Schuylkill’s Democratic DA switches party

Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael A. O’Pake has switched from the Democrat to Republican party, he announced Friday in a press release explaining his decision.

O’Pake has served as district attorney since 2018, and is currently in the fourth and final year of his second term. He will therefore be up for reelection this year, if he chooses to run again.

He said he was prompted to change his longtime political affiliation by recent developments within the Democratic party.

“Over the last two election cycles, Democrats, both nationally and even in parts of Pennsylvania, have insisted on defunding the police and decriminalizing drug crimes and quality of life violations,” his press release read.

“Instead of focusing on working people, law and order, child safety, drug-free schools, and safe neighborhoods, the new version of the Democratic party has embraced issues that do not impact most Schuylkill County residents, such as open borders, sweeping gun control, increased taxes and other similar issues.

“Accordingly, I can no longer sit back and be affiliated with a national party which no longer supports the values which I believe in personally and professionally.”

For those reasons, he changed his political affiliation to Republican, he said, explaining his decision came after more than a year of reflection and many hours of discussions with family and trusted friends.

Schuylkill County Democratic Committee Chairman Todd Zimmerman said that while the news was disappointing, it was not surprising.

Party leaders had heard for years that O’Pake was being recruited by the Republican party, and there had long been word that O’Pake was considering the change, Zimmerman said.

“I’ve been expecting this for a long time,” Zimmerman said.

In 2023, O’Pake ran for an open judgeship on the Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas but was defeated by Republican William “Bill” Burke, who filled a vacancy left by the 2021 retirement of President Judge William E. Baldwin.

Zimmerman said that the party believes that loss was the tipping point for O’Pake in his decision to switch parties.

“Since that election he’s been MIA within the party,” Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman believes, though, that Republican voters in Schuylkill may not fully embrace O’Pake as a candidate, which could hurt him in the next election.

“I don’t think Republican voters will see him as a Republican, but as a political chameleon,” Zimmerman said.

The Democratic party already has a strong candidate in mind to replace O’Pake as the Democratic candidate for district attorney in this year’s election but will also consider other interested persons, he said. He did not name the potential candidate.

O’Pake could not be reached for further comment on Saturday, but in his press release said that he supports law enforcement, the right to bear arms, freedom of choice when it comes to vaccines, and economic development and infrastructure improvements instead of far-reaching public welfare for non-citizens.

Zimmerman disagreed with O’Pake’s description of the Democratic party, saying it was Republicans, not Democrats, who opposed law enforcement when they stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Democrats believe in law and order, which includes common sense gun laws such as stronger background checks to help protect society and schools in particular, Zimmerman said.

O’Pake’s comments misrepresented the party that he has long supported and benefitted him, Zimmerman said.

“It’s very disappointing,” Zimmerman said.

Schuylkill County Republican Party Chairman Gary Feathers could not be reached for comment.

O’Pake said that he prides himself on being fair, consistent and impartial in recommending sentences for individuals convicted of violating the law and will continue to run his office in a bi-partisan manner by hiring Republicans and Democrats as prosecutors and staff members.

“My decisions on which cases to prosecute have never been based on politics,” he said. “My decisions on resolution of cases, likewise, has never been based on politics. I stand firm behind my record of serving the people, not politics. Nothing about my political affiliation change will impact how I run the District Attorney’s Office when it comes to staffing, charging decisions, case resolution and my dealings with law enforcement.

“My focus will continue to be on safe neighborhoods, drug-free schools, law and order, and a continued focus on the fight against drugs and violent crime.”

EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel