Primary Election Day Post Mortem: Pop Song Edition Part Deux!

Last time, I wrote about who was hurt by the low voter turnout. This time it is all about who the low turnout helped. Three out of four ain't bad! Okay, the Meatloaf rock classic is two out of three, but The Republican reform slate put forth by County Chair Wayne Woodman did get three out of the four ballot spots and knock incumbent Dean Browning down to 6th place and out of the game. Just as the low turnout hurt Browning, it conversely abetted the Chairman's chosen few. When moderates stay home, extremists bullies rule the political playground.  As I wrote earlier, good luck trying to win all 4 seats in November Mr. Woodman, when the bullies get at least a couple of challengers who can bring their own cadre of voters to the polls.   Sympathy for the Devil:  Way to go Doug Reichley, you managed to win the Republican municipal judge primary over political newcomer Melissa Pavlack by a thousand votes. But it wasn't the overwhelming win you thought you would get as a five-term legislator, and you had to sully yourself by attacking all other candidates. It's what you had to do to guarantee a win, and I'm sympathetic to your plight.  Pavlack received  far more cumulative votes from both parties (over 2,000 more) than you did, and almost stole the Democratic nod away because of Democratic voter lethargy among the rank and file. Give Pavlack some credit for being a damn good candidate and running a damn good race on  both sides.  You won Doug, but what did it cost you, besides all the cash you transferred from your State Rep. campaign funds? And if you don't defeat McCarthy in November, how do you run for re-election in 2012? You've already told voters you don't want to be their State Representative anymore. There's no turning back now. My Generation: (If you are over 80 years of age)   Frank Concannon, at 88 years young, is one of the three Democrats who will be on the ballot for City Council this November. I hate to say it, but I fully expect at least one of the Republican candidates to play up the age issue. It's not fair, but it is legitimate. Frank was in his early forties when The Who hit the airwaves in the 1960's. Concannon benefitted from what appears to be turnout in Allentown that was UNDER 8%.   A 2.5 to 1 Dem to Rep registration advantagein Allentown be damned, I don't know if Concannon can win if one of the R's runs an aggressive enough campaign, and overall turnout is under 25%. But he definitely benefited from voter apathy on Tuesday.   And I have to throw out a Led Zeppelin reference. The Song Remains the Same:   Incumbents, with the notable exception of Dean Browning, pretty much were all renominated across the County. Once you are in, you are in, barring an issue that can't be ignored. For all the wailing from the public, we keep sending the same people we complain about back for another go around. We don't like the karaoke performances, but we let them back on the public stage again and again.