tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481330.post111635508054078256..comments2023-10-24T11:05:25.288-04:00Comments on Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events: KDKA: Polls Open for PA's PrimaryMark Rauterkushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481330.post-1116355192204285642005-05-17T14:39:00.000-04:002005-05-17T14:39:00.000-04:00Polls Open for PA's PrimaryMay 17, 2005 11:24 am U...Polls Open for PA's Primary<BR/><BR/>May 17, 2005 11:24 am US/Eastern<BR/>Pittsburgh (KDKA/AP) It's Primary Election Day in Pennsylvania and the polls are open from now until 8pm tonight.<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>Voters in Allegheny County will also decide today whether or not they want to eliminate some of the row offices.<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>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!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com