have the "buzz" of a Presidential or Senatorial or Congressional race, they have significant impact on the quality of life in our cities and towns.  

From Atrios:

According to the Mitakides campaign:

"The voter problems have already begun, and Republicans are apparently taking this race very seriously. Absentee ballots are being mailed with the wrong Congressional race on them... leaving my race out of the ballot. The ballots are being mailed to the City of Trotwood and is heavily Democratic and not being on the ballot here is devastating. Just as important, if these are irregular ballots, it will give Ken Blackwell a reason to throw them out... affecting Kerry's race, too. We don't know how many went out.

The ballots are being sent with Jeff Hardenbrook's name rather than mine; John Boehner is the Republican. Hardenbrook is a perennial candidate who PLANS not to raise money, and files paper FEC reports. He barely managed 29% of the vote last time. Of course, here in Ohio, we have the situation with Republican Attorney General Kenneth Blackwell seeking to disqualify any ballot cast at the wrong precinct; of course he would do the same with these, knocking out Kerry votes as well as mine."

A Survey USA Poll released today shows Democrat Joe Hoeffel making more gains against Republican Arlen Specter, with a mere seven points now separating them in the race for U.S. Senate. Hoeffel now holds 41% of likely voters, while 24-year incumbent Specter polls only 48%. Constitution Party candidate Jim Clymer gets 6% support.

Hoeffel has gained six points in the two weeks since the last Survey USA poll, while Specter's standing has fallen six points. Hoeffel's surge shows him with his highest number yet in the race. This news comes on the heels of the independent Keystone Poll on October 7, which showed Hoeffel within nine points of Specter.

Per Atrios and the PoliticsPA site (www.politicspa.com) a new Keystone poll has Specter 44 Hoeffel 35 Clymer 7.  Hoeffel's problem is name recog.  We're all donor-fatigued to h*ll and back, but let's dig for some turkee for Hoeffel.  Also let's light a fire under the DSCC and ask them to invest a bit more effort in what is supposed to be one of their priority races!