Military Experience Among Montgomery County Democratic Candidates

At one debate for the four candidates running for Montgomery County commissioner, incumbent Republican commissioner Jim Matthews mentioned that he was the only veteran among the four. That is true, but there is a notable amount of military experience among the Democratic candidates for commissioner and the row offices. Some of it is included in candidate biographies, some is not. So, here goes:

Commissioner Candidates

Joe Hoeffel, the former congressman, county commissioner, and state representative, was a medic in the army reserves from 1970 to 1976. (Sources: Frank Devlin, "Montco has a primary fight," Morning Call, May 11, 1995, and PBS Online News Hour, Vote 2004)

Ruth Damsker, the incumbent Democratic commissioner is the widow of a veteran. Her late husband was a general medical officer for the Army in Germany. While there Damsker, who has a degree in social work, served as a volunteer counselor for military families. (Source: Melissa Milewski, "Damsker has her eye on the prize in Montco," Oct 5, 2003)

Candidate for District Attorney

Peter Amuso, according to his campaign site:

After law school, Peter began to serve his country in the U.S. Army. He graduated from JAG school and the Army Airborne School and was assigned to the V Corps at its headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. During the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia, Peter deployed to Albania with Task Force Hawk to advise the Corps commander on war-related legal issues. Returning to Germany, he learned what it takes to be a tough, no nonsense prosecutor. Captain Amuso was solely responsible for every aspect of prosecution for the largest American military community in Europe. Peter also received extensive trial experience in the Army Trial Defense Service where he served as a criminal defense attorney for the soldiers of the 1st Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany.

Candidate for Register of Wills

D. Bruce Hanes is an army veteran

Candidate for Sheriff

Ed Cheri was a bomb disposal unit commander and Vietnam War veteran. I've seen him wearing a VFW 1804 hat (apologies if I misread the number).

There may be other military experience among the candidates that I am unaware of. Apologies if I missed anyone.

Why is this important? According to a campaign press release:

Montgomery County has 62,560 veterans, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, but has seen the amount of benefits secured through the present Veterans Service Office decline each year from 2004-05, when it obtained $82,569 in benefits, to 2006-07 when it received a total of $2,714. The four-year total is less than $135,000, or an average of $2 per veteran.

Neighboring counties have done much better during the same period. Berks County received $7.7 million in benefits, or $220 per veteran; Lehigh County received $2.5 million, or $100 per veteran; Bucks County received $875,000, or an average of $17 per veteran.

later

Damsker and Hoeffel said they would initiate the following efforts:

1. reinstitute outreach to veterans to help them secure veterans’ benefits;
2. institute a program of county assistance to active duty military families, including those in the National Guard and Reserve who are on active duty, by expanding the responsibility of the present Veterans Service Office and renaming it the Military and Veterans Service Office;
3. work with families to help them secure counseling, advice and other services needed while their family member is away from home.