PAUL SCOLES CORRECTS THE RECORD

Outgoing County Council President Andrew Reilly, in his recent attack on Democratic candidates for County Council, intimated that Republican candidate Andy Lewis was responsible for saving open space at the Haverford State Hospital site.  In fact, the deal to reserve 80% of the tract as open space was hammered out by Democrats Connie Williams and Greg Vitale, long before Mr. Lewis appeared on the Haverford political scene.  In fact, the open space agreement was delayed for years by internecine Republican wrangling, and the citizens of Haverford probably wound up paying more for the property as a result.

Mr. Lewis has contributed to the subsequent process of finding a developer for the tract, (a process tainted by a bid rigging scandal that has resulted in one Republican commissioner being indicted  already, and the resultant contract being clouded with charges of pay-for-play improprieties) and his contributions should be recognized. However, the initial deal saving the open space from Republican plans to turn it into a golf course, office park or other commercial use was thanks to Sen. Williams and Rep. Vitale.

Mr. Reilly should be a little more careful of his own rhetorical flights before he attacks others’.

Paul Scoles