Northeast: 172nd District Residents Speak Out

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After John Perzel, the speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, was charged with misusing public funds, he lost the seat he had held for more than 30 years in the 172nd district to Democrat Kevin Boyle.

Despite the scandal surrounding Perzel, people are divided about whether a powerful politician was better than a new representative in the Northeast district.

John McClogan, the Walton Park civic president, said he thinks a tainted Perzel is better than a newly elected representative.

“It’s a shame,” he said. “It’s the people who are suffering.”

McClogan said he thinks there is a big difference between Perzel and Boyle.

“Perzel was the speaker of the house. Boyle is just the representative. He doesn’t have the clout that Perzel had,” McClogan said.

As civic president McClogan had a lot of contact with Perzel. He has not had any contact with Boyle yet.

“Perzel would do just about anything you’d ask of him. If you had a problem you brought it to Perzel and it got taken care of,” McClogan said. “There will never be another John Perzel in the Northeast.”

Others, like Greater Bustleton Civic League President John McKeever, have not seen a difference between Perzel and Boyle.

“Both of them are present at our civic meetings. Perzel had a representative there and now Boyle has a representative,” McKeever said. “In terms of what they’ve offered for our members I’m not sure. No one’s ever said anything.”

McKeever said he believes Boyle has not been in office long enough to have an impact.

“In our situation really they’re just represented at our meetings. That’s the only thing I can say regarding their assistance,” McKeever said.

Mike Scoats, the owner of Hop Angel Brauhaus, a German restaurant in Fox Chase had an optimistic outlook.

“Before we saw the influence a state representative can have after obtaining a senior position in Harrisburg,” Scoats said. “Now we see the youthful energy of a junior representative.”

Unlike McClogan, Scoats has interacted with Boyle. “I’ve seen a lot of Kevin and his staff since he was elected.  They seem like they will do a lot of good for the lower Northeast too.  They are definitely very active and energetic,” said Scoats, also owns Grey Lodge Pub in Mayfair and is a Mayfair Business Association member.