Dispute could spoil reform
Activists behind PACleanSweep might need more than a broom to clean up the dirt from an internal squabble.
A testy dispute among the group's leaders has resulted in opposing factions that each claim to be the rightful board of directors. One side on Monday threatened a lawsuit to sort out which side legitimately booted the other during a fractious board meeting in March.
At issue is whether PACleanSweep founder Russ Diamond -- who announced last week he is running for governor as an independent -- or a dissident faction should have control of the organization's Web site and assets.
PACleanSweep was created last summer with the goal of ousting all incumbent legislators after the General Assembly voted itself a hefty pay raise.
"(Diamond) is no better at following the rules of order than the people that he vilified for their actions," charged Michele Diehl, a Greensburg resident who heads a faction of the board that became disenchanted with Diamond when he decided to run for governor.
"Russ has called us names. He says we're 'negatorians.' Apparently, I'm the queen," Diehl said. "Russ is acting like an incumbent. He's going to be clean-swept like an incumbent."
Diehl, calling herself PACleanSweep's chair pro temp, issued a news release claiming Diamond "has flaunted Pennsylvania law and the bylaws of our organization."
Her group -- five members of the 10-member board -- has hired an attorney and is preparing to sue Diamond over alleged "mismanagement," the release said.
Diamond -- who started PACleanSweep in response to public anger about the legislative pay raise, which was passed without public debate or scrutiny early on July 7 -- accused Diehl and her group of "a personal vendetta."
"I tried to make a last-ditch attempt on Friday to heal this rift," he said, "but word got back to me that they have plans in the works to not only ruin PACleanSweep but my candidacy for governor as well.
"That tells me they have their own emotions and personal feelings above the interests of the movement."
Diamond said he will resign as chairman of PACleanSweep's board Thursday but will remain on the board as a nonvoting member.
PACleanSweep interviewed and vetted more than 100 candidates to run this year seeking to defeat incumbents in the Legislature.
The infighting won't likely help the organization's avowed cause of reforming state government, said G. Terry Madonna, a political scientist at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster County.
"When a small organization splinters, there is one conclusion you can reach: They only get smaller," Madonna said.
Mike Long, chief of staff for Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelier, R-Altoona, said the squabble reinforces Long's contention that anti-pay raise leaders used the issue for "self promotion."
Long referred to Diamond and Gene Stilp, a reformer from Harrisburg and Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor.
"I just hope the media will stop reporting every time they sneeze as if it's some dictate from on high," Long said.
