Hope for the Future

As we are on the eve of the mid-term election I find myself looking back on the last few months and the many experiences that I have had the opportunity to share. From knocking on doors, to hosting Meet and Greets, the people that I have met have been a refreshing dose of kindness, compassion and intelligence that was desperately needed at this time. There is one individual whom I have met that I am truly amazed by, and, honestly, in awe of, Josh Portney.

For those that have not been involved with Daryl Boling’s campaign for PA State Representative you have not had a chance to meet this incredible young man. Josh is a senior at Upper Dublin High School, has worked as a counselor at Camp America Day Camp and as an Intern at the Montgomery County Democratic Committee. I met Josh as the Deputy Campaign Manager for Daryl’s campaign.

Josh has played an integral part in Daryl’s campaign, and, while being summarily dismissed by Tom Murt when he introduced himself, he has behaved in an honest, respectable way that I hope one day my own son will imitate. Speaking with Josh you will immediately recognize that he has a deep understanding of the issues that are of interest to our community. Whether its education, women’s rights or common-sense gun laws, Josh has done his homework and can, and does, hold meaningful conversations on these topics that include not just Daryl’s positions but his own as well. He is more informed on domestic and foreign issues than I am, and at less than half my age!

By comparison, while one of Tom Murt’s college age interns is defending the need for big game hunting in Africa to cull the population of wild animals, Josh is writing about the decertification of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran Nuclear Deal). While Murt’s intern was busy ghostwriting letters of recommendation and articles for Murt’s credit, Josh was busy coordinating volunteers weekend after weekend to canvass and knock on doors. And, while Murt’s intern is making a nuisance of himself by repeatedly posting pro-Murt letters to the Upper Moreland Democratic Committee Facebook page, Josh is attending his high-school classes and making the last minute arrangements needed to push Daryl to victory tomorrow.

A person certainly shouldn’t be voting for either Daryl Boling or Tom Murt based on the actions of the people on their campaigns; however, I am a firm believer that people surround themselves with others who are like-minded. We have seen in the last few weeks that Murt has allowed others to act on his behalf in questionable ways which have included circulating several pieces of literature that contain lies regarding Daryl Boling’s positions and statements on various issues. If Tom Murt is surrounding himself with individuals of questionable character during his campaign who does he surround himself with on the House floor?

But, to circle back to Josh Portney, I cannot express how truly impressed I am that a seventeen year old has been able to accomplish so much while simultaneously navigating high school. He gives me hope. Hope that today’s youth, while scarred and battle-worn from gun violence, online bullying and, well, adults twice their age making life-altering decisions for them, will be the leaders of tomorrow that we so desperately need.

Congratulations, Josh Portney! No matter what tomorrow may bring, you helped run a clean, honest campaign and I am proud to have met you.