Tuesday, May 17, 2005

KDKA: Polls Open for PA's Primary

KDKA: Polls Open for PA's Primary In Wagner's former Pittsburgh district, former Allegheny County councilman Wayne Fontana, a Democrat, is competing with Democrat-turned-Republican Rep. Michael Diven and Libertarian Mark Rauterkus.

Voters in Allegheny County will also decide today whether or not they want to eliminate some of the row offices.

But if political anaylsts are correct, voter turnout for this primary will only be around 20-percent of the 9.6 million Pennsylvanians who are 18 or older.

The Allegheny County Elections Department projects that only one-third of the county's Democrats and a quarter of the republicans will show up at the polls today. If those projections are correct, it would be one of the lowest turnouts involving a city mayoral election in recent years.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Polls Open for PA's Primary

May 17, 2005 11:24 am US/Eastern
Pittsburgh (KDKA/AP) It's Primary Election Day in Pennsylvania and the polls are open from now until 8pm tonight.

One of the biggest races on the ballot today today is the mayor's race in the city of Pittsburgh; but that's not the only thing area voters will be deciding.

Today's election is mainly for Republicans and Democrats to choose their nominees for mayor, county and district judgeships, township supervisors and school boards in many communities.

Seven candidates have lined up for the Democratic nod to replace Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy, who has opted not to pursue a fourth term amid budget woes and a grand jury investigation into allegations that he traded a lucrative labor contract for a firefighters' union endorsement in the 2001 election.

The only statewide issue on Tuesday's ballot is a $625 million bond issue for environmental cleanups and land preservation. With interest, the proposed borrowing is expected to cost taxpayers about $1 billion over more than 20 years, according to Senate Republicans.

Also being decided are special elections to fill two vacancies in the state Senate. Republicans now control the chamber 30-18, excluding the seats formerly held by Democrats who were elected to higher offices in November - U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz and state Auditor General Jack Wagner.

In Wagner's former Pittsburgh district, former Allegheny County councilman Wayne Fontana, a Democrat, is competing with Democrat-turned-Republican Rep. Michael Diven and Libertarian Mark Rauterkus.

Voters in Allegheny County will also decide today whether or not they want to eliminate some of the row offices.

But if political anaylsts are correct, voter turnout for this primary will only be around 20-percent of the 9.6 million Pennsylvanians who are 18 or older.

The Allegheny County Elections Department projects that only one-third of the county's Democrats and a quarter of the republicans will show up at the polls today. If those projections are correct, it would be one of the lowest turnouts involving a city mayoral election in recent years.

Stay with KDKA-TV for complete election coverage. Once the polls are closed, we'll have live updates with the latest results -- and live reaction from the candidates in the key races on KDKA-TV News at 11pm. You can also watch up-to-the minute results right here on KDKA.com.. and we'll also have a complete election wrap-up tomorrow morning starting at 5am on KDKA-TV!