PennLive.com: NewsFlash - Election action in Tuesday's primary mainly local 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.
Sunday, May 15, 2005
PennLive.com: NewsFlash - Election action in Tuesday's primary mainly local
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Election action in Tuesday's primary mainly local
5/15/2005, 3:56 p.m. ET
By PETER JACKSON
The Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania voters will decide whether to authorize $625 million in borrowing for environmental cleanups and land preservation, but most of the excitement in Tuesday's primary election will emanate from nomination contests for local offices.
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Based on past turnout, four out of five eligible voters are expected to be somewhere else while the polls are open, according to Terry Madonna, a political science professor and pollster at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster.
"I don't see anything that looks like turnout to talk about," he said. "I can't remember an election in the last 30 years that has less statewide interest."
The bond issue — the only statewide issue at stake in Tuesday's election — was added at the last minute in April after Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell and Republicans who control the Legislature settled differences that had kept it in limbo for more than a year. The money is earmarked for purposes that include cleaning up abandoned mines and open-space preservation, although the details will be subject to further negotiation if the proposal passes.
Environmentalist groups have distributed flyers urging people to "Vote 'Yes' to protect our water, land and wildlife before they are gone forever." Opposition has come from the conservative Commonwealth Foundation, which says the borrowing is unnecessary, and home builders who say that limiting construction will cost the state jobs.
With interest, repaying the debt is expected to cost taxpayers about $1 billion over more than 20 years, according to Senate Republicans.
Also being decided Tuesday 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 last November — now-U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz and now-state Auditor General Jack Wagner.
In the Philadelphia-area district formerly held by Schwartz, sixth-term state Rep. LeAnna Washington of Philadelphia faces Republican Ronald Holt, an accountant from Abington.
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.
But Tuesday's election is mainly for registered Republicans or Democrats, who will award nominations for mayor, county and district judgeships, township supervisors and school boards in many communities.
In Erie, Mayor Rick Filippi is seeking a second term while his lawyers fight a state indictment alleging that he used insider information to try to profit from real estate deals. He faces five challengers for the Democratic nod, and two candidates are vying for the GOP nomination.
In Pittsburgh and Allentown, embattled mayors are stepping down after this year, prompting competitive primaries in both cities among their would-be successors.
In heavily Democratic Philadelphia, where Mayor John Street was re-elected to a four-year term in 2003, District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham's bid for a fourth full term is being challenged in the Democratic primary by lawyer Seth Williams.
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