1 00:00:01,420 --> 00:00:02,350 Starting now. 2 00:00:03,050 --> 00:00:07,270 Commonalities where guests find common ground through uncommon 3 00:00:07,290 --> 00:00:10,910 conversations, politics, religion, finances, 4 00:00:11,010 --> 00:00:14,590 all the topics your grandmother told you not to discuss with friends. 5 00:00:14,930 --> 00:00:17,550 And now your host, Matthew Dowling, 6 00:00:17,770 --> 00:00:20,590 and today's guests on commonalities. 7 00:00:26,260 --> 00:00:29,950 Thanks for joining us here on another episode of Commonalities. I'm your host, 8 00:00:29,950 --> 00:00:34,950 Matt Dak. My guest today is Danny DeVito, not the Danny DeVito. 9 00:00:34,950 --> 00:00:39,030 You may be thinking of, uh, you know, from the seventies and eighties, uh, on, 10 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:43,790 on television and on the big screen, uh, but a, a really, 11 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:48,630 uh, educated young man, a lawyer who resides in Ridgeway, 12 00:00:48,630 --> 00:00:49,463 Pennsylvania, 13 00:00:49,690 --> 00:00:54,350 and he's currently running for the post of District Attorney in Elk 14 00:00:54,350 --> 00:00:57,310 County. Danny, I want to thank you for joining me today, 15 00:00:57,310 --> 00:00:58,510 and here at the top of the show, 16 00:00:58,510 --> 00:01:02,710 I want to give you a chance to give a little bit about your background and, uh, 17 00:01:02,710 --> 00:01:04,430 and a bit of a self introduction. 18 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,330 Sure. Well, thanks Matt for having me on the show. 19 00:01:07,330 --> 00:01:11,770 I certainly appreciate the opportunity to come on and talk a little bit about my 20 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:16,410 race. Uh, as you said, I'm an attorney. I currently reside in Elk County. 21 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:20,850 I graduated from the University of Akron School of Law where I was an honors 22 00:01:21,050 --> 00:01:23,490 fellow. And then during and after law school, 23 00:01:23,490 --> 00:01:28,010 I worked as a law clerk for a large emergency medical and hospitalist care 24 00:01:28,250 --> 00:01:28,720 provider. 25 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:32,370 Then shifted over to a civil litigation firm that was focused on medical 26 00:01:32,370 --> 00:01:35,770 malpractice, personal injury, commercial litigation, 27 00:01:35,870 --> 00:01:38,850 and then also worked as a law clerk for criminal law attorneys. 28 00:01:39,230 --> 00:01:43,530 And then have had some other experiences including, um, 29 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:47,210 some consulting work, uh, some political experiences, uh, 30 00:01:47,210 --> 00:01:51,210 was involved with various races and businesses, and, um, 31 00:01:51,540 --> 00:01:55,370 so kind of have that broader experience as well. And, um, 32 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:58,850 then I went on to serve as the judicial law clerk, uh, 33 00:01:58,850 --> 00:02:00,290 for the 59th Judicial District, 34 00:02:00,530 --> 00:02:04,370 which is the quarter common plea that actually covers both Elk and Cameron 35 00:02:04,370 --> 00:02:07,770 County. Uh, it's a two county district, you know, 36 00:02:07,770 --> 00:02:09,330 work daily with the judges there, 37 00:02:10,170 --> 00:02:13,730 researching all aspects of the law to help draft some opinions and orders, 38 00:02:13,730 --> 00:02:17,770 and managed, uh, the civil protective order system for the district, 39 00:02:17,770 --> 00:02:22,410 kind of coordinating between all parties, uh, law enforcement, 40 00:02:23,270 --> 00:02:27,690 and, uh, answering questions about that. Then, uh, went on to serve, um, 41 00:02:27,690 --> 00:02:32,330 or excuse me, found my own law firm, DeVito Law Office llc, here in Elk County. 42 00:02:33,070 --> 00:02:36,050 And we're, we're doing great, you know, 43 00:02:36,050 --> 00:02:40,890 we serve clients not just in Elk County, but in the surrounding region. And, 44 00:02:40,950 --> 00:02:41,450 you know, 45 00:02:41,450 --> 00:02:45,530 I like taking all of those experiences that I've had before and serving clients, 46 00:02:45,830 --> 00:02:48,930 and now I'm running for a district attorney here in Elk County, because, 47 00:02:49,190 --> 00:02:52,610 you know, I see some things wrong with the, the way things are being done, 48 00:02:52,610 --> 00:02:53,770 and I think we have to fix those. 49 00:02:54,980 --> 00:02:58,570 So, you know, you mentioned some of your experiences. It sounds like you're, 50 00:02:58,570 --> 00:03:02,560 you're pretty well-rounded, but, uh, the firm that you founded, uh, 51 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:07,400 you handle both civil and criminal, uh, litigation there? 52 00:03:08,730 --> 00:03:12,720 Uh, we do, you know, up here there's actually, unlike, uh, 53 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:14,600 places like Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, 54 00:03:14,690 --> 00:03:19,080 there's actually a decline in the number of attorneys. We're facing almost a, 55 00:03:19,210 --> 00:03:21,360 an attorney's shortage, if you could believe that. 56 00:03:21,410 --> 00:03:24,160 So it's a general law practice. Uh, 57 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:28,480 I kind of have to cover a wide variety of cases. So, you know, 58 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:32,880 anything from, uh, family matters to, uh, 59 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:36,150 some criminal matters to, uh, 60 00:03:36,150 --> 00:03:40,590 some business litigation and always open to taking, uh, you know, 61 00:03:40,590 --> 00:03:44,470 on bigger cases as well, uh, and just trying to help people out where we can. 62 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,190 So, you know, you're running for public office and, 63 00:03:48,190 --> 00:03:53,070 and anytime a person runs for public office, it's generally because they see, 64 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:56,110 uh, that they could be answered to, uh, 65 00:03:56,380 --> 00:04:00,790 a change that they see needing to happen, uh, you know, within a, 66 00:04:00,980 --> 00:04:05,790 a part particular office or a particular, uh, position. So, 67 00:04:05,790 --> 00:04:09,230 I always like to ask kind of, uh, the magic question. 68 00:04:09,230 --> 00:04:10,670 If you woke up tomorrow morning, 69 00:04:11,420 --> 00:04:15,030 what would the perfect world in the, uh, 70 00:04:15,030 --> 00:04:19,990 elk County DA's office look like? You know, what would be, uh, 71 00:04:19,990 --> 00:04:23,910 the first things that you would address or change, uh, at, 72 00:04:23,910 --> 00:04:26,670 as you see needing fit, uh, at this point in time? 73 00:04:28,410 --> 00:04:32,980 Well, we're facing a serious problem here in Elk County with the drug situation, 74 00:04:32,980 --> 00:04:36,980 the fentanyl situation. And I think the whole nation is facing that problem. 75 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:41,740 And my contention is whatever we're doing now just is not working. 76 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:46,060 You know, the, the fentanyl originates in China, it then goes to Mexico, 77 00:04:46,790 --> 00:04:48,620 crosses the border, you know, 78 00:04:48,620 --> 00:04:52,860 it's distributed all over the United States and ends up in communities like St. 79 00:04:52,860 --> 00:04:56,740 Mary's, like Ridgeway, um, like Johnson Burg, 80 00:04:57,050 --> 00:05:00,980 like J Township, Wheatville, like Benette. 81 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,610 And it, it's a big problem. 82 00:05:03,610 --> 00:05:07,050 And there's that big chain of drugs that starts in China, goes through Mexico, 83 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,010 then ends up here in Elk County. 84 00:05:09,500 --> 00:05:13,370 So we always talk about the national solution to that. Obviously, 85 00:05:13,370 --> 00:05:15,850 I think we need to finish the wall. We need to, uh, 86 00:05:16,230 --> 00:05:20,250 get tough on the immigration questions, you know, at the state level, you know, 87 00:05:20,250 --> 00:05:22,650 we, we can't be providing sanctuaries, 88 00:05:22,950 --> 00:05:27,890 but locally I think we have a responsibility to address this problem too. And I, 89 00:05:27,890 --> 00:05:31,650 I would do that by taking a more aggressive stance against these cartels. 90 00:05:31,790 --> 00:05:36,180 You know, when, when you constantly offer very weak, 91 00:05:36,510 --> 00:05:41,100 uh, plea bargains to the people who are selling drugs to children, you know, 92 00:05:41,100 --> 00:05:44,260 what, what does that say? What kind of message does that say? So, 93 00:05:44,260 --> 00:05:46,180 I would start by, I, 94 00:05:46,180 --> 00:05:51,080 I guess it's really a question of what are we as a community willing 95 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:51,913 to tolerate, 96 00:05:52,180 --> 00:05:57,000 and by sending a message that we are not gonna tolerate people selling drugs 97 00:05:57,210 --> 00:06:00,720 to children. Uh, frankly, I think the laws are too weak on that, 98 00:06:00,740 --> 00:06:05,280 but we can use the laws that we have in order to dissuade people 99 00:06:05,390 --> 00:06:08,600 from, uh, coming into Elk County to sell drugs. 100 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:12,120 I've heard from law enforcement that people will say, oh, well, 101 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,040 I'm gonna go across the Elk County line to sell the drugs, 102 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,480 because I know that we're gonna get a better deal there if we're caught. 103 00:06:18,540 --> 00:06:23,080 You know, I know I'm just gonna do a, a quick stay in, uh, the county jail, 104 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:26,840 which then burdens taxpayers here in Elk County. So it, 105 00:06:26,840 --> 00:06:30,800 it's really gonna be a change in mindset. I think, to answer your question, 106 00:06:31,100 --> 00:06:32,280 you know, what are we doing? 107 00:06:32,990 --> 00:06:35,880 Should the district attorney just be processing cases? 108 00:06:36,450 --> 00:06:41,320 Is it only about prosecuting crimes? Uh, you know, prosecuting crime's, 109 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:43,640 part of it. But I think it goes deeper than that. It's, 110 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:48,400 it's a responsibility to the people of the county to keep them 111 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:52,480 safe and to stand up for them. So by going in there with that mindset that, oh, 112 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:55,280 this isn't just another attorney job, this is a, 113 00:06:55,280 --> 00:06:58,560 a public position of trust that's accountable to the people. 114 00:06:59,380 --> 00:07:04,320 And just being aggressive with these people that are coming in to sell 115 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:05,720 their poison and sell their garbage. 116 00:07:06,770 --> 00:07:08,680 In, in Elk County, uh, in, 117 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:12,520 in many ways is very similar to Fayette County where I reside, 118 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:16,320 or Somerset County, which I used to represent, uh, in the State House, 119 00:07:17,210 --> 00:07:21,280 um, where, you know, we, we kind of become those, uh, 120 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:25,560 those little communities where drugs stop, uh, 121 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:29,160 overnight on their way to the big cities of, 122 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:33,280 of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, uh, and rural Pennsylvania. 123 00:07:33,390 --> 00:07:37,120 I see as, uh, as hu having huge problems with, 124 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:41,880 with drugs that are, uh, not only traveling through those areas, 125 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:46,560 but ultimately, uh, you know, find homes and buyers within, 126 00:07:46,670 --> 00:07:50,440 within those rural Pennsylvania areas. Uh, so I, 127 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:54,720 I think many of my listeners on the, uh, the radio side of this program, 128 00:07:55,290 --> 00:07:59,600 uh, in Fayette County, will be able to, to identify with that problem as well. 129 00:08:00,290 --> 00:08:05,120 So in the district attorney's office, you know, a huge responsibility, 130 00:08:05,690 --> 00:08:08,120 uh, is kind of, uh, leadership. 131 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:12,480 So I want to talk a little bit about your leadership abilities because, uh, 132 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:17,280 even in our smaller rural counties of, of Pennsylvania, um, you know, 133 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:21,880 the district attorney can't always, uh, be at every hearing or, 134 00:08:22,530 --> 00:08:26,640 um, et cetera. So, you know, you have to lead a team of, 135 00:08:27,050 --> 00:08:31,920 of attorneys, some of which are, you know, underpaid and, and part-time and, 136 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:33,200 and so forth. So, 137 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:37,120 I want to give you a chance to talk about your leadership ability and what is 138 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:41,440 your vision really for, uh, leading the district attorney's office? 139 00:08:42,340 --> 00:08:44,390 Sure. So here in Elk County currently, 140 00:08:44,390 --> 00:08:47,870 there's actually only one part-time assistant district attorney. 141 00:08:48,610 --> 00:08:53,470 And the district attorney has to actually be hands on 142 00:08:53,470 --> 00:08:58,320 in a lot of the cases, you know, know with only one other attorney on staff. So, 143 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:02,240 to me, the leadership question is not only within the office, 144 00:09:02,380 --> 00:09:06,430 but how can I work with other agencies, 145 00:09:06,810 --> 00:09:07,790 law enforcement, 146 00:09:07,790 --> 00:09:12,510 other community leaders in order to facilitate building a safer community? 147 00:09:12,560 --> 00:09:15,950 So I'm going to do that by bringing back a hotline. 148 00:09:15,950 --> 00:09:18,710 There used to be a drug hotline in Elk County, uh, 149 00:09:18,710 --> 00:09:22,270 where people could call up and pass along information, you know, 150 00:09:22,270 --> 00:09:24,150 an actual hotline. I think that's important. 151 00:09:24,300 --> 00:09:29,030 I I'm gonna be expanding that hotline so people can call in and say, well, 152 00:09:29,030 --> 00:09:31,750 you know, we have this problem on the block, you know, 153 00:09:31,750 --> 00:09:33,630 and I'll go down and take a look at it personally. 154 00:09:33,650 --> 00:09:36,630 I'm gonna be having town halls at least twice a month, 155 00:09:36,630 --> 00:09:39,030 at least in different corners of the county, 156 00:09:39,030 --> 00:09:42,550 because not everyone can get to the population centers. 157 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:47,070 So I'm gonna go to them and I'm gonna be working with people in those townships, 158 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:47,950 uh, 159 00:09:47,950 --> 00:09:52,750 to essentially have a network of people who can then assist the district 160 00:09:53,070 --> 00:09:57,270 attorney in, in, uh, doing what we need to do. Well, 161 00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:01,350 in terms of the, the office in terms of leadership style, you know, I think, 162 00:10:01,350 --> 00:10:04,870 I think it's important to be firm, but fair is a thing that I like to use. 163 00:10:05,250 --> 00:10:07,510 You know, it's, it's important to lead by example, 164 00:10:07,810 --> 00:10:10,110 but you also have to have expectations. 165 00:10:10,110 --> 00:10:14,310 And if people are not living up to my expectations, then they're gonna go. 166 00:10:16,110 --> 00:10:20,320 Sure. And, and you made a great segue for, uh, for my next, uh, 167 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,960 point of conversation, which is, you know, 168 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,280 the fact that when we talk about district attorney, 169 00:10:26,330 --> 00:10:30,080 or when the district attorney is portrayed, uh, 170 00:10:30,090 --> 00:10:32,400 on a television show, which, you know, I, 171 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:36,240 I think a lot of our legal dramas that people watch on tv, 172 00:10:36,450 --> 00:10:39,560 TV are actually poorly done, uh, and, 173 00:10:39,560 --> 00:10:42,720 and don't really show what that office is really all about. 174 00:10:42,940 --> 00:10:44,800 But when we talk about district attorney, 175 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:49,120 people think about courtrooms and court cases, but, you know, 176 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:53,360 it goes a lot further than that. You are the chief law enforcement agent, 177 00:10:53,890 --> 00:10:57,240 uh, for, for your county. Uh, 178 00:10:57,260 --> 00:11:02,080 and so you started to talk a little bit about partnering with law enforcement. 179 00:11:02,130 --> 00:11:05,800 Uh, you know, I'm not extremely familiar with Elk, elk County. 180 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,040 Hopefully you can educate me a little bit, 181 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:12,800 but I'm sure P S P or state police coverage, uh, is, 182 00:11:12,890 --> 00:11:14,680 is who you would be working with a lot. 183 00:11:15,010 --> 00:11:19,600 So you have to be willing to partner with those agencies 184 00:11:19,740 --> 00:11:23,240 and really work with those agencies, uh, 185 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:26,880 as the chief law enforcement, uh, agent of the county. 186 00:11:27,050 --> 00:11:30,160 So I wanted to give you an opportunity to talk a little bit about that. 187 00:11:31,970 --> 00:11:35,500 Yeah, I think you have to be available to the people on the front lines, 188 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:39,980 you know, that involves being available at all hours, you know, 189 00:11:39,980 --> 00:11:43,140 24 7, if something comes up, if a situation comes up, 190 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:47,260 you can't be off doing something else. If, if there's a homicide, 191 00:11:47,260 --> 00:11:50,900 if there's a serious crisis that starts to unfold. It, it, 192 00:11:50,900 --> 00:11:54,480 it comes down to being available and actually getting to know people, 193 00:11:54,650 --> 00:11:58,920 so they're comfortable working with me. And, you know, again, like you said, 194 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:03,600 you are the chief law enforcement, uh, authority in the county. So again, it's, 195 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:04,000 it's, 196 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:08,720 I I think that when you fulfill your obligations and you fulfill your job, 197 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:12,160 and you do what you're supposed to do, and don't take the lazy way out, 198 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:13,520 don't take the easy way out, 199 00:12:13,710 --> 00:12:17,120 then I think other people naturally will wanna do their job. You know, 200 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:21,000 I've heard from some people, you know, what, why should I bother doing X, Y, 201 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,640 and Z if it's just gonna get thrown out? You know, 202 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:27,760 if we have somebody distributing fentanyl who's gonna be able to, uh, you know, 203 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:29,600 even in schools perhaps, you know, 204 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:33,840 who's gonna be able to walk with a, a possession? 205 00:12:35,370 --> 00:12:38,710 Why, why would I bother, you know, putting in the time in that investigation. 206 00:12:38,710 --> 00:12:42,500 So I think when you have a district attorney who's going to, uh, 207 00:12:42,860 --> 00:12:46,940 actually see cases through all the way, uh, versus what we have now, 208 00:12:46,940 --> 00:12:49,260 then I think you're gonna see a shift at all levels. 209 00:12:50,090 --> 00:12:52,620 Sure. And, and obviously as the district attorney, 210 00:12:52,620 --> 00:12:56,860 you're not making that initial traffic stop, but you never know. Uh, 211 00:12:56,860 --> 00:13:01,300 and we saw this particularly in, in Somerset County where I, where I was, uh, 212 00:13:01,300 --> 00:13:04,780 where I represented for a while, um, you know, 213 00:13:05,170 --> 00:13:08,140 coming through on a major thoroughfare like, 214 00:13:08,140 --> 00:13:12,620 like the Pennsylvania Turn Park Pike, a simple traffic stop can really, 215 00:13:12,950 --> 00:13:17,380 uh, start to involve drug trafficking and, 216 00:13:17,380 --> 00:13:19,820 and other problems that you're seeing within your area. 217 00:13:20,150 --> 00:13:24,380 So while you may not be the, uh, the person making that traffic stop, because, 218 00:13:24,380 --> 00:13:27,540 you know, you're, you're not the state police, you're not a local, uh, 219 00:13:27,540 --> 00:13:28,900 municipal police officer, 220 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:32,460 but you do have to be able to pick up with their work and, uh, 221 00:13:32,680 --> 00:13:36,740 and be able to carry that case through prosecution, et cetera. 222 00:13:37,550 --> 00:13:41,340 Um, so I, you know, I, I think that is important to be able to, 223 00:13:41,670 --> 00:13:46,420 to work with those people, uh, that are on the front lines. 224 00:13:46,790 --> 00:13:50,500 We have to get our first break in here today on commonalities, uh, 225 00:13:50,500 --> 00:13:55,380 and we will be back in just a moment. Uh, our guest today is Danny DeVito. 226 00:13:55,380 --> 00:14:00,140 He's running for District Attorney in Elk County. Uh, and like I said, 227 00:14:00,140 --> 00:14:03,460 we gotta get our first break in. We'll be right back in just a moment. 228 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:11,140 You are listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 229 00:14:11,460 --> 00:14:12,580 uncommon conversations. 230 00:14:13,140 --> 00:14:16,780 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 231 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:22,780 I'm Melinda De LaRose. As an Assistant District Attorney, 232 00:14:22,810 --> 00:14:26,820 I've protected Fayette County families and fought to uphold our constitutional 233 00:14:26,820 --> 00:14:29,620 rights. As a prosecutor and trusted local attorney, 234 00:14:29,620 --> 00:14:33,420 I've provided victims of crime with a strong voice and put criminals behind 235 00:14:33,420 --> 00:14:37,060 bars. My pledge to you as Judge is to follow the law, 236 00:14:37,060 --> 00:14:39,380 always maintain the highest ethical standards, 237 00:14:39,380 --> 00:14:43,740 and to run a courtroom that's respectful of your time and tax dollars. 238 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:47,580 I'm Melinda de LaRose asking for your vote for Judge paid. 239 00:14:47,580 --> 00:14:49,180 For by Friends of Melinda de LaRose. 240 00:14:49,590 --> 00:14:50,820 Is your business using. 241 00:14:51,030 --> 00:14:54,960 Analog strategies in a digital marketing world? If so, 242 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:59,720 then contact Matthew or Rebecca Dowling at Coordinated 360 for a 243 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:03,720 professional consultation where we bring in-depth knowledge and functional 244 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:05,600 expertise with a holistic perspective. 245 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:11,200 Coordinated 360 provides digital marketing, paid ad and media buying services, 246 00:15:11,260 --> 00:15:16,160 web design, social media management, video production, and more for businesses, 247 00:15:16,180 --> 00:15:20,680 organizations, and political campaigns with decades of experience. 248 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:25,320 Matt and Becky at Coordinated 360 can help you craft your unique message 249 00:15:25,500 --> 00:15:26,880 and share it with the world. 250 00:15:27,020 --> 00:15:30,600 For a no risk media evaluation and recommendations, 251 00:15:30,830 --> 00:15:34,880 call 7 2 4 3 2 0 22 12, 252 00:15:35,170 --> 00:15:37,160 or visit us online at 253 00:15:37,820 --> 00:15:42,680 www.coordinatedthreesixty.com. 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And when it comes to home inspectors, 266 00:16:27,890 --> 00:16:32,280 knowing yours has the qualifications and experience needed, 267 00:16:32,390 --> 00:16:34,480 should be your number one concern. 268 00:16:34,950 --> 00:16:39,680 Dave Dowling with Grand View Inspections is an architectural engineer 269 00:16:39,750 --> 00:16:44,720 with over 30 years of commercial construction experience and hundreds of 270 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:46,200 inspections under his belt. 271 00:16:47,070 --> 00:16:51,800 A home inspection is an opportunity for you to hire an expert to walk 272 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:56,960 through the home and prepare a report outlining the home's major components. 273 00:16:57,190 --> 00:17:02,040 What needs immediate attention and what will require maintenance after you 274 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:05,560 move in Your home is one of your biggest investments. 275 00:17:05,770 --> 00:17:09,640 So make sure your investment is everything you hoped it to be. 276 00:17:09,870 --> 00:17:13,680 Call Dave Dowling at Grandview Inspections at 277 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:17,440 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 278 00:17:18,990 --> 00:17:20,250 Are you enjoying the program? 279 00:17:20,250 --> 00:17:24,450 You're listening to support commonalities and help keep us on the air by making 280 00:17:24,450 --> 00:17:27,210 a donation of five, 10, or $25, 281 00:17:27,500 --> 00:17:32,330 or any amount you feel comfortable sharing online@donate.commonalities.online. 282 00:17:32,490 --> 00:17:37,370 Again, that is donate.commonalities.online on the worldwide web. 283 00:17:37,590 --> 00:17:42,130 Buy our host a cup of coffee or help pay for airtime at donate dot commonalities 284 00:17:42,130 --> 00:17:42,963 online. 285 00:17:47,260 --> 00:17:50,960 Thanks for sticking with us here on commonalities. I'm your host, Matt Dowling. 286 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:55,360 My guest today is Danny DeVito, a candidate for, uh, 287 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:59,800 district attorney in Elk County. And, uh, and I know Danny has, 288 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:04,360 has run for office before, and he has some statewide, uh, notoriety. 289 00:18:04,850 --> 00:18:05,200 Uh, 290 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:09,000 so I'm sure some of the people that listen to the podcast version of our show, 291 00:18:09,530 --> 00:18:12,800 uh, that, you know, has listeners throughout the Commonwealth and, 292 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,480 and different parts of the country as well, uh, 293 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:19,600 will be interested to hear some of his, his thoughts and opinions, 294 00:18:20,290 --> 00:18:22,920 uh, as he is preparing, uh, 295 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:27,600 for the upcoming primary and general elections. So, Danny, we talked, 296 00:18:28,130 --> 00:18:32,640 uh, before we went to our commercial break about, uh, 297 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:37,360 some of your, your take on leadership on law enforcement. Um, 298 00:18:37,420 --> 00:18:40,040 you know, my next question would be, 299 00:18:40,590 --> 00:18:44,840 what policies will you implement, um, 300 00:18:44,970 --> 00:18:47,920 to promote public safety in, in your county? 301 00:18:48,270 --> 00:18:53,120 I know you already talked about, uh, at least twice a month doing a town hall. 302 00:18:53,690 --> 00:18:58,640 Um, but what are some of the other ideas that you have to, uh, to implement, uh, 303 00:18:58,850 --> 00:19:02,000 or promote, uh, public safety throughout the county? 304 00:19:03,660 --> 00:19:04,160 You know, 305 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:08,600 I think a lot of it begins with the attitude you go into the office with. 306 00:19:09,170 --> 00:19:12,560 So taking citizen complaints seriously, 307 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:16,800 taking seriously the thoughts of law enforcement, um, 308 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,320 and really just approaching the job as if this is a mission. 309 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:23,440 I'm on a mission to keep everybody safe in Elk County. 310 00:19:23,870 --> 00:19:27,600 A as far as specific policies, uh, number one, 311 00:19:28,230 --> 00:19:33,000 I think that the current policy of pleading everybody to a 312 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:37,240 county sentence that we see as opposed to, uh, you know, 313 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:39,160 perhaps a state correctional institution, 314 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:43,160 I think that we need to take a look at the plea bargain policy going on, uh, 315 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,640 currently, because frankly, 316 00:19:45,700 --> 00:19:50,080 the state correctional institution sometimes have programs that the county does 317 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:52,560 not have and doesn't have the capacity to have. 318 00:19:52,610 --> 00:19:57,560 So it would be taking a look at individual cases and seeing what actually fits 319 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:02,560 here. Um, number two, I would definitely, I think at Elk County, 320 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,240 we have, I'll be honest, 321 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:09,080 sometimes a problem where things become too collegial. And by that I mean, 322 00:20:09,490 --> 00:20:13,940 we have a legal system where we have the option to go to trial. 323 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:19,100 And if we can't seem to agree that I'm gonna be willing to take cases to trial 324 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:24,020 and let a jury decide, uh, what's going on, you know, a number. 325 00:20:24,020 --> 00:20:27,460 I think the flip side of that too, by the way, is that, you know, 326 00:20:27,460 --> 00:20:31,620 if there's somebody who's overcharged, you need to be able to tell, uh, 327 00:20:31,620 --> 00:20:34,380 your own people, you know what, uh, there, 328 00:20:34,380 --> 00:20:39,340 there's just not enough here in terms of, you know, what fits and what doesn't. 329 00:20:39,340 --> 00:20:42,020 But really focusing, uh, 330 00:20:42,020 --> 00:20:46,740 the office on going after people who commit the most heinous 331 00:20:46,740 --> 00:20:50,200 crimes. You know, if you sell drugs to a child, 332 00:20:51,050 --> 00:20:53,440 in my opinion, you should ride the lightning. But, you know, 333 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:55,280 that's not an option under the current law, 334 00:20:55,500 --> 00:20:58,960 but you should not be allowed to then walk free on the streets. Again, 335 00:20:59,090 --> 00:21:01,800 if you deliver fentanyl to somebody and they die, 336 00:21:02,100 --> 00:21:04,080 you need to be held accountable for that. You know, 337 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:07,200 that's drug delivery resulting in depth. And these, 338 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:09,800 these people are working for, you know, really bad people. 339 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:14,160 They're working for these Chinese and Mexican cartels that are sending the drugs 340 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:17,360 here to the country. So they need to be held accountable. You know, 341 00:21:17,360 --> 00:21:19,640 if somebody harms a child, if you're a child predator, 342 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:21,680 you need to be prosecuted to the fullest. 343 00:21:21,910 --> 00:21:26,430 It's not just about resolving the case, it's about allowing, 344 00:21:26,900 --> 00:21:31,670 either the guy will plead to everything and take what 345 00:21:31,990 --> 00:21:34,990 sentence he deserves, or a jury's gonna tell him, no, 346 00:21:34,990 --> 00:21:38,870 we're not gonna tolerate that type of behavior in Elk County. 347 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:42,870 So again, it's really just doing what you're supposed to do, 348 00:21:42,890 --> 00:21:45,910 not having a lackadaisical attitude, you know, 349 00:21:45,910 --> 00:21:50,760 focusing on doing the job at hand. Um, and, and that, 350 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:52,040 that's really what it comes down to. 351 00:21:52,790 --> 00:21:57,080 Well, and, and you used a good word there, lackadaisical. And, um, 352 00:21:57,300 --> 00:21:58,000 you know, I, 353 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:02,720 I think sometimes our people that are in positions of 354 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:06,040 political power, whether it be a district attorney, whether it be a legislator, 355 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:10,120 whether it be a county commissioner, they become complacent in their roles. 356 00:22:10,660 --> 00:22:14,920 And the next thing I wanted to talk about was, um, you know, 357 00:22:15,340 --> 00:22:19,400 how you see your ability to be able to 358 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:23,480 adapt to, uh, changing times and, 359 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:27,080 and changing legislation that's coming down, uh, 360 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:32,040 to be able to kind of stay up to date with what may be a best practice in 361 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:35,400 the DA's office. And, and not only that, um, you know, 362 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:39,600 while the district attorney isn't able to make the laws, uh, 363 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:43,720 I do think that you have the ability to advocate. I know that, uh, 364 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:47,600 throughout my, my brief time in in the legislature, uh, 365 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:48,920 over the past six years, 366 00:22:49,390 --> 00:22:53,160 I had the ability to talk with district attorneys that said, Hey, 367 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:58,040 these are the tools that we need, uh, to put into Pennsylvania law. So, 368 00:22:58,150 --> 00:23:00,800 I, I kind of wanted to talk about your, uh, 369 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:05,680 agility to change with the times and, and how you see your role, uh, 370 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:08,800 working with, with changing legislation and best. 371 00:23:09,120 --> 00:23:13,330 Practices. Sure, Matt. So I think that's really a three part question. You know, 372 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:16,490 adapting to changing laws, adapting to changing times, 373 00:23:16,910 --> 00:23:21,090 and then how I would advocate. So first I'll address the changing laws. 374 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:26,210 I think that it's important for a district attorney to make sure that the cops 375 00:23:26,210 --> 00:23:29,330 on the front line are apprised of changes in the law. 376 00:23:29,830 --> 00:23:34,570 One example of this is the case law changed on whether you can use the smell of 377 00:23:34,850 --> 00:23:39,530 marijuana as, um, as probable cause for a stop. You know, 378 00:23:39,530 --> 00:23:42,290 you no longer can. So it's, you know, 379 00:23:42,290 --> 00:23:45,520 you don't want to run into a situation where you have a big bust, 380 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:47,880 but now the evidence is compromised, you know, 381 00:23:47,890 --> 00:23:52,680 so the district attorney should have informed all the police about that. Um, 382 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:57,280 there's other changes too, you know, regarding DUIs and, you know, 383 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:00,280 everything from DUIs is up to homicide. So, you know, I, 384 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:03,400 I like keeping up with changes in the case law. I read the updates, 385 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:08,040 I get the updates sent to me, and, you know, I find it personally interesting. 386 00:24:08,090 --> 00:24:09,200 So again, 387 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:13,120 I would be distributing any relevant changes directly to the departments to make 388 00:24:13,120 --> 00:24:16,440 sure, hey, this is what you gotta do from now on. You know, 389 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:20,160 in terms of changing times, generally, I don't think that's gonna affect me. 390 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:22,600 You know, I don't frankly care if the times are changing. 391 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:26,440 I'm not gonna change the way that, you know, I talk or the way I do things. 392 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:31,000 You know, I think that there is such a thing as, you know, 393 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:32,160 just cuz the times are changing, 394 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:35,400 that doesn't necessarily mean it's the better way. And a lot of re respects, 395 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:40,000 I think, you know, we, we should go back to the way things used to be done. So, 396 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:43,720 you know, I guess I'm a reactionary in some regards on that. You know, 397 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:45,560 I don't think we need to jump, you know, 398 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:48,120 every time the social workers tell us to jump and, oh, 399 00:24:48,120 --> 00:24:50,240 you have to do this and that. Now, you know, 400 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:53,640 I think there's something to be said for old-fashioned accountability. Uh, 401 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,680 and then in terms of advocacy, you know, 402 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:59,760 a lot of the listeners will probably remember that, uh, 403 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:04,520 I was the one that obtained counsel to sue Governor Wolf in March of, 404 00:25:04,530 --> 00:25:08,120 uh, 2020 against the coronavirus lockdown. 405 00:25:08,120 --> 00:25:12,280 So I'm not afraid to take on people, you know, I, I took on Governor Wolf, 406 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:16,960 secretary Levine when a lot of people in the Republican party even were still 407 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:19,640 saying, oh, you don't want to do this, you don't want to do that. 408 00:25:20,020 --> 00:25:23,160 I'm not afraid to take a stand when I think something needs to be done. 409 00:25:23,570 --> 00:25:28,520 So now I'm gonna use my platform to advocate for Elk County to make sure that 410 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:30,360 we're getting the resources that we deserve, 411 00:25:30,360 --> 00:25:34,200 that we're not ignored by Harrisburg. Like it's been done for so long, 412 00:25:34,540 --> 00:25:38,440 and you're not letting people push, push the county around. You know, 413 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:42,480 it's about enforcing small laws, but, you know, you have some situations where, 414 00:25:42,540 --> 00:25:47,480 you know, why are small businesses, you know, held to certain standard strictly, 415 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:51,600 but then you see multinational corporations that come in and do whatever they 416 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:55,040 want. So, you know, there is a certain bully pulpit aspect to it. 417 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:58,760 And I think with my fight against the unconstitutional lockdowns, 418 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,640 I think people can be very safe and secure, 419 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:04,760 and knowing that I'm going to be an advocate on their behalf as well. 420 00:26:05,850 --> 00:26:09,560 So, you know, while we're on the subject of advocacy, 421 00:26:09,630 --> 00:26:14,280 I I wanted to ask you if you think or feel that there are any 422 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:19,080 Pennsylvania laws that should be kinda revisited to be able to better 423 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:22,840 serve, uh, the, the public and the people of Pennsylvania. Uh, 424 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:25,560 I didn't know if there's a specific piece that, uh, 425 00:26:25,630 --> 00:26:29,240 that you had in mind already that, that you think needs, uh, 426 00:26:29,360 --> 00:26:32,080 needs to be revisited by the legislature? 427 00:26:33,780 --> 00:26:36,710 Well, I do believe in separation of powers. So I'm not, 428 00:26:36,710 --> 00:26:40,670 I'm not sure it's the district attorney's role to be telling the legislature 429 00:26:40,900 --> 00:26:45,160 what exactly to do. Um, but certainly if anyone, uh, 430 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:49,820 asks my opinion on it, I, I think that number, 431 00:26:49,820 --> 00:26:50,653 number one, 432 00:26:53,420 --> 00:26:57,990 police need to be able to do the job that we send them out to do. You know, 433 00:26:57,990 --> 00:27:01,790 they can't be having their hands tied behind their back when they're trying to 434 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:05,910 enforce the law. So I don't know if that's a current, um, 435 00:27:06,490 --> 00:27:08,830 law that needs to be changed more so than a, 436 00:27:08,830 --> 00:27:13,230 than a policy that's kind of crept in and had the force of law. Uh, 437 00:27:13,230 --> 00:27:17,070 the second thing that I think Pennsylvania really needs to 438 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:21,470 do better with is when you read the way some of the statutes are written, 439 00:27:21,470 --> 00:27:25,020 when you read the way some of the laws are crafted there, 440 00:27:25,020 --> 00:27:28,900 there's a lot of vagueness there. You know, it's an example I can think of, 441 00:27:28,900 --> 00:27:32,860 and I'm not saying that this law necessarily is the top priority, 442 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:35,780 but you look at the way some of the DUI laws are written, 443 00:27:36,070 --> 00:27:40,820 or you look at the way some of the criminal codes are written, 444 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:45,020 and there's, there's too much room for interpretation. 445 00:27:45,020 --> 00:27:46,580 So I think that needs to be tightened up. 446 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:53,510 So, um, you know, my my next question is about application of the law. 447 00:27:53,510 --> 00:27:58,430 And I, I think I probably know what your answer is, um, but you know, in, 448 00:27:58,430 --> 00:27:59,790 in my mind's eye, 449 00:28:00,130 --> 00:28:03,510 the law should be blind regardless of, 450 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:06,710 of who it is that is, uh, 451 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,310 is breaking the law or who it is that, uh, 452 00:28:10,540 --> 00:28:13,630 that has committed a crime. Um, you know, 453 00:28:13,630 --> 00:28:17,750 when that person comes into, uh, into your office and, 454 00:28:17,750 --> 00:28:22,390 and your prosecuting, uh, there should be no favoritism or, or buddy-buddy, 455 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:26,990 uh, you know, kind of attitude that's given to, to certain individuals. 456 00:28:27,360 --> 00:28:31,310 Uh, you know, I wanted to give you a chance to, to talk a little bit about that. 457 00:28:31,310 --> 00:28:33,430 And, and, you know, this is kind of a, 458 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:38,070 an important piece to me because I do think that the law has to be 459 00:28:38,070 --> 00:28:41,790 applied, uh, the same way universally, uh, 460 00:28:42,260 --> 00:28:43,270 across the board. 461 00:28:44,500 --> 00:28:47,270 Absolutely. If you don't apply the law fairly, 462 00:28:47,980 --> 00:28:50,750 then that actually undermines our whole republic, 463 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:54,190 because people are gonna look at that and say, well, 464 00:28:54,190 --> 00:28:58,430 this guy's being treated fairly, or, you know, getting a good deal. 465 00:28:58,490 --> 00:29:01,870 I'm here charged with the same thing or something even lesser, 466 00:29:02,010 --> 00:29:04,670 and I'm getting a stiffer sentence. People notice that, 467 00:29:04,670 --> 00:29:07,030 and I've seen that in the courtroom before, by the way, 468 00:29:07,310 --> 00:29:10,630 where people will have essentially identical charges, 469 00:29:10,630 --> 00:29:14,110 almost identical fact patterns. Well, you know, 470 00:29:14,110 --> 00:29:17,750 this guy negotiated for, you know, probation. You know, 471 00:29:17,750 --> 00:29:20,430 if this guy's going away for two years, you know, why does that happen? 472 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:23,550 It it undermines the system, and it's something that I don't like. 473 00:29:23,550 --> 00:29:26,190 And I think no matter who you are, 474 00:29:26,690 --> 00:29:30,270 you need to be treated the same by your district attorney's office. 475 00:29:30,270 --> 00:29:34,670 I don't care if you are, you're the poorest person in town, 476 00:29:34,670 --> 00:29:37,950 the richest person in town, you know what your reputation is, 477 00:29:37,950 --> 00:29:40,150 whether you're known as a good guy or a bad guy. 478 00:29:40,490 --> 00:29:43,520 The law needs to look at the person and say, 479 00:29:45,030 --> 00:29:48,240 what are the facts here? How does the law apply to it? 480 00:29:48,660 --> 00:29:53,080 And we'll treat the person fairly. And no, you can't, you can't show favoritism. 481 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:56,150 You can't, uh, you can't treat people better, 482 00:29:56,150 --> 00:29:58,270 and you can't treat people worse because of who they are. 483 00:29:58,270 --> 00:30:01,990 And once you start doing that, then the country is, the country's done. 484 00:30:02,460 --> 00:30:05,190 Well, and, and you make a great point that, you know, 485 00:30:05,190 --> 00:30:10,150 that can shake out both directions, whether someone be treated, uh, 486 00:30:10,150 --> 00:30:15,110 with favoritism or whether there's a witch hunt, uh, you know, for a, 487 00:30:15,110 --> 00:30:19,910 a a certain individual, uh, that is treated harsher than others. 488 00:30:20,250 --> 00:30:23,710 And, uh, and I I want to get to kind of a, 489 00:30:23,710 --> 00:30:26,310 a national piece of news here, um, 490 00:30:26,310 --> 00:30:31,110 but we do have to get a break in when we come back. Uh, so if you, you know, 491 00:30:31,110 --> 00:30:34,670 if you're, you're sticking with us, uh, as a listener, do so, 492 00:30:34,670 --> 00:30:38,750 because when we come back, we wanna talk about the indictment of, uh, 493 00:30:38,750 --> 00:30:43,230 of President Trump. And I want to get Danny's take on that, uh, 494 00:30:43,230 --> 00:30:46,430 because I think that comes into, uh, the conversation that we, 495 00:30:46,430 --> 00:30:51,030 we were just having about, uh, the way the law should be universally applied. 496 00:30:51,290 --> 00:30:53,070 But we'll get to that after the break, 497 00:30:53,070 --> 00:30:57,270 as well as final thoughts and how you can, uh, contact, uh, Mr. 498 00:30:57,270 --> 00:31:00,950 DeVito if you're interested in getting with his campaign. Um, 499 00:31:00,950 --> 00:31:03,390 we'll be right back. Your on commonalities. 500 00:31:06,540 --> 00:31:11,190 You're listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 501 00:31:11,510 --> 00:31:12,710 uncommon conversations. 502 00:31:13,270 --> 00:31:16,670 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 503 00:31:19,690 --> 00:31:22,750 I'm Melinda De LaRose. As an Assistant District Attorney, 504 00:31:22,750 --> 00:31:26,790 I've protected Fayette County families and fought to uphold our constitutional 505 00:31:26,790 --> 00:31:29,590 rights. As a prosecutor and trusted local attorney, 506 00:31:29,590 --> 00:31:33,630 I've provided victims of crime with a strong voice and put criminals behind 507 00:31:33,630 --> 00:31:36,950 bars. My pledge to you as judge is to follow the law, 508 00:31:36,950 --> 00:31:39,190 always maintain the highest ethical standards, 509 00:31:39,190 --> 00:31:43,710 and to run a courtroom that's respectful of your time and tax dollars. 510 00:31:44,010 --> 00:31:47,030 I'm Melinda de LaRose asking for your vote for Judge. 511 00:31:47,030 --> 00:31:49,190 Paid for by Friends of Melinda de LaRose. 512 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:53,790 Is your business using analog strategies in a digital marketing world? 513 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:54,910 If so, 514 00:31:54,910 --> 00:31:59,550 then contact Matthew or Rebecca Dowling at Coordinated 360 for a 515 00:31:59,550 --> 00:32:03,710 professional consultation where we bring in-depth knowledge and functional 516 00:32:03,710 --> 00:32:05,630 expertise with a holistic perspective. 517 00:32:06,470 --> 00:32:11,150 Coordinated 360 provides digital marketing, paid ad and media buying services, 518 00:32:11,210 --> 00:32:16,070 web design, social media management, video production, and more for businesses, 519 00:32:16,090 --> 00:32:20,470 organizations, and political campaigns with decades of experience. 520 00:32:20,470 --> 00:32:25,350 Matt and Becky at Coordinated 360 can help you craft your unique message 521 00:32:25,570 --> 00:32:30,550 and share it with the world. For a no risk media evaluation and recommendations, 522 00:32:30,780 --> 00:32:34,830 call 7 2 4 3 2 0 22 12, 523 00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:37,070 or visit us online at 524 00:32:37,690 --> 00:32:42,640 www.coordinatedthreesixty.com. Find us also on Facebook, 525 00:32:42,640 --> 00:32:44,000 Instagram, and Twitter, 526 00:32:44,330 --> 00:32:47,920 or email info coordinated three sixty.com. 527 00:32:49,870 --> 00:32:51,840 When it comes to buying a home, 528 00:32:52,190 --> 00:32:55,160 what you see isn't exactly what you get. 529 00:32:55,470 --> 00:33:00,120 That's why home buyers should call Dave Dowling at Grandview 530 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:05,040 Inspections at 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 531 00:33:05,390 --> 00:33:10,360 You'll see colorful flowers, freshly painted walls, granite countertops, 532 00:33:10,650 --> 00:33:13,120 flaming hardwood floors, and other touches. 533 00:33:13,430 --> 00:33:17,240 What you can't see is the cracks, ancient plumbing, 534 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:19,000 dangerous wiring, 535 00:33:19,330 --> 00:33:24,200 or broken appliances that might be revealed when you hire a 536 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:27,880 home inspector. And when it comes to home inspectors, 537 00:33:28,050 --> 00:33:32,160 knowing yours has the qualifications and experience needed, 538 00:33:32,270 --> 00:33:34,360 should be your number one concern. 539 00:33:34,790 --> 00:33:39,640 Dave Dowling with Grandview Inspections is an architectural engineer 540 00:33:39,710 --> 00:33:44,680 with over 30 years of commercial construction experience and hundreds of 541 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:46,240 inspections under his belt. 542 00:33:47,070 --> 00:33:51,960 A home inspection is an opportunity for you to hire an expert to walk 543 00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:56,760 through the home and prepare a report outlining the home's major components. 544 00:33:56,910 --> 00:34:01,760 What needs immediate attention and what will require maintenance after 545 00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:05,520 you move in your home is one of your biggest investments. 546 00:34:05,770 --> 00:34:09,720 So make sure your investment is everything you hoped it to be. 547 00:34:09,990 --> 00:34:13,560 Call Dave Dowling at Grandview Inspections at 548 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:17,120 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 549 00:34:19,490 --> 00:34:20,950 Are you enjoying the program? 550 00:34:20,950 --> 00:34:25,150 You're listening to support commonalities and help keep us on the air by making 551 00:34:25,150 --> 00:34:30,030 a donation of five 10 or $25, or any amount you feel comfortable sharing 552 00:34:30,030 --> 00:34:33,950 online@donate.commonalities.online. Again, 553 00:34:33,950 --> 00:34:37,870 that is donate.commonalities.online on the worldwide web. 554 00:34:38,130 --> 00:34:42,830 Buy our host a cup of coffee or help pay for airtime at donate dot commonalities 555 00:34:42,830 --> 00:34:43,663 online. 556 00:34:47,410 --> 00:34:50,900 Thanks for staying with us here on commonalities. I'm your host, Matt Dowling. 557 00:34:50,900 --> 00:34:53,540 My guest today is Danny DeVito. Uh, 558 00:34:53,540 --> 00:34:57,100 he is a candidate for Elk County District Attorney. 559 00:34:57,120 --> 00:34:58,580 And before we went to the break, 560 00:34:58,580 --> 00:35:03,420 we were talking about how the law should be universally applied, 561 00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:07,340 how we, you know, we really, uh, 562 00:35:07,340 --> 00:35:11,580 undermine our entire republic whenever, uh, someone gets a, 563 00:35:11,580 --> 00:35:15,740 a deal that, uh, shows some favoritism, but how that can also, 564 00:35:16,310 --> 00:35:20,940 uh, turn into, uh, a, a witch hunt when a district attorney is, 565 00:35:20,990 --> 00:35:25,980 is looking for something to pin on a certain individual, uh, and, 566 00:35:25,980 --> 00:35:30,700 and how that's really not the way, uh, in our commonwealth or country that, uh, 567 00:35:30,700 --> 00:35:34,100 that the law should be applied. So, uh, Danny, 568 00:35:34,210 --> 00:35:38,200 I I said I was gonna ask you the question about the indictment of President 569 00:35:38,200 --> 00:35:42,560 Trump. I want to get your, uh, feedback or, or your opinion on that, 570 00:35:42,660 --> 00:35:46,560 and I'm sure our listeners, uh, want to hear about your opinion as well. 571 00:35:47,980 --> 00:35:48,470 Well, 572 00:35:48,470 --> 00:35:52,590 I made the statement when President Trump was indicted that I thought this was a 573 00:35:52,590 --> 00:35:55,830 phony witch hunt. I think that it's a political persecution, 574 00:35:56,370 --> 00:36:00,190 and I think my statement actually said that I fear for the future of our 575 00:36:00,390 --> 00:36:02,990 republic. And that's not an exaggeration. I mean, 576 00:36:02,990 --> 00:36:07,350 this is the first time in history that a former president of the United States 577 00:36:07,570 --> 00:36:12,270 was criminally indicted. First of all, the, the legal grounds, and I'll, 578 00:36:12,270 --> 00:36:15,230 I'll make the, the statement that I'm not licensed in the state of New York. 579 00:36:15,230 --> 00:36:19,630 I'm licensed in Pennsylvania. But to me, the prosecutor, first of all, 580 00:36:19,660 --> 00:36:22,670 it's a shaky legal theory that's never been done before. 581 00:36:22,670 --> 00:36:27,230 He's co-mingling federal and state law. The statute of limitations, 582 00:36:27,230 --> 00:36:30,390 from my understanding, has passed. And he's, 583 00:36:30,390 --> 00:36:34,950 he's trying to enforce federal law with something that the feds have already 584 00:36:34,950 --> 00:36:39,070 rejected. You know, as an example, they're saying, oh, it's a campaign expense. 585 00:36:39,070 --> 00:36:41,390 It's a phony business expense. Look, 586 00:36:41,390 --> 00:36:45,390 if if I get a haircut or if I take a shower, you know, 587 00:36:45,390 --> 00:36:48,390 because I don't wanna look bad at a campaign event, you know, 588 00:36:48,390 --> 00:36:50,310 do I have to report my water bill? I mean, 589 00:36:50,310 --> 00:36:54,990 that's the absurdity that this can go to. Th these charges were spun up by, uh, 590 00:36:54,990 --> 00:36:59,710 sorrow's funded district attorney who was elected for the sole reason that they 591 00:36:59,710 --> 00:37:02,270 wanted to get President Trump. But to me, 592 00:37:02,270 --> 00:37:05,830 it's about more than just the kind of legal deficiencies that I spelled out. 593 00:37:06,010 --> 00:37:06,510 You know, 594 00:37:06,510 --> 00:37:10,350 this is the political persecution and the weaponization of our criminal justice 595 00:37:10,350 --> 00:37:12,030 system against political enemies. 596 00:37:12,300 --> 00:37:15,230 That's not done in the United States of America, but it is now. 597 00:37:15,570 --> 00:37:19,150 And I think President Trump said that the Soviet Union would be proud of them 598 00:37:19,410 --> 00:37:22,790 for what they've done. And I agree that this Alvin Bragg, 599 00:37:23,100 --> 00:37:26,870 George Soros, uh, the entire, um, 600 00:37:26,870 --> 00:37:31,350 kind of elite establishment of, uh, the unit party, I call it, 601 00:37:32,070 --> 00:37:36,100 uh, they're going after their political enemies and fir first of all, 602 00:37:36,100 --> 00:37:37,180 in regards to my race, 603 00:37:37,180 --> 00:37:40,340 that's why you need someone as the district attorney that shareds your values, 604 00:37:40,680 --> 00:37:43,340 not just in terms of who can do the job, 605 00:37:43,340 --> 00:37:48,130 but who shares my values and will not turn the office into 606 00:37:48,130 --> 00:37:53,090 something that's gonna persecute, uh, people for having conservative, uh, 607 00:37:53,090 --> 00:37:54,770 or patriotic ideals. 608 00:37:54,770 --> 00:37:58,090 Because if they can go after the 45th president to the United States, 609 00:37:58,090 --> 00:38:01,410 they can go after you. They can go after anybody, they can go after me. 610 00:38:02,180 --> 00:38:03,970 So historically, 611 00:38:03,970 --> 00:38:08,570 you do see that when somebody challenges the political establishment to the 612 00:38:08,570 --> 00:38:12,660 extent that President Trump has, you know, they do try to, uh, 613 00:38:12,660 --> 00:38:15,180 weaponize the system and lock you up. You know, 614 00:38:15,180 --> 00:38:19,740 you look at Jim Trafficking in Ohio, there's several other examples, but this, 615 00:38:19,740 --> 00:38:21,780 this is beyond, um, 616 00:38:22,130 --> 00:38:26,860 what we can accept as a nation and it's legally deficient. 617 00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:28,420 But more than that, 618 00:38:28,570 --> 00:38:33,420 this is the shift from a constitutional republic to a banana republic 619 00:38:33,910 --> 00:38:35,840 if these charges are allowed to stand. 620 00:38:37,520 --> 00:38:41,450 Absolutely. And, and, you know, I, I was a supporter of President Trump. 621 00:38:41,450 --> 00:38:46,370 I was on the ballot with him, uh, during his first, uh, presidential run. 622 00:38:47,020 --> 00:38:51,130 Uh, and, and, and I allowed myself, uh, 623 00:38:51,130 --> 00:38:55,250 the time to see the actual indictments and, uh, 624 00:38:55,250 --> 00:38:58,490 to be able to read through and, and kind of ruminate, uh, 625 00:38:58,490 --> 00:39:03,330 on what the charges were, uh, before I made any kind of public opinion, or, 626 00:39:03,330 --> 00:39:07,690 or I discussed this, uh, uh, on the radio or in the press. 627 00:39:08,180 --> 00:39:12,210 Um, but now that, uh, that they've kind of shown their cards and, and now that, 628 00:39:12,260 --> 00:39:16,930 uh, the indictment has been unsealed and, and we see what's there, um, 629 00:39:16,930 --> 00:39:19,890 you know, I, I agree with you completely that, uh, 630 00:39:19,890 --> 00:39:24,650 that the co-mingling between federal and and state law, um, 631 00:39:24,860 --> 00:39:29,330 is, is probably a, a real stretch of the imagination there. Um, 632 00:39:29,330 --> 00:39:31,050 and like you said, uh, 633 00:39:31,050 --> 00:39:35,770 this is something that is important all the way down to our district races. 634 00:39:36,380 --> 00:39:39,610 Um, you know, that your district attorney fits the, uh, 635 00:39:39,760 --> 00:39:44,450 fits the constituents that, that you serve and that you represent. Um, 636 00:39:44,450 --> 00:39:47,410 before we, we go, we have just a couple minutes left in the program. 637 00:39:47,560 --> 00:39:48,810 I wanted to, uh, 638 00:39:48,910 --> 00:39:52,130 see if you had any final thoughts that you wanna share with our listeners, 639 00:39:52,130 --> 00:39:56,490 and then also make sure that we got your contact information out there. 640 00:39:56,860 --> 00:39:59,370 Uh, if someone wants to donate to your campaign, 641 00:39:59,370 --> 00:40:02,330 if someone wants to help with your campaign, uh, 642 00:40:02,360 --> 00:40:06,730 even if someone listening is from Elk County and wants a, a yard sign, 643 00:40:07,220 --> 00:40:11,090 uh, which, you know, by the way, I always hate political yard signs. 644 00:40:11,090 --> 00:40:15,130 I think there's, uh, there's better use of of political funds, uh, 645 00:40:15,130 --> 00:40:18,890 or campaign funds. But, you know, if someone does want a yard sign, 646 00:40:18,890 --> 00:40:22,490 how can they reach out to you and, uh, and get ahold of your campaign? 647 00:40:23,920 --> 00:40:26,170 Sure. Well, first of all, I always tell people, 648 00:40:26,480 --> 00:40:29,810 look at the way the county is being run and managed right now. 649 00:40:29,810 --> 00:40:32,930 Are you happy with it in terms of how we're dealing with the drug problem? 650 00:40:33,270 --> 00:40:36,850 You know, do you feel that you can reach out to your district attorney? 651 00:40:36,850 --> 00:40:39,250 Do you know him? If the answer is no, 652 00:40:39,250 --> 00:40:43,330 then you need to vote for Danny DeVito because just pick up the paper. You know, 653 00:40:43,330 --> 00:40:47,250 cases are bund, uh, you know, drug dealers run rampant. 654 00:40:47,250 --> 00:40:51,810 There's no accountability. Meanwhile, good hardworking people, 655 00:40:52,090 --> 00:40:55,890 Americans have to suffer the consequences and have to pay the costs, 656 00:40:55,890 --> 00:40:59,650 and taxpayers have to eat all these costs for, you know, 657 00:40:59,650 --> 00:41:03,650 these people that just don't care about anybody else in society. So, you know, 658 00:41:03,650 --> 00:41:04,730 it's really a question of, 659 00:41:04,980 --> 00:41:09,890 do you wanna see Elk County restored to, you know, 660 00:41:09,890 --> 00:41:12,050 what your grandparents, uh, gave you, 661 00:41:12,420 --> 00:41:14,810 or are you fine with the way things are going? 662 00:41:14,810 --> 00:41:17,530 I think most people are very unhappy and, uh, 663 00:41:17,530 --> 00:41:21,690 they're ready to vote for Danny DeVito. Uh, as far as the yard signs, 664 00:41:21,880 --> 00:41:25,890 I've heard, uh, your opinion before, but I think our yard signs, uh, 665 00:41:25,890 --> 00:41:27,010 look pretty good. You know, 666 00:41:27,010 --> 00:41:29,890 some people have said it's actually the best looking yard sign that they've ever 667 00:41:29,890 --> 00:41:32,770 seen, so hopefully they'll get some traction and attention. 668 00:41:32,770 --> 00:41:36,000 But if people want one or if they wanna talk with me directly, 669 00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:39,920 I'm always happy to call somebody if they have a question about my campaign and 670 00:41:39,920 --> 00:41:44,840 we can talk directly, they can go to DeVito four da.com. 671 00:41:44,990 --> 00:41:47,960 I believe right now it's redirecting to our social media, 672 00:41:47,960 --> 00:41:50,840 and they can send us a message on there. Uh, if not, 673 00:41:50,840 --> 00:41:53,040 they can find me on Facebook. Uh, 674 00:41:53,040 --> 00:41:57,280 I have a personal account and a campaign account, they can email DeVito for da. 675 00:41:58,150 --> 00:42:01,220 Uh, that information is on there as well. So, you know, 676 00:42:01,220 --> 00:42:03,820 always happy to talk to people directly and, you know, 677 00:42:03,820 --> 00:42:07,540 we can have a conversation. They can hear your thoughts, uh, or we can, uh, 678 00:42:07,640 --> 00:42:09,980 you know, obviously always willing to expect, um, 679 00:42:10,170 --> 00:42:11,980 accept support for our campaign. 680 00:42:12,890 --> 00:42:16,580 Absolutely. And I want to thank you for making the time to talk with us today. 681 00:42:16,580 --> 00:42:21,220 I, I truly enjoyed, uh, our conversation about, uh, about the law. 682 00:42:21,290 --> 00:42:24,300 I think that, uh, you know, sometimes it, 683 00:42:24,650 --> 00:42:28,060 it's something that's not discussed, uh, enough. And, 684 00:42:28,080 --> 00:42:32,020 and I'd love to have you on again to kind of delve deeper on, uh, 685 00:42:32,390 --> 00:42:36,020 on Pennsylvania line some of the relevant issues, uh, in the future. 686 00:42:36,070 --> 00:42:39,340 So thanks so much for being on with us here today. Uh, 687 00:42:39,340 --> 00:42:40,980 Danny and thank you everyone for. 688 00:42:40,980 --> 00:42:44,140 Tuning in. This has been Commonalities, 689 00:42:44,410 --> 00:42:48,620 a show where guests find common ground through uncommon conversations. 690 00:42:48,660 --> 00:42:51,340 Copyright 2022 Coordinated 360. 691 00:42:51,560 --> 00:42:55,300 All public rebroadcast should be done with prior written approval from Matthew 692 00:42:55,300 --> 00:43:00,220 Dowling. All requests should be sent to info@coordinatedthreesixty.com. 693 00:43:00,220 --> 00:43:02,620 Thank you for listening to commonalities.
10Apr, 2023
