For checks or other electronic payments, please contact STDC SpringfieldDemsMontco@gmail.com
School Director Candidates
From left to right Lee Abberley, Kate McGranaghan, Gerard Brett, KD Davenport. Click here for bios.
Township commissioner Candidates
From left to right: Susie Ratsavong Ward 2, Rob Goldberg Ward 4, Thad Kirk Ward 6 — Click here for bios. (scroll down)
Joelle Kleinman— Tax Collector
Joelle is the current Tax Collector in Springfield Township and has served residents respectfully for the past three years. She has lowered fees for online tax payments and built a website from scratch with a focus on easy navigation and seamless user experience for taxpayers. She is a resident of Wyndmoor with a professional background in Real Estate.
What’s up PA’s top courts? Why are you asking me to vote Yes?
5 PA justices and judges who are aligned with the Democratic Party are at risk of losing their seats — 3 Supreme Court justices, 1 Commonwealth Court judge and 1 Superior Court judge.
What? Why?
Unlike federal justices who are elected for life, PA’s justices serve 10-year terms. After 10 years voters decide, Yes or No, to determine if the justices will be retained for another 10-year term.
Why haven’t I heard of this before?
Well, it only happens once every 10 years for each justice. And these retention votes are typically low-interest, low-turnout affairs — taking place during the odd-year, Municipal Elections.
Municipal Elections? Do I know what they are?
PA has lots of elections — 2 elections every year — a primary in the spring to select candidates and a general election in the fall to pick the winners. Even years we select national and statewide officials. Odd years it’s local candidates — mayors, town councils, school boards, county commissioners, etc …. We call these Municipal Elections.
Justices, statewide are also elected during these Municipal Elections, or as in this case, retained or rejected.
And, as it turns out, justices are almost alway retained. An unspoken agreement between the parties has kept these retention votes non—partisan.
So, what’s up now with all this, YES/NO business?
The MAGA wing of the Republican Party.
Say no more.
This November, expect the hear the worst from MAGA operatives. If the 3 Supreme Court justices are voted out, PA’s top court will be left with 2-2 tie between Republicans and Democrats
If the PA Supreme Court is 2-2 a tie, who will decide?
In the case of a tie, decisions revert to lower court rulings, which depending on the case, will be either the Commonwealth Court or Superior Court.
What is particularly troubling for Democrats is that the Commonwealth Court is solidly in Republican hands. And will have jurisdiction over, elections, voting rights, and redistricting.
What about women’s reproductive rights?
Women’s reproductive rights touches on all 3 branches of PA’s Government. But the Commonwealth Court has a history rulings restricting access — and of having those rulings rejected on appeal by the PA Supreme Court. So, without the bulwark of a progressive PA Supreme Court, expect women’s reproductive rights to be curtailed.
Oh no! Can’t we get new justices on the Court?
We can try. Governor Shapiro can appoint new justices to fill the interim until the 2027 Municipal Election.
Well, the Governor will appoint some good Democrats. Right?
Appointments are subject to a 2/3s majority vote in the PA Senate.
Oh no!
So, if we lose these justices, chances are we’ll have to wait until 2027 when new justices will be elected in a partisan, head-to-head election during Municipal Elections.
Okay, but wait, 2027. That’s after the midterms, what if the Commonwealth Court steps in before the midterms to gerrymander districts or void mail-in ballots, or …?
Well, we’ll have a problem. That’s why it’s so important to get out the vote this November and keep these justices on the bench.
But, even though these local elected officials have direct impacts on our lives — turnout tends to be low, which means that relatively few votes can swing an election.
So we have a good chance — if we vote.
Yes, but we need to get out and vote. And to tell Democrats in red zones that while they may lose their local elections, their votes will be key holding the line on the PA’s highest courts.
Okay, I get it, but I don’t want to just blindly vote Party, who are these 3 justices?
Here’s a issue-oriented nonpartisan guide:
https://guides.vote/guide/a-nonpartisan-guide-to-the-2025-pennsylvania-supreme-court-retention-election.
For More on November’s Judicial Elections— click here
Get Involved
Our monthly General Committee meetings are now hybrid — In-Person or on Zoom. If you’re not already on our email list, subscribe below to get date and location of the in-person and/or Zoom link.
STDC's focus this year will be local. We will be endorsing and supporting our Democratic candidates and elected officials for school board, commissioner, tax collector, and judge, to show how good government can and does work for the people of Springfield. Let's make sure every seat in Springfield remains BLUE! In addition to fundraising, we are also making plans for free, in-person community events and mutual aid efforts, to help keep our community strong, and to find moments of joy, hope, and connection to sustain the resistance. We hope to spread STDC's message, in-person and on social media, that we care about Springfield voters all year, every year, and we will get through hard times together. Please join us in these efforts!
Order from Two Brother Pizza throughout 2025, and %10 goes to STDC! Call, or ORDER HERE
See Who We Are — Join The Joy
Strong Showing from Springfield Dems at 2025 County Endorsement Convention
Democracy is on the line. Get Involved — Join Us.
STDC Needs Your Help!
Please CLICK HERE to send an e-mail to for more information or to volunteer.