Rick Santorum’s recent success in GOP presidential primaries has refueled the debate about handouts of public funds known as “earmarks.”
Greenville Borough, a 6,000 population town in northwestern Mercer County, PA latched on to federal funds through Santorum’s largesse in 2006 when he was running an unsuccessful re-election bid to the US Senate.
I had just been elected Mayor of this distressed community and got a telephone call from the late Peter Vessella, a close friend and longtime Democrat chairman of nearby Lawrence County. Santorum was in the early stage of a campaign against young Bob Casey, state auditor-general and son and namesake of a very popular governor.
Mr. Vessella served two years at Allenwood Federal Penitentiary convicted of corruption with coal contracts at Penn Power Co. Mr. Vessella carried on a vicious feud with the Casey family because the elder Casey provided evidence crucial to his conviction. Mr. Vessella believed this evidence had been fabricated, in part to protect higher ups at the utility.
Knowing bitter feelings would prohibit Vessella from supporting fellow Democrat Casey in the 2006 Senate race, I was not surprised he called. I had spoken to Vessella about Greenville’s financial woes but did not make the connection when he asked me to attend a private meeting with Santorum at a motel in West Middlesex.
Until the meeting, I intended to vigorously support Casey for the Senate seat. In 2002 I had broken a long time alliance with the Casey family dating back to 1966. I supported Ed Rendell for Governor over the son in a bitter Democrat primary. Nevertheless Vessella was a close friend and perhaps the best street pol that I ever knew.
Vessella greeted me at the door. Also in attendance were two Santorum aides and longtime Republican state committee member from Lawrence County, Atty. Richard E. Flannery. Mr. Flannery was known as Santorum’s gatekeeper in West Central and Northwest PA.
Santorum and I began with typical chit-chat of two obvious political junkies. I mentioned he was handing out some large grants across the state. He replied “I am writing checks and President Bush is cashing them. The White House is doing all they can to help my re-election.”
At that point I saw hope for Greenville.
Misappropriated funds by a borough manager under the noses of a sleeping council had created a number of problems for Greenville, pushing the town to the brink of bankruptcy. Main Street’s renaissance was only half done and a modern “Streetscape” design over the entire thoroughfare was unlikely.
The piecemeal approach could take two decades. More storefronts were vacant than occupied, particularly in the unfinished part. Shortly after my election in November of 2005, Gov. Rendell placed a congratulatory call and said I “had one or two bites at the apple coming.”
I made conclusions:
1. Rendell could not be relied on.
2. Casey would be an easy winner.
3. There would be no second opportunity for Greenville.
4. Casey would understand putting community before politics.
5. The Democrat Party would not give a hoot what I did.
We had a grant application for $175,000 in front of the feds, but that was only ten percent of what we needed to complete Streetscape, I told Santorum. He offered to help and the next part of the meeting is less clear in my mind.
Santorum at least implied that he expected my help in his campaign and I did nothing to lead him to believe otherwise. I even posed for an endorsement type picture with Santorum. The photo was sent around the Internet, I am told. Reportedly, Rendell saw it and declared “Miller had turned Republican.” I spent the last three years “persona non grata” at the Governor’s office.
Later, people involved in our grant application were called by Washington and told to reapply, moving the decimal point one slot to the right. Shortly after, Greenville was awarded $1,750,000 and we completed our Streetscape.
Eight days before the November, 2006 election, Borough officials (mostly Democrat and at the request of the Mayor) participated in a media check presentation with Santorum. The Mayor was out of town on business.
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