Ed Mitchell remembered as 'political genius'

Yahoo

31-05-2025

May 31—KINGSTON — Longtime friend Andy Reilly described the late Ed Mitchell succinctly.
"Ed Mitchell was a political genius," said Reilly, executive director at the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority. "He had an innate ability to understand the mood of the electorate and he knew exactly what they would respond to, which is why he was so successful as a political consultant. And so he was never afraid to tell his clients the truth with regard to how they were being perceived by the public, which is very rare in politics."
Mitchell passed away on Thursday at the age of 77, following a short illness.
A visit to Mitchell's website, edmitchell.com, reveals a lot about who he was and just how effective he had been in local, state and national politics. Just take a look at his impressive list of successful campaigns that he handled.
"We'll quarterback your team to victory," is the first thing that catches your eye on the website. "Analyzing polling data, gathering research, providing media strategies and advice are among the strengths Edward Mitchell Communications brings to their winning campaign efforts. This is what goes into the compelling ads Ed Mitchell creates and produces.
"When it comes to campaign management, political advertising and media relations — there is virtually no task the founder of the company, Ed Mitchell, has not performed successfully."
That says it all.
One of Mitchell's biggest successes was in his handling of all primary and general election campaigns for former U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski — 26 in all, 13 primaries and 13 general elections.
Kanjorski said his first encounter with Mitchell was as an opponent — the two were candidates in the 1980 special election to fill the seat formerly held by U.S. Rep. Dan Flood. A third Democrat won the nomination — the late State Sen. Ray Musto, who lost the General Election to Republican Jim Nelligan.
I was so impressed by Ed that I had lunch with him after that campaign," Kanjorski said. "I knew if I ever ran again, I wanted Ed on my staff."
Mitchell was with Kanjorski for the Nanticoke Congressman's 26 years in the U.S. House of Representatives.
"Ed was a dear friend," Kanjorski said. "We all will miss him and his counsel, which was always very worthwhile."
It's the same story with Reilly, who said Mitchell was a mentor to him in politics and government.
"He helped me in my first foray into politics when, as a young 18-year-old, I ran a successful campaign for Luzerne Borough Council," Reilly said. "He also helped in my subsequent campaigns for Mayor and then County Controller. Ed was always my biggest advocate throughout my career."
Reilly went on to say, "But as tough as Ed was in politics, he was the most generous person I ever met. And not only to me, but with restaurant servers, bartenders, delivery people, nurses and caretakers. Ed would routinely hand out gift cards for popular restaurants, stores, and gas stations to people he came across in his daily life. He would also routinely give money or pay bills for those he knew were struggling. And for all his accomplishments in politics, to those who were touched by his generosity, that is what he will be most remembered for."
State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski said Mitchell will certainly be missed, but more so he will never be forgotten.
"Ed dedicated decades of his life to the political community, on all levels, federal, state and local," Pashinski said. "Ed understood the importance and necessity of participating in the political world to preserve the voice of the people and to preserve our precious Democracy."
Pashinski said all who knew Mitchell will miss his words of wisdom and his diplomatic guidance to foster a win for the people.
"I always enjoyed my conversations with Ed and learned a great deal," Pashinski said. "And I suspect he will be looking down from heaven, keeping watch and still guiding some of our words and actions."
Former Luzerne County Democratic Chair Kathy Bozinski said Mitchell was a brilliant political strategist and an incredible person.
"When I worked in television news, I could always turn to him for clear, insightful analysis of any political story," Bozinski said. "When I became Chair of the Luzerne County Democratic Committee during the chaos of COVID and one of the most volatile presidential campaigns ever, Ed was my mentor and friend."
Bozinski said Mitchell was the first to reach out to offer help and sound political advice, which, she said, he always gave straight up — with brutal honesty and no sugar coating.
"But on a personal level, he was one of the kindest, most generous and supportive friends I was privileged to have," Bozinski said.
For Wilkes-Barre City Mayor Tim Leighton said, "Ed was the best at what he did and loved to do. He was a great mentor to me and many others, but more importantly, he was a true friend. I will miss the calls and text messages from him asking how my family and I are doing. He was a dear friend to many."
Family offers memories
Mitchell's brother, Alan, a professor at Georgetown University, provided some biography information about his brother:
Ed Mitchell was born on Aug. 23, 1947, to Albert and Blanche Mitchell (nee Buczkowski) in Brooklyn, NY. He lived there until 1957, when the family moved to Northeast Pennsylvania.
He attended St. Ann's High School in Freeland, from which he graduated in 1964. He graduated from the University of Scranton in 1968 with a degree in Political Science, after serving as Student Body President. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit Honor Society.
Upon graduation, he embarked on a 14-year career on Capitol Hill, first working in the office of Congressman Daniel Flood. He served as a legislative assistant to the late Congressman Allard K. Lowenstein (D-NY) and as Administrative Assistant and Press Secretary to Congressman Peter Kostmayer (D-Pa) from 1978-1981. He was also a counselor to Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-PA) for 26 years.
Prior to that, he was the press secretary and communications director for Pennsylvania Gov. Milton J. Shapp.
Ed had run for Congress himself twice. In 1981, he began his own political consulting business, Ed Mitchell Communications. In 1987, he returned to the Wyoming Valley, where he served local clients seeking positions in public service.
He had a keen interest in the people of the Wyoming Valley and contributed to local charities and causes seeking to alleviate food insufficiency, such as The Commission on Economic Opportunity and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Regional Food Bank, founded by his close friend, the late Gene Brady.
"Ed will be remembered by his family as a loving son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle and grand-uncle, who was caring and extraordinarily generous," Alan Mitchell said. "Ed Mitchell will be remembered as a big-hearted man who accomplished extraordinary things in ordinary ways. He never forgot his own humble beginnings in Brooklyn, N.Y., and dedicated his entire life to helping those less fortunate than he was."
Alan Mitchell said the McLaughlin Funeral Home is handling all arrangements.
Ed Mitchell's clients
(Partial Listing)
— U.S. Congressman John P. Murtha (PA).
— U.S. Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA).
— U.S. Congressman Ron Klink (PA).
— U.S. Congressman Bob Borski (PA).
— U.S. Congressman Peter Kostmayer (PA).
— U.S. Senator Bob Casey's (PA) campaign for Auditor General.
— Pennsylvania State Senate Democratic Campaign Committee.
— Pennsylvania State House Democratic Campaign Committee.
— Pennsylvania State AFL-CIO.
— State Sen. Lisa Boscola (PA).
— State House Speaker Keith McCall (PA).
— State Rep. Kevin Blaum (PA).
— State Rep. Jim Wansacz (PA).
— State Rep. Rich Grucela (PA).
— State Rep. Steve Samuelson (PA).
— State Rep. Mike Gruitza (PA).
— State Rep. Phyllis Mundy (PA).
— The Democratic Study Group.
— The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DC).
— County and District Judges campaigns in Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Northampton Counties.
— Northampton County Executive Glenn Reibman.
— Schuylkill County Commissioners Frank McAndrew and Mantura Gallagher.
— Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla.
— Mayor Chris Doherty of Scranton.
— Mayor Tom Leighton of Wilkes-Barre.
— Schuylkill County District Attorney Jim Goodman.
— Luzerne County District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll.
— Lackawanna County Sheriff Campaign of Rob Mazzoni.
Some of his business and governmental clients have been:
— Commission on Economic Opportunity (Luzerne County).
— Housing Development Corporation (Luzerne County).
— NRDC (Luzerne County).
— Home Recording Rights Coalition.
— SONY Corporation of America.
— CAN DO, Hazleton.
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.