Allegheny County Democratic Committee chair responds to criticism over endorsements

Allegheny County Democratic Committee Chair Eileen Kelly convened a closed-door press conference Wednesday to respond to criticism over the committee’s slate of endorsements, which were voted on and released Sunday.

Kelly, along with Pittsburgh City Councilman Anthony Coghill, who serves as the 19th Ward Democratic Committee Chair, defended the county committee endorsement process and denied any Republican support within the party’s ranks.

They also upheld two controversial endorsements: a vote to support challenger Chris Roland over incumbent Rep. Summer Lee in the 34th District Democratic primary, along with a vote among committee members representing the 36th District to support Heather Kass over Jessica Benham.

“As chair, I stand bound to support the endorsement,” Kelly said. “The endorsement gives the candidates a step ahead. It’s an advantage. But by no means do they stop working, because they have to receive the vote for the primary.”

The primary election is April 28. The county committee sponsors mailers, candidate flyers outlining candidates’ platforms and access to other resources to support endorsed candidates in the run-up to the election.

Kass was endorsed by retiring 13-term Rep. Harry Readshaw but criticized by other members of the party for her connection to social media posts written in 2015 and 2016 that opposed the Affordable Care Act, mocked drug addiction and gun control, and supported President Donald Trump.

Coghill said he withdrew his support for Kass after the social media posts surfaced and must have additional conversations with her now that she has earned the committee endorsement.

“I believe Jessica Benham lost that endorsement all on her own,” Coghill said.

Her platform likely does not resonate with voters, particularly on issues like fracking, he said.

“I don’t know what was said behind closed doors in the press conference,” Benham said in an email. “I’ve been out knocking doors all day. The great conversations I’ve been having indicate that my platform of fighting for investments in infrastructure, health care and education, addressing the opioid epidemic, and standing strong for workers’ rights resonates with voters in the district.”

Kass said that she was unaware of the press conference.

“As I have stated before, I have made mistakes in my past and I’ve apologized, as I am sure most people have made mistakes and have learned from them and moved on,” Kass said. “They have been forgiven for their past. So should I. I will continue to learn and keep to the Democratic values moving forward.”

Kelly also said she does not defend Kass’ posts but does not think Kass should step down as a candidate.

“She won the endorsement,” Kelly said. “And as I said before, the committee people are the ones that know the candidates the best. And they choose by the candidate that is going to provide for their district.”

Benham lost the endorsement with 19 votes to Kass’ 49 votes, according to Kelly.

“For some reason, no one wants to forgive her,” Kelly said of Kass. “But we have Bethany Hallam, who has her own background that she’s been open about and she comes out and says she’s sorry. She’s forgiven.”

Bethany Hallam, an Allegheny County Council member at-large who also has served as an Allegheny County Democratic Committee member since 2014, showed up to observe the press conference.

She was asked to leave by Kelly and Coghill, who said as the event was starting that they were “uncomfortable” with her being in the room where the press conference was being held.

Hallam, who has been open about her experience with drug addiction and recovery, said she listened to the press conference through the closed door.

“I never once asked permission for the substance use disorder that I struggled with for a decade,” Hallam said. “All I did was tell my story and explain why my perspective was so important to have a seat at the table. That’s all I ever did.

”I never once asked anybody to forgive me, because I don’t want forgiveness. I want to prove every day in my work, and with my work ethic, why I deserve a seat at the table. And I think that I have done so.”

Hallam said she is taking steps to convene a meeting of the committee members to work toward reforming the endorsement process.

“Our chair and city councilman had an opportunity today, to stand up for our Democratic Party, to unite the Democratic Party in Allegheny County, and instead they chose to be more divisive than ever,” Hallam said. “And that makes me sick. That is not how we win in 2020. That is not how we win down-ballot races.”

That is also not how Democrats in Western Pennsylvania will help to put a Democrat in the White House in November, Hallam said.

Allegheny County Councilman at-large Sam DeMarco, who also serves as the Allegheny County Republican Committee chairman, also weighed in.

“At points, Kelly and Coghill sounded like the television ad the Republican Committee recently aired — the spot pointing out that the Democrats no longer stand for jobs and economic progress,” DeMarco said in a statement. “Today’s disaster was inevitable. Entropy works that way. I strongly suggest traffic avoid Democratic headquarters to avoid being sucked into the black hole currently taking shape as the committee implodes.”

When asked about her plan to unify the party, Kelly called out elected officials, particularly County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who are supporting Roland over Lee in the 34th District state House race.

“This is a time when we should be unified and in solidarity because of this presidential election,” Kelly said. “Why in the world he would want to start a fight now is unfathomable to me.”

Roland received 53 votes from committee members for the endorsement, while Lee received 25, Kelly said.

Fitzgerald has told the Trib that he is supporting Roland. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

“The leaders of the party, especially County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who helped a white male Chris Roland over an African American incumbent Summer Lee, is unbelievable to me, that he would consciously try to rip up the party during a crucial presidential election where we are to be united and in solidarity,” Kelly said.