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2011
ELECTION
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EDITOR
AnnBartholemew
ABOUTTHISGUIDE
ThematerialinthisguidewascompiledbytheLeagueofWomenVotersofPennsylvania.ThismaterialmaynotbealteredorreprintedwithoutthepermissionoftheLeague.Eachcandidate’sreplyhasbeenprintedassubmitted,excepttousestandardabbreviationsandbyeditingfromthebottomwhenacandidate’sreplyexceededthewordlimit.Thecandidateslistedarethosewhosenamesappearontheballot.Theyarelistedaccordingtotheirballotorder.
PURPOSEANDPOLICYOFTHELEAGUE
ThepurposeoftheLeagueofWomenVotersistopromotepoliticalresponsibilitythroughinformedandactiveparticipationofcitizensingovernment.TheLeagueisnonpartisan:Itdoesnotsupportoropposeanypoliticalpartiesorcandidates.NothinginthisguideshouldbeconstruedasanendorsementofanycandidatebytheLeagueofWomenVoters.
V
OTERS
G
UIDE
PREPAREDINCOOPERATIONWITH
THELEAGUEOFWOMENVOTERS
LEHIGHCOUNTY
T H E M O R N I N G C A L L
T H U R S D A Y , O C T O B E R 2 7 , 2 0 1 1
2
ELECTION2011LehighCounty
PENNSYLVANIA
Copyright2001LWVPA-CEF TheLeagueofWomenVoterspublishesthisinformationneithertoendorsenortorejecttheviewsofanycandidatequotedanddoesnotassumeresponsibilityforthecontentofacandidate’sreply.
Candidateswereasked:
Becauseofsomepublicconcernabouttheamountofmoneybeingspentinstatewidejudicialelections,wouldyousupportanamendmenttothePennsylvaniaConstitutionchangingthemethodofselectingstatewidejudgestoameritselectionprocess?Whyorwhynot?
JUDGEOFTHESUPERIORCOURT
JobDescription
TheSuperiorCourtisoneofPennsylvania’stwostatewideintermediateappellatecourts.Thiscourt,whichwasestablishedin1895,reviewsmostofthecivilandcriminalcasesthatareappealedfromtheCourtsofCom-monPleasintheCommonwealth’s67coun-ties.TheSuperiorCourtconsistsof15judgeswhoserve10-yearterms.ThepresidentjudgeofSuperiorCourtiselectedtoafive-yeartermbyhisorhercolleagues.AhugevolumeofappealsflowtoSuperiorCourtfromthetrialcourts.Generally,appealsareheardbypanelsofthreejudgessittinginPhiladelphia,HarrisburgorPittsburgh.Thecourtoftenisthefinalarbiteroflegaldisputes.AlthoughtheSupremeCourtmaygrantapetitionforreviewofaSuperiorCourtdecision,mostsuchpetitionsaredeniedandtherulingoftheSuperiorCourtstands.
Term:
10years
Salary:
$178,914
Voteforone
RepublicanVICSTABILE
MiddlesexCarlislehttp://stabileforjudge.com
D.O.B.:
1957
EDUCATION:
1979,SUNYStonybrook,B.A.;1982,DickinsonSchoolofLaw,J.D.
OCCUPATION:
Attorney.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Almost30yearstrialandappellateexperience;AppellateJudicialClerk;DeputyAttorneyGeneral;Partner,DilworthPaxsonLLP;RecommendedbyPABarAssn.basedupon“solid”appellateexpe-rienceand“strongintellect.”
RESPONSE:
Yes,ifatruemeritselectionprocesswouldprovidefairopportunityforwell-qualifiedpeopletobeconsideredfor judicialoffice.Atpresent,neitherelectionnormeritselectionisapanaceaforselecting judges.
DemocratDAVIDN.WECHT
IndianaTownship,Pittsburghwww.wecht2011.com
D.O.B.:
1962
EDUCATION:
1984,YaleB.A.;1987YaleJ.D.SummaCumLaude,PhiBetaKappa.NationalMeritScholar.NotesEditor,YaleLawJournal.LawClerk,1987-88,U.S.CourtofAppeals,D.C.Circuit.
OCCUPATION:
CommonPleasJudge.
QUALIFICATIONS:
JudgesinceFebruary2003(formerAdministrativeJudge,FamilyDivision).“HighlyRecommended”byPenn-sylvaniaandAlleghenyCountyBarAssocia-tions.EndorsedbyPennsylvaniaDemocraticParty,AlleghenyandPhiladelphiaLaborCouncils,FOPLodge91,ProfessionalFire-fightersLocal1.RegisterofWills,AlleghenyCounty1998-2003.
RESPONSE:
Reasonablepeopledisagree.Ontheonehand,appointmentofjudgeswouldeliminateproblemsposedbycampaignfundraising,especiallylargecorporatecontri-butionsnowpermittedbytheU.S.SupremeCourt.Ontheotherhand,ourConstitutionshouldnotlightlybeamended,particularlywhereamendmentwoulddisenfranchisePennsylvanians.ThosewhowouldalterourConstitutioncarryaheavyburden.WhileIamnotyetpersuaded,Ihaveanopenmindandbelievetheissuemeritscandidandthought-fuldiscussion.
JUDGEOFTHECOMMONWEALTHCOURT
JobDescription
TheCommonwealthCourtisoneofPenn-sylvania’stwostatewideintermediateappel-latecourts.Thiscourt,whichwasestablishedin1968,isunlikeanyotherstatecourtinthenation.Itsjurisdictiongenerallyislimitedtolegalmattersinvolvingstateandlocalgovern-mentandregulatoryagencies.Litigationtypicallyfocusesonsuchsubjectsasbanking,insuranceandutilityregulationandlawsaffectingtaxation,landuse,elections,laborpracticesandworkers’compensation.Com-monwealthCourtalsoactsasacourtof originaljurisdication,oratrialcourt,whenlawsuitsarefiledbyoragainsttheCommon-wealth.TheCommonwealthCourtismadeupofninejudgeswhoserve10-yearterms.Thepresidentjudgeischosenbyhisorhercolleaguesforafive-yearterm.Thecourtgenerallydecidescasesinthree-judgepanelsandsitsinPhiladelphia,HarrisburgandPitts-burgh.
Term:
10years
Salary:
$178,914
Voteforone
RepublicanANNECOVEY
UpperMakefieldTownship,NewHopewww.coveyforjudge.com
D.O.B.:
1959
EDUCATION:
1981,UniversityofDelaware,B.A.withDepartmentalHonors;1984,Wid-enerUniversitySchoolofLaw,J.D.CumLau-de.
OCCUPATION:
Attorney,LawFirmFounder.
QUALIFICATIONS:
ExtensiveCommon-wealthCourtexperience.ClerkedforPresi-dentJudgeCraig.FirstwomanPennsylvaniaLaborRelationsBoardMember.Practicelaborandemploymentlaw.Writtenexten-sively,includingbookTheWorkplaceLawAdvisor.
RESPONSE:
IbelievePennsylvaniaresidentsshouldcontinuetohavetherighttoselectappellatecourtjudges.ThereisnoassurancethatanappointiveprocesswillnotincludethekindofpoliticalnegotiationanddealingmostPennsylvaniansoppose.IhavefullconfidenceinthePennsylvaniavoterstocarefullyconsidereachcandidate’squalifica-tionsandmakethebestjudgment.Penn-sylvanianeednotreplaceelectionswithback-roomdeals,butratherrigorouslyen-forceastrongcodeofethicsandconduct.
DemocratKATHRYNBOOCKVAR
DoylestownTownshipwww.boockvar.com
D.O.B.:
1968
EDUCATION:
1993AmericanUniversity,WashingtonCollegeofLaw,J.D.;1990Univer-sityofPennsylvania,B.A.;1996LancasterMediationCenter.
OCCUPATION:
Attorney.
QUALIFICATIONS:
AdvancementProject,SeniorAttorney,3years;Boockvar&Yeager,Partner,11years;LegalServicesAttorney,3years;OnlyDemocraticCommonwealthCourtcandidaterecommendedbythePenn-sylvaniaBarAssociation;RisingStar—SuperLawyer.
RESPONSE:
HavingspentthelastthreeyearsworkingforthevotersofPennsylvania,Ibelievevotersdeserveasayinwhorepre-sentsthemineverybranchofgovernment,includingthejudiciary.Isupportcampaignfinancereform,includinglimitsandgreaterdisclosure.Iwouldalsoliketoseeabettersystemforeducatingthepublicaboutcandi-dates,thecourts,andwhythesecourtsmatterinpeoples’lives,andwillaffectthelivesoftheirchildrenandgrandchildren.
PENNSYLVANIAJUDICIALRETENTIONELECTIONS
Judicialretentionisasystemofretaining judgesforadditionaltermsaftertheyhavebeenelectedonapartisan,contestedballot.Previouslyelectedincumbentcandidatesfor justiceorjudgeappearunopposedontheballot.Theonlyquestionconfrontingthevoteriswhetherornotthejudgeshouldberetained.Alljudicialretentioncandidateswereaskedtolisttheireducation,occupationandqualificationsforthisofficeaswellasthesamequestionontheJudicialConductBoard.
RETENTIONELECTION JUDGEOFTHESUPREMECOURT
VoteYesorNo
ShallJ.MichaelEakinberetainedforanaddi-tionaltermasJudgeoftheSupremeCourtof theCommonwealthofPennsylvania?
J.MICHAELEAKIN
MechanicsburgElected2001onRepublicanBallot.
Term:
January2002-December2011
D.O.B.:
1948
EDUCATION:
Franklin&MarshallCollege(B.A.),1970;DickinsonSchoolofLaw(J.D.),1975.
PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCE:
AssistantDistrictAttorney,CumberlandCounty,1975-83;Privatelawpractice,Eakin&Eakin,1980-89;DistrictAttorney,CumberlandCounty,1984-95;WidenerUniversitySchoolofLaw,AdjunctProfessor;ElectedajudgeofthePennsylvaniaSuperiorCourt,1995;Electeda justiceoftheSupremeCourtofPennsylvania,2001.
RETENTIONELECTION JUDGEOFTHESUPERIORCOURT
VoteYesorNo
ShallMaryJaneBowesberetainedforanadditionaltermasJudgeoftheSuperiorCourtoftheCommonwealthofPennsylva-nia?
MARYJANEBOWES
Pittsburgh
D.O.B.:
1954Electedin2001onRepublicanBallot.
TERM:
January2002-December2011
EDUCATION:
GeorgetownUniversity(B.A.),1976;UniversityofPittsburghSchoolofLaw(J.D.),1979.
PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCE:
Privatelawpractice,1979-81;Judiciallawclerk,SuperiorCourtSeniorJudgeHarryMontgomery,1980-81;Judiciallawclerk,ChiefJusticeofPenn-sylvaniaHenryX.O’Brien,1981-82;Judiciallawclerk,SuperiorCourtSeniorJudgeJohnP.Hester,1982-86;Privatelawpractice,1986-98;ITCorporation,corporatecounsel,1998-2001;ElectedJudgeoftheSuperiorCourtof Pennsylvania,2001.ShallJohnT.Benderberetainedforanaddi-tionaltermasJudgeoftheSuperiorCourtof theCommonwealthofPennsylvania?
JOHNT.BENDER
Pittsburgh
TERM:
January2002-December2011
EDUCATION:
PennsylvaniaStateUniversity(B.A.);DuquesneUniversitySchoolofLaw(J.D.),1976.
PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCE:
Judiciallawclerk,PennsylvaniaSuperiorCourt;AssistantDistrictAttorney,AlleghenyCounty;Judiciallawclerk,PennsylvaniaSupremeCourt;Pri-vatelawpractice,25years;ElectedaDistrictJustice,1997;ElectedajudgeoftheSuperiorCourtofPennsylvania,2001
RETENTIONELECTION JUDGEOFTHECOMMONWEALTHCOURT
Onlycandidatesincontestedraceswereaskedtoprovideinformation.SYMBOLS
:///indicateswhereacandidate’sresponsewascutbecauseitexceededthewordlimit.
T HE M OR NI N G C A L L
T H UR S DAY , O CT OB E R2 7 ,2 01 1
3
ELECTION2011LehighCounty
VoteYesorNo
ShallRobertE.SimpsonJr.beretainedforanadditionaltermasJudgeoftheCommon-wealthCourtoftheCommonwealthofPenn-sylvania?
ROBERTE.SIMPSONJR.
Nazareth
D.O.B.:
1951
TERM:
January2002-December2011
EDUCATION:
DickinsonCollege(B.A.)magnacumlaude,1973;DickinsonSchoolofLaw(J.D.),1976.
PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCE:
Judiciallawclerk,CommonwealthCourtofPennsylvania,1976-78;Privatelawpractice,1979-89;Ad- junctProfessor,DickinsonSchoolofLaw,1998-2005;ElectedajudgeoftheCourtof CommonPleasofNorthamptonCounty,1989;ElectedajudgeoftheCommonwealthCourtofPennsylvania,2001.ShallReneeCohnJubelirerberetainedforanadditionaltermasJudgeoftheCommon-wealthCourtoftheCommonwealthofPenn-sylvania?
RENEECOHNJUBELIRER
StateCollege
D.O.B.:
1957
TERM:
January2002-December2011
EDUCATION:
PennsylvaniaStateUniversity(B.A.),1978;NorthwesternUniversitySchoolofLaw(J.D.)cumlaude,EditorLawReview,1983.
PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCE:
Teachingfellow,StanfordLawSchool,1983-84;Assist-antProfessor,DePaulCollegeofLaw,1985-87;Privatelawpractice,1984-96;DeputySolici-tor,LehighCounty,1996-97;AssistantSolici-tor,LehighCounty,1997-99;Counsel,ATXTelecommunicationsServices,1997-01;Ar-bitrator,LehighCountyCourtofCommonPleas,1994-01;Commissioner,SouthWhite-hallTownship,2000-01;ElectedajudgeoftheCommonwealthCourtofPennsylvania,2001.ShallMaryHannahLeavittberetainedforanadditionaltermasJudgeoftheCommon-wealthCourtoftheCommonwealthofPenn-sylvania?
MARYHANNAHLEAVITT
Harrisburg
D.O.B.:
1947
TERM:
January2002-December2011
EDUCATION:
ConnecticutCollege(B.A.),1969;UniversityofPennsylvania(M.A.),1972;DickinsonSchoolofLaw(J.D.)EditorLawReview,1978.
PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCE:
AssistantCounsel,ChiefofLitigationandChiefCoun-sel,PennsylvaniaInsuranceDepartment,1978-87;Privatelawpractice,1987-01;AdjunctProfessor,PennsylvaniaStateUniversity,1996-1998;ElectedajudgeoftheCommon-wealthCourtofPennsylvania,2001.
ABSENTEEVOTING
Ifyouareunabletogotothepollsinper-son,youmayvotebyabsenteeballot.Thedeadlinetoapplyforanabsenteeballotis4p.m.onTuesday,Nov.1.ThedeadlinefortheballottobereceivedbytheVoterRegistrationOfficeis5p.m.onFriday,Nov.4.Toapplybymail,eachabsenteevotermustcompletetheformandmailittotheCountyVoterRegistrationOffice.Youwillreceiveanabsenteeballotforyourpollingplace.Allowatleast10daysforallstepstobecompleted,unlessyouapplyinperson.Anydisabledvoterhavingquestionsre-gardingtheaccessibilityofapollingplaceshouldconsultthecountyBoardofElec-tions.
WRITE-INVOTING
Informationforwrite-invotingwillbeavailableatthepollingplace.
ELECTIONDAYPROBLEMS
IfyourrighttovoteischallengedatthepollsonElectionDayandtheproblemcannotberesolvedatthepollingplace,thejudgeofelectionsatthepollingplaceshouldtelephonethecountyBoardof Elections.Theproblemcouldberesolvedbyphoneifyournameappearsonthecountyrecords.Ifitdoesnotandyouwanttotrytoresolvetheproblem,thenyoucangoinpersontothecountyBoardofElectionswhereajudgefromtheCourtofCommonPleaswillbeondutytore-solveelectionproblems.Alternativelyyoucanaskforandvotebyprovisionalballot.Ifitislaterdeterminedthatyouwereeligibletovote,yourballotwillbecounted.Youwillbegiveninstructionsonhowtodetermineifyourvotewascounted.
IDENTIFICATIONREQUIREMENTSFORNEWVOTERS
Ifyouareanewvoterorifyouarevotingatapollingplaceforthefirsttime,thenyoumustbringyourvoterIDcardoraphotoIDsuchasadriver’slicense,stu-dentIDorsomeotherformoffederalorstategovernmentissuedID.Someformsofnon-photoIDarealsoacceptablesuchasafirearmpermit,currentutilitybill,bankstatement,paycheck,orgovern-mentcheck.Ifyoudonothaveanyac-ceptableIDthenyoumustbeallowedtovotebyprovisionalballot.
ONLINEVOTERSGUIDE
TheVotersGuideandotherusefulin-formationforvoterscanbefoundontheLeagueofWomenVotersofPennsylvaniahomepage:www.palwv.org.
CERTIFICATIONNOTE
Asofthepublicationdateofthisguide,theslateofcandidateslistedbelowisaccuratebaseduponthePennsylvaniaDepartmentofState’sBureauofElec-tionsunofficialballot.
INFORMATION
LehighCountyLeagueofWomenVoters610-432-1456Orvisitwww.lwvlv.org
Voter information
DemocratDANIELK.McCARTHY
Allentownwww.DanMcCarthyforJudge.com
D.O.B.:
1948
EDUCATION:
1974UniversityofHoustonSchoolofLaw–JD;1970UniversityofTexasatElPaso–BA;1966AllenHighSchool.
OCCUPATION:
AttorneyatLaw.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Full-timepracticeoflawfor36yearswithCivil,FamilyandCriminallawexperience;presentedcasesbeforethePASupremeCourt,PASuperiorCourt,U.S.DistrictCourtalongwithmanytrialsandhearingsinLehigh,NorthamptonandothercountiesthroughoutEasternPennsylvania.
RESPONSE:
Representativedemocracycanonlysurviveifthepeoplearegiventherighttovoteforthosewhogovernthem.ThePenn-sylvaniaConstitutionshouldnotbechangedtodenythepublicanopportunitytofreelyanddirectlyelectStatewideJudges.Here,inthe21stCentury,candidatescanbettercom-municatewithvotersandputforththeirqualificationstotheminmorewaysthaneverbefore.Thisrightshouldnotbetakenfromthepeople.
RETENTIONQUESTIONS JUDGEOFTHECOURTOFCOMMONPLEAS
VoteYesorNo
Shall
WilliamE.Ford
beretainedforanaddi-tionaltermasJudgeoftheCourtofCommonPleas,31stJudicialDistrict,LehighCounty?Shall
EdwardD.Reibman
beretainedforanadditionaltermasJudgeoftheCourtof CommonPleas,31stJudicialDistrict,LehighCounty?
COUNTYCOMMISSIONERAT-LARGE
Candidateswereasked:
Whatdoyouviewasthemajorissueinthiscampaignandhowwillyouaddressit?
COURTOFCOMMONPLEAS
Candidateswereasked:
Becauseofsomepublicconcernabouttheamountofmoneybeingspentonstatewidejudicialelections,wouldyousupportanamendmenttothePAConstitutionchangingthemethodofselect-ingstatewidejudgestoameritselectionprocess?Whyorwhynot?
Term:
10years
Voteforone
RepublicanDOUGLASG.REICHLEY
Alburtiswww.ReichleyforJudge.com
D.O.B.:
1961
EDUCATION:
B.A.LafayetteCollege(1983);J.D.DickinsonSchoolofLaw(1986).
OCCUPATION:
Attorney/StateRepresenta-tive.
QUALIFICATIONS:
LehighCountyDeputyDistrictAttorney,1989-2000;PhiladelphiaDistrictAttorney’sOffice2000-01;Privatepractice:1987-1989and2001-2003;2009-presentPlattLawOffices;PAStateRepre-sentative2002-present;PASentencingCommission2007-present.
RESPONSE:
IdonotsupportachangeinourStateConstitutiontoprovideformeritselec-tionofstatewidejudges.Stretchingbacktothefoundingofournation,judgeswantedtobeviewedas“publicservants.”Bybeingseparatelyelected,judgescoulddemonstratetheirindependencefromtheotherbranchesofgovernment.Toensurepublicintegrity,weshouldrequirepostingwithin72hoursontheDepartmentofState’swebsiteofanycontri-butionreceivedbyanyjudicialcandidate.
Term:
4years
Votefornotmorethan4
RepublicanSCOTTOTT
LowerMacungieTwp.http://MyLehighCounty.org
D.O.B.:
1961
EDUCATION:
PalisadesHighSchool,Kint-nersville,PA,1979;PennsylvaniaStateUniver-sity,B.A.LiberalArts-Journalism,1983.
OCCUPATION:
HostandWriterforPJTV.com.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Decadesofworkinpri-vate-sectorandwithnonprofitorganizations.PresidentofShoemakerElementarySchoolPTO(1yr.);Founder&ChairmanofFriendsof theEmbassyTheatre(2Yrs.);Chairman&VolunteerforTheAbuseNetwork(helpingvictimsofrapeanddomesticviolence)(2Yrs.);PennsylvaniaStateRepublicanCom-mitteeperson(Elected2009).
RESPONSE:
Countyspendingdoubledinthepastdecade.Lastyear,realestatetaxes jumpedby16percent,yetthecountyended2010witha$5.4millionsurplus.LisaScheller,VicMazziottiandIhaveproposedtocutthetaxratefor2012,injecting$10millionbackintothelocaleconomy,withoutreducingservicesfortheneedy.OurReformTeamwillexertvigorousoversightoncontractsandbudgets,andfirmlyresisttaxincreases.
LISASCHELLER
Allentownwww.votelisascheller.org
D.O.B.:
1959
EDUCATION:
B.A.Math–UniversityofColo-rado;M.S.ManufacturingSystemsEngineer-ing–LehighUniversity.
OCCUPATION:
President&CEO,Silberline.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Ourcountygovernmentneedsreform.LehighCountyspendinghasdoubledinthepastdecadeandtheExecu-tive’sproposedone-timetaxcreditissimplynotananswer.Thetaxpayerneedstobeinthedriver’sseat.Everypennynotrequiredformandatoryservicesmustbeputinthetax-payers’pockets,byloweringtaxeswheneverpossible.Thatishowtostimulatetheecono-my.Reformteam:Scheller,Ott,andMazziottistandforfiscalresponsibility,transparency,andaccountability.
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2011 Lehigh County Voters Guide
Lehigh County Voters Guide for the 2011 General Election, brought to you by The Morning Call and the League of Women Voters
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