Lancaster Intelligencer Journal
Jeff Hawkes
October 12, 2010
Aument’s shining moment
Jerry Policoff is the rare candidate who cares not a fig for conventional wisdom.
A never-say-die progressive, Policoff still advocates for a Canadian-style health system even though the rest of the nation has a case of buyer’s remorse over just the modest reforms achieved by the Obama administration.
And now, as the Democratic candidate trying to succeed Rep. Katie True in a state House district so reliably red no Democrat has run since 2004, Policoff thinks he has a chance.
“I truly feel I can win … ,” Policoff told me in an e-mail after his debate last week with Republican Ryan Aument. “This is not a slam dunk for Aument.”
Well, optimism has its place, and if Policoff could bottle his, he’d make a mint. But it became clear at the debate that Policoff doesn’t just have the challenge of overcoming the GOP’s 3-to-2 voter advantage in the suburbs west of Lancaster. He also is up against a very good candidate.
At the League of Women Voters’ event at Centerville Middle School, Policoff, a retired advertising executive, stood up admirably for the issues liberals care about. But it was Aument, 33, who showed he’s for real.
Maybe my assessment was tainted by low expectations. Having never met Aument, I pictured him either as a na誰f or a glad-handing egotist who gets by with a nice smile and a gift for making bromides sound original. Were my prejudices ever off base. Aument came across as an articulate, forthright advocate of pro-business, limited-government views. He showed a command of facts, an ability to think on his feet and an ease in front of an audience.
While green, Aument came prepared for the debate, and his skillful job throughout suggested to me that he’ll not only be ready for the Legislature on Day 1, but that he could become a player.
With his drive and talent, Aument’s going to be a thorn in the side of Democrats in Harrisburg. He’s also, I think, going to give other Lancaster County Republican office holders with big ambitions a reason to look over their shoulders.
Until now, Aument’s been a GOP insider content to fly under the radar. The highlight of his resume is combat in Iraq. It was a couple of years after returning home in 2003 that the sandy-haired, baby-faced Solanco grad threw himself into politics in a mostly behind-the-scenes, foot-soldier role.
But his earnest work on behalf of other Republicans led in 2007 to Aument being rewarded with a row office in the court house. Few elected offices are more lackluster than clerk of courts, but Aument latched onto it as a stepping stone. And when True announced she was retiring, he was ready.
To succeed True, Aument had to first convince two-thirds of the Republican committee that he was the right guy — no easy task given that he had only recently moved from Quarryville, where he was a borough council member until 2008.
For Aument, it was lose the committee’s endorsement and game over.
But Aument must have done his homework because the 41st District’s 60-plus GOP committee members needed only two rounds of balloting to endorse him over a two-term, 48-year-old East Hempfield Township supervisor.
The endorsement cleared the field of opposition in the primary and all but crowned Aument — Policoff’s kamikaze campaign notwithstanding — as True’s successor.
At the debate Aument made clear he would not term limit himself.
“From the time I get (to Harrisburg) to the time I leave,” he said, “I have no interest, on your behalf, of being a lame duck.”
I believe him.
jhawkes@lnpnews.com
Thank You,
The LancasterOnline.com Team
