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Parsing Steven Welch’s residency (with Google Earth)

Parsing Steven Welch’s residency (with Google Earth)

OK, I’m going to preface this entire post with the caveat that I think this is silly.

That being said, there’s a bit of brouhaha going on behind the political scenes and on the Web about just exactly where Republican Steven Welch lives. As we’ve already covered extensively, Welch lives in the 7th District but is running for Congress in the 6th. He’s not moving.

That’s not in dispute. But a small contingent of folks have been quietly arguing that Welch doesn’t even live in Phoenixville, Chester County as he claims. Rather, they say, he lives in Upper Providence Township, which is in Montgomery County.

I’ve checked this out, spoke with Welch earlier, and it seems to me that this is simultaneously: true in a sense, mostly geographical semantics, and above all, like I said, a silly thing to focus on.

Phoenixville is a borough. Upper Providence is a Township. Speaking with Welch on the phone, he gave me his address (with Phoenixville as the town) and I plugged it into Google Earth. He even pointed me to his exact house on the satellite feed (it’s got a nice pond in the back), right by the river that separates the 6th from the 7th.

Having been confused by addresses on Google Maps from time to time, I can see why this might trip some folks up. The only thing that would make this an issue would be if he had some innocuous P.O. box in Phoenixville apart from his house to pretend he lives somewhere he doesn’t. But if you were to send Welch a letter with his Phoenixville address, it would show up at his house.

Frankly, that’s enough for me.

If you want a more local, geographically-savvy breakdown of this than I’ve provided—albeit one that reaches a more stringent conclusion than I do—check out this great post.

Now, let’s move on to real issues.

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September 15, 2009 at 3:56 pm

--Dan Hirschhorn

comments

comments [10] | post a comment

  1. flynnbw

    Sep 15th, 2009

    Yeah, so he’s a resident of Upper Providence Township, and he has a Phoenixville address. This happens all the time in PA. There’s a lot of similarity in township names from county to county (like, it seems as if EVERY county in PA has a “Hayfield Township” and a “Springfield Township”) so a lot of times, the township name can’t be used for mail delivery. (Mind you, we’re not even talking about “Rural Delivery,” which is a whole other level).

    It’s not like Mr. Welch was trying to put one over on us here – his mailing address is just different from his municipality. But for greatest accuracy, he should probably be identified as “Upper Providence Township resident Steven Welch” or “Steven Welch (R, Upper Providence Twp., Montgomery County).”

  2. mack

    Sep 15th, 2009

    Welch is a nice guy. I feel bad that he’s gettin taken to the cleaners by consultants and party chieftains who don’t have his best interest at heart. Brabender will suck him drier than the Sahara Desert by producing ads that are too clever by half and over most people’s heads.

  3. Stan

    Sep 15th, 2009

    Is he breaking the law or not? If not, let the issue die and lets hear what this guy has to say.

  4. Dan Hirschhorn

    Sep 15th, 2009

    Hey Stan,

    that’s an important question that I should have answered more clearly. Welch is not breaking any laws.

    Dan Hirschhorn

  5. David Diano

    Sep 15th, 2009

    Dan-
    Shockingly, it is legal to not reside in the same congressional district you are running for.
    Just because it’s legal, doesn’t mean that voters will accept it as “fair”.

    It’s a great opportunity for some campaign ads.

  6. Stan

    Sep 15th, 2009

    So what’s the deal with Schwartz? Does she live in the 13th or not? is she just using an address?

  7. Topton Pride

    Sep 16th, 2009

    I still think he is a slime ball for this move.

  8. Stan

    Sep 16th, 2009

    Why is he a slime ball? he doesn’t need the money, and he wants to serve his country. he’s not breaking the law, so what’s the problem?

  9. John P.D.

    Sep 16th, 2009

    Schwartz doesn’t live in the 13th. She just keeps an apartment there for appearances. It would have been a bigger issue in 2004 but Melissa Brown, the Republican candidate, was an idiot.

  10. mack

    Sep 16th, 2009

    I read Welch’s website and all I saw was stock language without specific ideas. I am tired of that crap. I’ll write in Mickey Mouse before I’ll support another pol with fluff language

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