It’s happened so often that it’s now a cultural cliche: the gay politician pretending to be straight. In most parts of the nation, homosexuality or bisexuality is a clear electoral liability.

Not in Center City’s 182d state House district. There, it’s a badge of honor.

Veteran Rep. Babette Josephs (D., Phila.) last Thursday accused her primary opponent, Gregg Kravitz, of pretending to be bisexual in order to pander to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender voters, a powerful bloc in the district.

“I outed him as a straight person,” Josephs said during a fund-raiser at the Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant, as some in the audience gasped or laughed, “and now he goes around telling people, quote, ‘I swing both ways.’ That’s quite a respectful way to talk about sexuality. This guy’s a gem.”

Kravitz, 29, said that he is sexually attracted to both men and women and called Josephs’ comments offensive.

I could be shaking my head over this one for a while.

1. At age four success is … not peeing in your pants.

2. At age 12 success is … having friends.

3. At age16 success is … having a drivers license.

4. At age 20 success is … going all the way.

5. At age 35 success is … having money.

6. At age 50 success is … having money.

7. At age 60 success is… going all the way.

8. At age 70 success is … having a drivers license.

9. At age 75success is … having friends.

10. At age 80 success is … not peeing in your pants.

11. Success is winning an election at any age.

Are you talking political turmoil?

Here is political turmoil … (Las Vegas Style)

Firefighters have long been the most sought after prize in local politics. Candidates of both parties fought hard for their endorsement, which came with money, volunteers in firefighter T-shirts to knock on doors, and a hard-to-beat image: candidate, flag and firefighter.

But several years of reports about firefighters’ lucrative compensation during a time of economic duress, exacerbated by a series of public relations missteps, have combined to make firefighters and their union politically toxic in some quarters, according to several political operatives.

A Democratic operative who was granted anonymity to speak freely, was blunt: “Not only are people not seeking the endorsement, they are actively avoiding it.”

Who would of thunk it?

THE CURRENT CORONER, Jenifer Keach, may have a point when she argues there are personalities and politics involved in efforts to switch her office from an elective position in Rock County to an appointed medical examiner.

FIRST, UNDERSTAND why coroners are elected in the first place. It’s a throwback to a much earlier time, when the Wisconsin Constitution was adopted, and all manner of relatively minor offices were set up to be filled by election at both local and state levels.

Obviously, as the years have gone by, death investigations have become much more complicated and scientific. Yet anybody can be elected coroner, with or without professional qualifications.

(I’ve written about this before but it is a story worth re-telling.)

The reason I laughed when I read that was because in 1996 I was elected Coroner of Barron County,WI on a 50-48 write-in victory. It was during a time when Barron County was in transition to a Medical Examiner yet the Coroner position was still on the ballot. I didn’t serve but I am the living proof that “anyone can be elected coroner…without any professional qualifications.”

The headline in the newspaper read …Coroner-Elect may be DOA.

It was a hoot.

A recent commentary discussed winning elections while wearing a beard or mustache.

It concluded …

There’s a simple reason why the vast majority of politicians, elected officials and political candidates don’t have mustaches or beards: because facial hair, for whatever the reason, loses votes for male candidates (and female candidates too, I would imagine).

To tell the truth I have never put much thought into that.

Which David Letterman would you vote for?

Two of the candidates stood out. It wasn’t what they said it was how they said it. Both of those candidates answered the questions and then shut up. The other candidates all felt a moral obligation to attempt to use every second allotted, and babbled on and on and on.

Candidates … when at a debate or forum or whenever you are answering questions …. answer the question and shut up. It will reap you big rewards.

Election ties happen all the time. When you scour the news for local political news like I do, you realize that tie votes are not all that unusual. It is how those ties are decided that is the news.

I was recently reading about the tie city council race in Sealy, TX.

In Sealy candidates  Mark Stolarski  and Wyn McCready rolled dice. Three dice each in their box, high score wins.

There is picking a name out of a hat.  Or picking the long match stick. Or a hundred yard dash. (Just kidding, seeing if you are still reading.)

My favorite? The good old fashion cut of the cards. But, that’s just me.

How would you want your race decided?

It is local election time in the Pontificator’s home town. In addition to a very interesting two way Mayor race we have eight council candidates running at large with four seats vacant. Yard signs are multiplying with every passing day. It reminds me of Ole Oleson.

Ole ran for Mayor the same time I did in 1984. In addition to the incumbent there were four challengers including Ole and myself. A primary was needed to cut it down to the final two. Ole was a very popular “character” around town. He owned a small diner and was very involved in the local Elk’s Club. Everyone like Ole.

I vividly remember standing on a corner while going door to door and seeing a wave of Ole signs as far as my eye could see. On both sides of the street. I remember questioning myself “what the hell are you doing?” Ole had more yard signs than the other four candidates combined. Ole came in last place.

Yard signs don’t win elections.

I’ve never forgotten that.

I was having a discussion with a Mayoral candidate the other day. We were discussing yard signs. I told him my philosophy of yard signs.

Only place a yard sign in the yard of someone who contacted your campaign and wanted one. You don’t call anyone and ask if they want a yard sign. I don’t care how much you think someone may support you, they must ask for the sign.

If someone has a sign of mine I do not want them asked why they have one, and have them answer, “I was asked and I didn’t want to say no.”

I would rather have 50 signs in yards of people who want them, rather than 100 signs in yards of people who don’t.

Also, no vacant lots.

I’ve just read a story about about a pretty smart young politician.

Thomas Connor Moss a 21 year old student at Middle Tennessee State University. Mr. Moss is also running for an at large seat on the Murfreesboro City Council.

What makes Mr. Moss so smart at such a young age is what he said it would take to win this election.

“I can only win this election with help from voters in the university,” Moss said.

That is right Thomas. You can’t win any election without your base getting out and voting.

Never forget that.