Another Criminally Bad Decision
POTTSTOWN, PA – Next month Pottstown voters will be heading to the polls to elect candidates for the Pottstown School Board who will appear on November’s general election ballot. Ten people have filed nominating petitions to appear on the May 17 primary election ballot for five at-large seats.
Pottstown School Board member Thomas Hylton, who is the sugar daddy behind the politically-unsaavy political action committee known as Pottstown Citizens for Responsible Government (which is currently being investigated for financial fraud by Montgomery County), has hand-picked five candidates who will appear on next month’s ballot.
We reported on those mysteriously quiet candidates in our recent Yellow Journalism Is Alive and Well and Funny Times Are Here Again posts.
One of our ace field reporters shared with us a recently uncovered Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County criminal docket on one of Tom Hylton’s candidates, William Habekost. In June of 2003, Habekost pleaded guilty to assault. At the time, Habekost was married to Sandra Franklin, who Hylton highlighted in his March 1, 2011 paid advertisement on charter schools.
Another interesting Hylton-Habekost connection comes from a ten-year old Mercury article (written by reporter Evan “Troll” Brandt) on Hylton’s economically-disastrous downtown parking scheme. In the article, we see the same stale cast of characters who, to this day, still have little to show for Pottstown’s economic development. We also read the following comment: “I wasn’t sure how I felt about this back-in plan until I researched it…I now feel it’s an excellent plan that is well-thought out. My husband and I feel this is a positive step forward, just like the new borough hall.”
That comment came from Sandra Habekost (now known as Sandra Franklin and the author of two letters to The Mercury bashing the successful uniform policy – you can read those letters here and here). It’s also worth mentioning that William and Sandra used to own and operate Celestine Books and Gifts on High Street…a business that closed years ago. We guess that “excellent” back-in parking plan downtown didn’t help to bring in more customers to their shop.
So the question remains…why is Tom Hylton proposing a candidate for school board who has a criminal past? Is this the kind of insightful candidate Tom Hylton wants to lead our school board? Why is it so hard for Tom Hylton to make decisions that actually benefit Pottstown?
If Tom Hylton is so smart (as those online hater commenters at The Mercury claim) then why didn’t he do a simple background check prior to selecting his candidates for school board? Since he has endless amounts of time to research how he mistakenly believes Pottstown can afford to keep five elementary schools open, why didn’t Tom Hylton do some basic research before hand-picking his candidates? If he did, he would have realized that the PA Constitution bars from elective office anyone convicted of an “infamous” crime, which the courts have interpreted to include various misdemeanors (yes…assault is a misdemeanor).
What other surprises are in store from Tom Hylton’s other candidates??
We’re afraid to ask.
The warden threw a party in the county jail
Tom Hylton was there so he could pay the bail
The candidates were stumping to pay homage to Tom their king
The Pottstown voters were all fed up with Tom and his bad decision ma-king
Let’s rock
Everybody, let’s rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was sick of Tom Hylton’s schlock
THIS IS SOME SERIOUSLY GOOD INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING SP.
Ran into “dapper dan” downtown yesterday, resembling an easter egg on legs. From the bright pink dapper dan hat on top of his head to his oh-so- purple sweater I wasn’t sure weather to chew him up right then and there or toss him into my Easter basket with the jelly beans and peeps and save him for later.
You know about “courtroom psychology” right? When defending someone in a criminal action, lawyers will often suggest soft attire and pastel colors to heighten the jury’s sense that the accused is harmless and couldn’t possibly have broken the law.
The same principal is evident here.
Don’t let the Easter egg outfit fool you, Tom Hylton is lining up SB candidates that can double as body guards, and they’ve got records to prove it. Others just advertise their bi-sexual preferences and extra ordinary preoccupation with “doin’ it” like the bunnies do. Hippity Hoppity.
cluck cluck happy holiday to all.
Bill “The Bruiser” Habekost for School Board. I’ll know not to pull that lever at the polls.
Thanks for keeping readers informed.
Interesting information for consideration, SP!!
I think the point worth noting is that to make informed choices all information should be offered – good or bad. If this information sways you in one direction or another share it so that more people can be informed and find good reasons to go vote on May 17th!
Much as I hate to say it, it’s not about who wins – but that enough people vote so that a true representation of the people is measured. To say a victory is won is only possible when there is a fair contest. That can only happen when a majority of eligible, registered voters show up at the polls on May 17th.
If the results of this election are important to you help get the word out and even get people to the polls. Pottstown needs your help to move forward in unity and common vision.
Educate yourselves on the people appearing on the ballot, before May 17th. Talk about it with friends and neighbors – information sharing and knowledge is power. Though, they are nothing without exercising them at the poll.
Pottstown needs to select carefully on May 17th or face limited choices in November, when it could be too late.
Share, be aware and vote!