The Primary election is just 5 weeks away! YOU can help motivate your progressive and democrat contacts to VOTE! This is the first of 5 weekly emails designed for you to easily forward to all of them, and encourage them to forward to their contacts too.
Judges, School Board Directors, and other local and County positions are on the ballot, along with important BALLOT QUESTIONS. (Every registered voter can vote on these Ballot questions in the Primary, even if they are Independent or with a Third Party.) SPREAD THE WORD!
Scroll down to read why these positions and Ballot Questions MATTER. If you prefer to send an attachment, or want this in a printable version, click on the DOWNLOAD button above to access the same information in a 2 page PDF format.
|
|
|
WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT THESE LOCAL POSITIONS?
School Board Director
Makes decisions about important issues for parents, such as:
- In-person vs. online classes during the pandemic
- School safety, gun violence and suicide prevention policies and programs
- Prioritizing budget spending (Another guidance counselor or another security guard? New band uniforms or upgraded playing field?)
- Curriculum, homework and standardized testing policies
- Special Education programs and practices
- Equity policies: Free lunch, full day kindergarten, after school help?
- Negotiations with the Teacher’s Union (pay, training, teacher safety)
- Which schools your neighborhood attends
Twp. Supervisor/ Member of Council
- Makes decisions on local police hiring, taxing, permits, zoning and building codes, local parks, open spaces and trails, pipelines, roads and bridges, trash and public works, and public safety
Mayor
- Serves as the civilian oversight of the City or Borough Police Department-works with Police Chief to hire police and establish police guidelines
- Can declare a state of emergency
Magisterial District Judge
- Hears minor criminal and civil cases such as landlord/tenant disputes and disorderly conduct, minor property damage and traffic violations
- Issues EMERGENCY Protection from Abuse orders
Judge of Elections (JOE)
- Sets up all materials, machines, and supplies for your polling place (precinct)
- Answers all questions and handles issues on Election day in accordance with Voter Services decisions (Example: You requested a mail in ballot but change your mind and want to vote in person on Election day at your precinct)
Inspector (of Elections)
- Sets up polling places and monitors the Judge of Elections (JOE)
- Ensures JOE delivers results to Voter Services (Note: minority party inspector keeps a copy of signed tally sheets for assurances)
Auditor
- Examines accuracy of financial accounts in the municipality
Tax Collector
- Administers and organizes local tax paperwork
Constable
- Provides security at your polling place (precinct)
|
|
|
|
WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT THESE COUNTY POSITIONS?
Treasurer
- Accounts for money coming INTO the County.
- Collects real estate taxes
- Balances the County bank statements
- Issues dog, fishing and hunting, not-for-profit, and small games licenses
Controller
- Accounts for money going OUT OF the County
- Responsible for an honest accounting of our tax dollars, and monitors fraud, waste and abuse in the County government
- Entrusted with all County public funds: accounts and transactions, contracts, agreements, lease payments, financial statements
Clerk of Courts
- Maintains accurate criminal records that are the basis of fair trials for victims and defendants
- Can initiate juvenile record expungements and eviction prevention actions
Coroner
- Determines cause and manner of death, identities the decedent, and provides notification to the legal next of kin
- Provides cremation request forms, death certificates, reports for attorneys and insurance companies
Judge of Common Pleas
- Presides over “trial court level” cases like you see on TV, where witnesses and evidence are presented, and a verdict and sentence are determined
- Hears major criminal, civil and family law cases (such as DUI, custody, robbery, injury, property damage, assault, murder)
- Issues standing Protection from Abuse orders
|
|
|
|
WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT THESE STATE-WIDE POSITIONS?
Justice of the Supreme Court
- Highest Court in Pennsylvania (panel of 7 Justices who serve 10 year terms)
- The main “check and balance” on the PA legislature
- Determine if a law passed by our State legislature is Constitutional
- Recent examples: Ruled that Mail In ballots and Drop Boxes were legal, and that extremely gerrymandered voting districts that disenfranchised minority voters was unconstitutional and needed to be redrawn
Judge of the Superior Court
- “Court of last resort” for APPEALS (panel of 15 Judges who serve 10 year terms)
- Hears civil, criminal, and family law appeals to reverse a lower court’s ruling (convictions or sentences)
- Examples: Custody, drug possession, DUI, assault, burglary, murder rulings
Judge of the Commonwealth Court
- APPEALS Court for government entities (panel of 9 judges who serve 10 year terms)
- Hears appeals from final orders of certain state agencies and certain designated cases from the Courts of Common Pleas involving public sector legal questions and government regulation
|
|
|
|
WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT THESE Ballot Questions?
Ballot Question 1
Extend or Terminate State of Emergency
- Constitutional Amendment: Transfers the power to extend or end a State of Emergency FROM the Governor TO 253 politicians in the PA legislature, potentially slowing and politicizing the response by requiring a new decision via majority vote every 21 days during a disaster or public health crisis.
- Recommendation: Vote NO
Ballot Question 2
Time limit on initial State of Emergency Declaration
- Constitutional Amendment: Limits the Governor's power to initially declare a State of Emergency to just 21 days (currently 90), potentially jeopardizing federal assistance and emergency funds.
- Recommendation: Vote NO
Ballot Question 3
Equal Rights Regardless of Race or Ethnicity
- Constitutional Amendment: These rights are already protected in the PA Constitution and under the Equal Protection Clause in the U.S. Constitution. Adding the word “individual” would make it easier to file reverse-discrimination claims.
- This one is complicated. For a deeper perspective see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5PdpMbG1Vs
- No Recommendation
Ballot Question 4
Extend loan program eligibility to include paid fire departments
- Statewide Referendum: Allows fire and ambulance companies with paid staff to borrow from a building and equipment fund currently available only to Volunteer companies. This would not authorize incurring any additional debt to fund the program.
- Recommendation: Vote YES
|
|
|
|
|
|
