Who's running for Delaware County seats

In Delaware County, where Republicans have had a lock on the county council for 30 years, the Republican Party's stamp of approval seems to go far with voters. Yet this year, one Republican candidate is wearing her "un-endorsement" proudly.

Barbara Murray, 53, of Upper Darby, hopes to defeat the endorsed candidates - a council incumbent and a 29-year veteran of the state House - in Tuesday's primary for two council seats.

Democrats also have a race, with three candidates in the primary.

Murray, a financial trainer at the University of Pennsylvania, pitches herself as an independently minded Republican who isn't beholden to party leaders.

"It's freeing," said Murray, who also has worked as a local and state committeewoman. "I don't have a county job. I don't have to worry about losing my job. I don't have to worry about checking in before I make a decision."

Murray's opponents tout their experience. Mario J. Civera Jr., 62, of Upper Darby, has represented the 164th District in Harrisburg since 1980. In November 2006, the House GOP elected him minority chairman of the Appropriations Committee, which helps set the state budget.

Civera said his experience as a state representative would help make sure that Delaware County "gets their fair share" of state funding.

The county GOP has endorsed Civera and John J. "Jack" Whelan, 49, a lawyer from Ridley Township who was elected to county council in 2005.

Whelan was an assistant district attorney from 1986 to 1991, and spent 10 years as chairman of the Police and Public Safety Committee in Ridley.

Democrats hope to capitalize on the grassroots energy from last year's presidential race to make Delaware County history: No Democrat has been elected to the council since the county went to that form of government in 1976.

The Rev. Keith Collins, 49, pastor at the Church of the Overcomer in Trainer, was the only candidate announced by the party at its annual convention. A Ridley resident, he has never run for office, and said he had approached the party to find out how to get involved.

Collins, who also works as director of clinical visitation for the Elwyn Institute human-services organization, said he wanted the council to hold more meetings in the evening and outside Media. Council meets at 10 a.m. Tuesdays at the county government center, but recently held one evening meeting in Collingdale to try to reach more residents who work days.

Two more Democrats have jumped into the race: Nancy Baulis, a Philadelphia science teacher who gained the party's endorsement, and Elizabeth "Liz" Williams, a Chester community activist and educator.

Baulis, 61, of Springfield, led the local Democratic committee until January. She ran for the county council in 2005, the year Whelan won. If elected, she aims to establish a county health department: Delaware County is the only suburban Philadelphia county without one.

Williams, 63, a Chester native, said her knowledge of the city would help guide the council's decisions on redevelopment. She also wants to see a greater emphasis on improving education.

In other countywide races, County Councilor Linda A. Cartisano is the Republican candidate for a newly created Common Pleas Court judgeship. Her opponent is Nancy Rhoads Koons, a Radnor Democrat who has worked as a trial lawyer for more than 25 years. Because the candidates have cross-filed, one could win both primaries and effectively win the seat.

Sheriff Joseph F. McGinn faces Republican challenger Michael P. Boyle of Upper Darby, a political newcomer with a background in business. The election also includes races for municipal and school-board candidates and magisterial district judges.