Reading politician gets spanked for putting common sense above party loyalty

by Steve Reinbrecht

The Berks County Democratic Committee kicked City Council Vice President Donna Reed off the committee Saturday in a 29-24 vote.

The party ejected her because she supported Jim McHale, a Republican, over Wally Scott, a Populist, in the election for Reading mayor last fall.

That violates county committee bylaws.

I don’t follow inside city party politics. But hubbub about the city’s new mayor and its fallout will affect life across Berks County and is fodder for better local journalism.

It’s clear Reed has critics. She said many were rallied for Saturday’s vote.

An orthographically challenged Facebook page called “Friends for Ernie Schlegel” cited her “vulgar and repulsive actions in openly supporting a Republican Candidate in an election cycle.”

This, “along with her increasingly erratic behavior as a Committee Women, have undermined her ability to stand as a Committee Women for the Democratic Party,” the Friends site post says.

Reed, who is in her fourth term on City Council, seemed unrattled.

“People [at the meeting] for the most part were nice,” Reed said. “It was a protracted debate. I can still attend the meetings as I am an elected Dem official, and the chairman encouraged me to keep coming.”

The ousting had little practical effect on her, she said.

“Not really. Actually, [it] might enhance my reputation.”

I worked with Reed for years in the Reading Eagle newsroom and know she is smart, hardworking and dedicated to improving the city.

* This post was corrected Feb. 1 to say that Reed is in her fourth term on City Council.