There was all the usual pomp and circumstance yesterday at the Media Courthouse as two new members of County Council took the oath of office.

Actually there was only one new member. Incumbent Jack Whelan was sworn in for his second term. He was joined by running mate Mario Civera, the longtime state rep from Upper Darby.

Nothing unusual about two Republicans taking their seats on the ruling bodies of Delaware County. After all, it’s been an all-Republican affair since the 1970s, back when the Home Rule Charter ended mandatory minority representation in the county.

That doesn’t mean that nothing unusual happened yesterday in Media. Not inside the courthouse, but outside, shivering in the cold.

That’s where a small band of Democrats from Civera’s home turf held a protest. It’s the first time anybody can remember the routine swearing-in of new county council members sparking sign-carrying protesters outside the courthouse.

It’s probably fitting that the small band of Democrats were out in the cold, that’s where they usually are when it comes to the ruling body in Delaware County.

Then again, Civera’s ascension was not exactly routine. That’s because county councilman is not Civera’s only job description. He’s also the state representative for the 164th District from Upper Darby. And he will continue to be, at least for the immediate future.

In other words, he is going to hold both jobs, even though he’s forgoing his county salary. He will accept his state paycheck, which comes to $104,000 a year. A county councilman makes only $49,000 annually.

This is not sitting well with Democrats, especially those in Upper Darby, and they’re not about to let Civera forget it, even on the day he took the oath of office for his new county post.

They maintain that Civera made it clear during the campaign that he would not hold both seats. Now they say he’s going back on his word.

Civera says he has every intention of resigning his state House seat – and always has – but he has never given a concrete date for that action.
Now he says he’s been asked to stay on by leaders of both parties to work on table games legislation as well as possibly an early start on next year’s budget plan.

But there’s a healthy dose of politics at play here as well. Democrats want a special election to fill Civera’s 164th District seat. And they want it held on primary day on May 18. It doesn’t take much to figure out why. Democrats are expecting a huge turnout that day because of the Joe Sestak-Arlen Specter battle royal for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat.

A cynic might say Republicans are less than enthralled at filling Civera’s seat on that day, since their voters will not have much to draw them to the polls. Hence, they wouldn’t be all that upset should Civera not give up his seat until after the deadline for the special election to be held on primary day.

For now you can call Civera county councilman. And also state representative. And you can call county Democrats ticked off about the whole thing.