It is Primary Election Season!

Authored by: Jon O’Data, Service Manager, Cremation Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.

Once again it’s primary election season. As is usual inAllegheny County, the main election of consequence every year is the Democrat primary due to the overwhelming registration numbers. Many Republican primary races are unchallenged. There are no big races at the state or federal level but many races at the local level and local and state court judges. The major election in our area is forAllegheny County Executive, as the current County Executive, Rich Fitzgerald, is termlimited. Most will agree that he did a very good job and there are a large number of people running for the office in the primary. The current Democrat district attorney Stephen Zappala is facing a primary challenge from public defender Matt Dugan.

Often unnoticed are the local and state judicial races. There is one State Supreme Court opening due to the death of the former chief justice, two openings on the State Superior Court, and one opening on the Commonwealth Court. State judges and justices serve a 10 year term and local judges and magistrates serve a 6 year term. Political ads for justices and judges running for seats face more restrictions from the judicial code than candidates for other offices.

There are also many local races for town councils and school boards. While being relatively lowprofile, these do affect the voters and we should all pay attention to what the candidates stand for.