5 day forecast
Bankable choice: Cordisco is the Democrats' best for treasurer
Share with others:
Pennsylvania's treasurer is the custodian of funds for virtually all state agencies and is responsible for the receipt, investment and disbursement of billions of dollars.
With an annual budget of $60 million and a staff of more than 500 employees, it would be logical if this position were an appointed one. But the voters get to choose, and in the past their taste has run to electing treasurers who are more politicians than financial experts.
The Democratic field for the April 22 primary offers different models of would-be treasurers -- politician, ex-politician or nonpoliticians with varying degrees of financial knowledge. Acting Treasurer Robin L. Wiessmann, chosen to succeed Bob Casey after he was elected to the U.S. Senate, is not in the race. Republican Tom Ellis of Montgomery County is running unopposed.
Four Democrats are seeking their party's nomination. Dennis Morrison-Wesley, 58, is best known in Philadelphia, but now lives in Harrisburg, where he is a financial consultant. He has never held public office.
Jennifer Mann, 38, of Allentown, has been in the state House for a decade and has been talked about as a future leader. A graduate of Lehigh University, she has been a member of the House Finance Committee since coming to Harrisburg. Ms. Mann impressed the Post-Gazette editorial board, although her qualifications are not as great as others.
Rob McCord, 49, of Bryn Mawr, certainly has credentials: a bachelor's degree from Harvard, an MBA from the Wharton School and 14 years as a financial executive managing over $1 billion in assets. Although he has never held public office, he did work in politically related jobs as an aide in Washington, D.C. The problem with Mr. McCord is that he may be too close to the financial world, as evidenced by its heavy investment in his campaign war chest.
That shouldn't be a problem for John Cordisco, 53, of New Hope. Starting out as a steel worker, Mr. Cordisco was elected to the school board at 22 and the Legislature at 25, where he served six years. While he was working, he earned an undergraduate degree from Rider College and a law degree from Temple University. He went on to establish a law firm and, in 2005, he helped found Team Capital Bank.
Mr. Cordisco is well-rounded. His time as a legislator gives him a working knowledge of government, but he also knows the law and the financial world. We endorse John Cordisco for the Democratic nomination.
First Published April 6, 2008 12:00 am
