LESLIE ACOSTA ART.jpg

Ex.-state Rep. Leslie Acosta, D-Philadelphia (PennLive file)

Good Monday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

Humorist

Will Rogers'

legendary chestnut, "I don't belong to an organized political party, I'm a Democrat," may be hitting a tad too close to home for residents of North Philadelphia's

197th House

District.

There, as our pal Chris Brennan of the Inquirer reports, matters are so fractious that city Democrats, who control more than 85 percent of the voter registration, were unable to cough up a candidate for a March 21 special election.

In case you're wondering, the 197th is the seat held, until recently, by convicted former state Rep. Leslie Acosta, who caused Dems something of an embarrassment by covering up the fact that she'd pleaded guilty to a federal corruption charge last year.

So that means that Republican Lucinda Little, whose party holds just 5 percent of the ballot, will be the lone candidate on the ballot during the election later this month, Brennan reported.

So what's going on? Long story ... let us explain ... no, let us sum up (as Inigo Montoya might have said).

The short form is that Latino ward leaders who control the district lack ... ahhh ... certain organizational skills.

There's also a tangled web of competing interests, family relationships and rivalries that result in local Democrats getting in their own way more often than they do not, Brennan reported (click through, it worth it, we promise).

"They've got to get their act together," U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, head of the city's Democratic Party, told Brennan, employing his famed tact and sensitivity. "They just don't get along together. There's too much animosity. The Latinos, it's a shame they just can't get their act together."

As Brennan points out, Acosta succeeded another state lawmaker, Democrat J.P. Miranda (he of ghost pay-rolling fame), who similarly found himself at the business end of the local gendarmerie.

Democrats nearly had a candidate on the special election ballot, local healthcare executive Frederick Ramirez, but he got bounced after a Commonwealth Court judge determined that he didn't really live in the house he owns in the district, Brennan reported.

Judge Anne Covey rejected a Democratic request to put Emilio Vazquez, of the Philadelphia Parking Authority on the ballot in a decision handed down last week, Brennan reported.

Ahhh ... Philly ... still putting the 'fun' in dysfunctional after all these years.

The rest of the day's news starts now.

The Tribune-Review explains how a Butler County school district 'turned a blind eye' to lead-tainted water.

Organ transplant pioneer Thomas Starzl has died, aged 90, The Post-Gazette reports.

PhillyMag profiles the region's 10 hottest suburbs.

CBS-Philly covered the Pro-Trump rally in Bensalem, Bucks County, over the weekend.

Here's your #Harrisburg Instagram of the Day:

Nurses and techs are going on strike at a Delaware County hospital, NewsWorks/WHYY-FM reports.

Whether they like it or not, a lot of Pa. Trump supporters are covered by Obamacare.

Though the future is uncertain, Pa. students are still be urged to apply to some state System of Higher Education Schools, The Morning Call reports.

Pa. Senate Democrats fell victim to a cyber-attack last week, PoliticsPA reports.

It's a very weird time to be U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. Politico explains why.

Congressional Democrats have identified the weakest members of the herd in 2018, Roll Call reports. Yes, we're looking at you, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-17th District.

What Goes On.

Budget hearings resume in the state House (140MC) and Senate (Hearing Room 1, North Office Bldg), this Monday morning. Here's the day's schedule.

In the Senate:

10 a.m.: Dept. of Community & Economic Development

1 p.m.: Revenue Dept./Pa. Lottery

3:30 p.m.: Pa. Historical & Museum Commission

In the House:

10 a.m.: Dept. of Education

WolfWatch:

Gov. Tom Wolf has no public schedule today.

What Goes On (Nakedly Political Edition).

Congresista Lou Barletta tiene esta noche una recepcion de 17:30 en una residencia privada. Admision es $500 a $5.000.

Heavy Rotation.

Here's an old fave from Mumford & Sons that popped up on the way to work this morning.



Monday's Gratuitous Hockey Link.

Carolina finally stopped its losing skid, beating Arizona 2-1 on the road on Sunday night.

And now you're up to date. See you all back here in a bit.