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NONPARTISAN CANDIDATE INFORMATION
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF PENNSYLVAIA
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
PENNNSYLVANIA CANDIDIATES FOR US CONGRESS
Both candidates were asked this question: What should the federal government do to ensure that every American has health insurance coverage?
US CONGRESS DISTRICT 7
DEMOCRATIC
NAME: Joe Sestak, Newtown Square
EDUCATION: Cardinal O’Hara High School; U.S. Naval Academy; Harvard University, M.P.A/Ph.D.
OCCUPATION: U.S. Congressman
QUALIFICATIONS: Current U.S. Congressman. Previously served 31 years in the Navy rising to the rank of 3-star Admiral, including command of the George Washington carrier battle group in combat operations in Iraq & Afghanistan and as President Clinton’s Director of Defense Policy in the White House.
ISSUE STATEMENT:
We need a universal health care system that is a shared responsibility between individuals, businesses and government which ensures everyone has affordable, accessible and quality health care. Competition and transparency will discipline costs. Mandating participation ensures the healthy are in the risk pools, driving down premiums. Small businesses should be permitted to band together as large bargaining units to negotiate lower premiums from private insurers. The health care plans that are available to Congress should be the basis for coverage for all Americans.
REPUBLICAN
NAME: CRAIG WILLIAMS, Concord Township
D.O.B. 11/23/64
EDUCATION: 1987, Duke U., B.A., 1997, U of Florida College of Law, J.D.,
2001, Columbia U. School of Law, LL.M.
OCCUPATION: Attorney
QUALIFICATIONS: Assistant United States Attorney; Deputy Legal Counsel, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Chief Prosecutor, Camp Pendleton, Member Joint Terrorism Task Force, Marine Combat Veteran, Operation Desert Storm –56 combat missions; Decorated seven times.
ISSUE STATEMENT: Every American should have access to affordable health insurance. This starts with access to sustaining jobs. And the lynchpin for competing in the job market is training and education in new technologies and sciences. The federal government can have an immediate impact on the availability of health insurance to every working American by creating and building on incentives to small and large businesses alike to provide health coverage in the employee compensation packages.
PENNSYLVANIA SENATE SENATORIAL DISTRICT 17
Term: 4 years
Salary: $76,163.00
(Vote for one)
All candidates were asked: What should state government do to ensure that every Pennsylvanian has health insurance?
DEMOCRATIC
NAME: DAYLIN LEACH, Wayne
D.O.B. 6/23/61
EDUCATION: Temple University, B.A.; Houston Law School, J.D.
OCCUPATION: Member, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives
QUALIFICATIONS: Three term State Legislator; Awarded the Fleming Fellowship, given out once a year to only thirty legislators nationwide; Studied with legislators from across the nation at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government
QUESTION: I support a single-payer style system. However, until this becomes a political reality, I believe we must continue to expand coverage by targeting groups of uninsured and underinsured Pennsylvanians, particularly children and seniors. Over the past five years we have expanded PACE and PLACE/NET, enacted Cover All Kids, and recently passed PA ABC, which will provide affordable care for uninsured adults. I hope to push for further such expansion in the Senate.
REPUBLICAN
NAME: LISA PAOLINO, Bryn Mawr
DOB: 7/8/61
EDUCATION: B.A. Villanova University 1983; Cardinal O’Hara High School
OCCUPATION: Consultant-Internet Marketing/Operations; Township Commissioner
QUALIFICATIONS: Nine years of service as Radnor Township Commissioner, Vice-President since 2003; First Woman ever elected to serve in history of the Township; Homeland & Personal Security Sector; Vice Chair American Red Cross SEPA Chapter Delaware County; Board of Directors Wayne Art Center; Chair Community Development; Chair Parks & Recreation (9 years); Founding Member of the Open Space Committee; Outstanding record of promoting proactive, open and accountable government.
QUESTION: Expand healthcare choices, increased access, improved quality of services and lower costs by offering a variety of tax credits instead of tax increases. Introduce expanded competition into the marketplace. Accessible healthcare should feature provider loan forgiveness programs to encourage health care providers to work in under-served areas of our District. Physician retention is critical.
NAME: LANCE ROGERS, Wynnewood
DOB: 6/11/74
EDUCATION: 1996, University of Pennsylvania, B.A. (Political Science/Communications); 1997, University of Pennsylvania, M.G.A. (Government Administration); 2001, Northwestern University Law School, J.D.; 2001-2003, Federal Clerkship with Judge Clarence C. Newcomer in the Easter District of Pennsylvania
OCCUPATION: Attorney
QUALIFICATIONS: Lower Merion Township Commissioner (2005-present); two time recipient of Citizens for Responsible Government’s “Budget Hawk Award;” two time recipient of Penn Wynne Civic Association’s Community Service Award.
QUESTION: While Governor Rendell should be applauded for trying to fix the healthcare situation, I believe unfunded mandates and a push toward socialized medicine are the wrong approach. We must seek private sector, market-based solutions that increase accessibility, competition and portability to continue fostering medical innovation and providing high quality affordable care to all Pennsylvanians. We need to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare, and additionally, focus on disease prevention, rather than treatment, to reduce the cost of healthcare for future generations.
PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SALARY: $76,500, TWO-YEAR TERM
All candidates were asked this question: What should the State government do to ensure that very American has health insurance coverage?
PA HOUSE DISTRICT 161
DEMOCRAT
NAME: BRIAN R. LENTZ, Swarthmore
D.O.B. 06/05/64
EDUCATION: Valley Forge Military Junior College AA 1984; Georgetown U., BS Philosophy 1986; Temple Law JD 1993. U. S. Army Infantry School 1987; U.S. Army Ranger School, 1987
OCCUPATION: Attorney/Legislator
QUALIFICATIONS: Rep. Bryan Lentz is a member of the State House of Representatives and serves on several committees including; Appropriations, Veterans’ Affairs and Judiciary. He was an officer in the 82nd Airborne Division and also the Army Reserves in Iraq and Bosnia. Lentz was a prosecutor in Philadelphia for six years.
ISSUE STATEMENT: Reducing the overall cost of health care in one way state government can help. We have taken some important steps already by enacting legislation to reduce hospital acquired infections that take thousands of lives each year and by expanding access to primary care by giving health-care professionals the right to practice to the fullest extent of their skills and experience. Now we must enact into law the bill passed by the State House, Senate Bill 1137, which ensures access to affordable health insurance by expanding government subsidized basic health and reducing the cost to all premium payers of treating the uninsured.
REPUBLICAN
NAME: JOSEPH HACKETT, Swarthmore. No reply received
PA. HOUSE DISTRICT 165 (Vote for one)
All candidates were asked: What should state government do to ensure that every Pennsylvanian has health insurance coverage:
DEMOCRAT
NAME: TOM QUINN, Springfield
DOB: 1/19/69
EDUCATION: 1991, Bucknell, B.S.; 1999, West Chester University, M.Ed.; 2005, Gwynedd-Mercy College, M.Ed. Administration;
OCCUPATION: Professor of History, Philadelphia University
QUALIFICATIONS: I have been an educator at every level from Elementary to Graduate School working as a High School teacher and coach. I served as building Representative for PSEA in the Central Bucks School District and have been a Democratic Committee Person for the past three years. I have never held elective office.
QUESTION: Every Pennsylvanian having health insurance is the number one priority to me in this race. To answer the question state government should do whatever is necessary to ensure that every Pennsylvanian has health insurance. As the Governor has been trying to do we need to increase efficiency to hold down healthcare costs and need to make the fundamental commitment that every citizen needs healthcare. Long term solutions should be sought in terms of providing a reliable source of funding to see that we all have healthcare. This issue is important enough to ask all people in PA to be a part of the solution in terms of looking at increases in taxes. We need leadership on this issue and we all must work together to make healthcare for all Pennsylvanians a reality.
REPUBLICAN
NAME: WILLIAM F. ADOLPH, JR., Springfield
DOB: 10/23/49
EDUCATION: 1972, Christian Brothers University, BA; Cardinal O’Hara High School
OCCUPATION: PA State Legislator/Public Accountant
QUALIFICATIONS: 20 years Member of PA House of Representatives; 9 yeas Springfield Township Commissioner; 35 years Partner in Public Accounting Firm; 6 Times Legislator of the Year; National Advocacy Award by the Epilepsy Foundation
QUESTION: The PA House has been working towards solutions regarding the affordability of health insurance. The Governor originally proposed a tax of 3% paid by employers on their employees gross wages to fund his plan. The House Republican Caucus proposed a combination of tax credits, the use of health savings accounts and the retooling of the already affordable adult basic program. On March 17th I voted for Senate Bill 1137 which I consider a first step toward a bipartisan compromise in solving this issue.
PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE DISTRICT 166. The 166th legislative district consists of the township of Haverford and parts of the townships of Marple and Radnor.
DEMOCRAT
GREG VITALI
Havertown
Age: 51
Education: Villanova Law School JD 1981, Villanova University (B.S. Economics with honors), St. Joseph's Prep 1974.
Occupation: Legislator
Qualifications: As a legislator since 1992 I have experience in the legislative process and in solving both individual and community problems. As a practicing attorney I've acquired a working knowledge of Pennsylvania law and how it affects people.
Answer to Question: As a legislator I supported the following programs: Cover all Kids, which provides access to health care for all children in Pennsylvania, Adult Basic which provides basic health care to low income adults and the expansion of PACE which provides pharmaceutical coverage to income qualified senior citizens. Recently I voted in favor of Access to Better Care which would provide health care coverage to adults otherwise unable to obtain it.
REPUBLICAN
STEPHEN D’EMILIO, Havertown. Failed to reply.
RADNOR TOWNSHIP COMMISSIONER, SECOND WARD
(Special Election to replace Mrs. Ann-Michele Higgins and to fill out her term.) (Vote for one)
Each candidate was asked: What will be your top priority as an elected official?
DEMOCRAT
DIANE EDBRIL, Radnor
D.O.B.: 8/4/62
EDUCATION: 1984, State University of New York at
Albany, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, B.A.
1987, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, J.D.
OCCUPATION: Policy Director, CeaseFire PA (part-time)
QUALIFICATIONS: Leadership Philadelphia Core Class, 2007
CeaseFire PA, Executive Director (part time) 2004-2007
Airway Cam Technologies, Vice-President, 1996-2006
Assistant District Attorney, Kings County, NY 1990-1994
Associate Attorney, Gallop, Dawson and Clayman, NYC, 1987-1990
QUESTION: My top priority is to make sure that government is working for the taxpayers, and not the other way around. I will improve channels of communication between the residents, the staff and elected officials. I will fight hard to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not being wasted, that we preserve and protect our open space and other resources, and that we work together to make Radnor a safer, stronger community for all its residents.
REPUBLICAN
KEVIN HIGGINS, Radnor
D.O.B: Not given
EDUCATION: 1982, Georgetown University, B.S. Accounting
1986, University of Michigan, M.B.A.
OCCUPATION: Not given
QUALIFICATIONS:
Park and Recreation Board Member
Shade Tree Commission
QUESTION: My top priority will be to continue to maintain and enhance the high quality of life we have in Radnor in a fiscally prudent manner. I will keep taxes as low as possible, while working to control traffic and storm water, to maintain and enhance our existing excellent services, to support our police, fire and emergency personnel and to invest in open space and other appropriate capital projects. I believe in open and transparent government.
For primary election info go to smartvoter.org!
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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF PENNSYLVANIA
CITIZEN EDUCATION FUND, NONPARTISAN VOTERS GUIDE
GENERAL PRIMARY, APRIL 22, 2008 (C) Copyright 2008 LWVPA - CEF
Polls are open 7 A.M. to 8 P.M.. This Voters Guide may be taken into the voting booth.
FOR ELECTION INFORMATION: Contact your county Board of Elections. The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Information Center also provides election information. CALL TOLL FREE: 1-800-692-7281
ABOUT THIS GUIDE: The material in this Guide was compiled by the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania. This material may not be altered or reprinted without the permission of the League. Each candidate's reply has been printed as submitted, except to use standard abbreviations and by editing from the bottom when a candidate's reply exceeded the word limit. The candidates listed are those whose names appear on the ballot as of February 27, 2008. They are listed according to their ballot order.
PURPOSE AND POLICY OF THE LEAGUE: The purpose of the League of Women Voters is to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League is nonpartisan: it does not support or oppose any political parties or candidates. Nothing in this guide should be construed as an endorsement of any candidate by the League of Women Voters.
ABSENTEE VOTING: Registered voters who are ill, disabled, or will be absent from the municipality on Election Day may vote by absentee ballot. Completed APPLICATIONS for absentee ballots must be received by the county Board of Elections by 5 P.M., Tuesday, April 15. Completed absentee BALLOTS must be received back at the Board of Elections by 5 P.M. on Friday, April 18. If an emergency arises (unexpected illness or business trip) after the Tuesday application deadline, call your county Board of Elections for information on emergency absentee voting. Proof of emergency may be required. An emergency application and ballot can be obtained and voted by 5 P.M. on Friday, April 18. Any disabled voter having questions regarding the accessibility of a polling place should consult the county Board of Elections.
WRITE-IN VOTING: For write-in voting information, check with the workers at your polling place before entering the voting booth.
ELECTION DAY PROBLEMS: If your right to vote is challenged at the polls on Election Day and the problem cannot be resolved at the polling place, the judge of elections at the polling place will (MAY) telephone the county Board of Elections. The problem could be resolved by phone if your name appears on the county records. If it does not and you want to try to resolve the problem, then you will have to go in person to the county Board of Elections where a judge from the Court of Common Pleas will be on duty to resolve election problems.
IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW VOTERS
If you are a new voter or if you are voting at a polling place for the first time then you must bring your voter ID card or a photo ID such as a driver's license, student ID or some other form of Federal or State government issued ID. Some forms of non-photo ID are also acceptable such as a firearm permit, current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government check. If you do not have any acceptable ID then you must be allowed to vote by provisional ballot.
PROVISIONAL BALLOTS
If your right to vote is challenged at the polls on Election Day, you are in the right polling place, and the problem cannot be resolved by the judge of elections, you have the right to ask for and vote by provisional ballot. If it is later determined that you were eligible to vote your ballot will be counted. You will be given instructions on how to determine if your vote was counted.
---2008 PRIMARY ELECTION ON-LINE VOTERS GUIDE---
FROM THE LWV OF PENNSYLVANIA.
LINK * HERE * TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF GUIDE FROM THE LWV WEBSITE
*THE PDF ABOVE INCLUDES INFO ON PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES*
*****PENNSYLVANIA STATE PRIMARY CONTESTS*****
ATTORNEY GENERAL
JOB DESCRIPTION: The Attorney General shall be the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be imposed by law. The Commonwealth Attorneys Act establishes the Attorney General as the chief legal and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth and provides the duties and responsibilities of the Office of Attorney General. The Attorney General, in addition, serves as a member of the Board of Pardons, the joint Committee on Documents, the Hazardous Substances Transportation Board, the Board of Finance and Revenue, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Civil Disorder Commission and the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission.
Term: 4 years
Salary: $141,565.00
(Vote for one)
Question: What specific priorities do you have if elected to the office of Attorney General?
DEMOCRATIC
JOHN M MORGANELLI, Bethlehem
D.O.B: 11/12/1955
EDUCATION: 1977, Moravian College, B.A.
1980, Villanova Law School, J.D.
OCCUPATION: District Attorney
QUALIFICATIONS: District Attorney – 16 years; Prosecuted Numerous murder cases; PA Commission on Crime & Delinquency – 5 years, President, PA District Attorneys Assn. – 2 years, Special Deputy Attorney General, Special Prosecutor
ANSWER TO QUESTION: 1. Pass a gang statute that makes gang membership a crime so as to attack the gangs before they commit their next murder or drug deal.
2. Address the proliferation of handguns into the hands of criminals, young children and those with mental illness. 3. Abolish parole for violent criminals. 4. Crackdown on illegal criminal aliens who have no respect for our laws, commit crime and use fraudulent identities.
REPUBLICAN
TOM CORBETT, Harrisburg
D.O.B: 06/17/1949
EDUCATION: 1971, Lebanon Valley College, B.A.
1975, St. Mary’s University School of Law, J.D.
OCCUPATION: Attorney General
QUALIFICATIONS: Attorney General of PA – 4 ½ years, Assistant District Attorney in Allegheny County, 3 ½ years, Assistant US Attorney, 3 ½ years, US Attorney for the Western Div. of PA, 4 years, Chairman, PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency, 8 years, Private Practice Attorney, 12 years, Corporate Government Affairs and Relations, 3 years, Member, PA Army National Guard 28th Infantry Div., 13 years, Chairman, US Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, Member, President Ronald Reagan’s Drug Task Force – Great Lakes Region, Commissioner, Shaler Twp, 2 years
ANSWER TO QUESTION: Throughout my career, I have fought to protect all Pennsylvanians and as Attorney General I will continue to aggressively pursue those who prey on the most vulnerable of our communities – our children and our seniors. I am committed to providing safety and security for PA’s families in our homes, neighborhoods, schools and businesses. As Attorney General I will: Protect our children from child sexual predators and child pornography, ensure that our schools are safe havens where our children can learn without the threat of violence.
AUDITOR GENERAL
JOB DESCRIPTION
The auditor general has been the commonwealth's fiscal watchdog since 1809, when it was created by an act of the General Assembly. The auditor general was appointed by the governor until 1850, when the position became an elected office. Auditors general were elected to serve three-year terms until 1909, when a constitutional amendment increased the terms to four years.
Term: 4 years
Salary: $141,565.00
(Vote for one)
Question: What specific priorities do you have if elected to the office of Auditor General?
DEMOCRATIC
JACK WAGNER, Pittsburgh
D.O.B: 01/04/1948
EDUCATION: 1974, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, B.S., Safety Management
OCCUPATION: Auditor General
QUALIFICATIONS: Auditor General since 2005, State Senator, 10 years (Allegheny County), Pittsburgh City Councilman, 10 years (President, 4 years), Certified Safety Professional, 10 years, Marine Corps, Vietnam combat veteran, husband and father, 2 children
ANSWER TO QUESTION: I look forward to continuing to work in an independent and bipartisan way to protect the taxpayers’ hard-earned money and improve the lives of all Pennsylvanians. I will continue to focus on creating jobs, strengthening education, improving infrastructure, and protecting pensions. I am the only candidate with over 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors watching the bottom line, reforming operations, and protecting working families.
REPUBLICAN
CHET BEILER, Penn Twp.
D.O.B: 05/19/1963
EDUCATION: 1987, Pepperdine University, B.S.
OCCUPATION: Business Owner, CEO
QUALIFICATIONS: County Chairman, 2 years, Campaign Manager, various candidates, Rotary Club of Lancaster, 6 years, 20 years of business building
ANSWER TO QUESTION: We expect to empower our auditors and honor their findings by systematically making more audit results public. Performance Audits will be expanded. As an independent fiscal watchdog I will not play favorites. No government department or entity will be off limits as we seek to protect your tax dollars. Quarterly press conferences will be held to report on our progress.
STATE TREASURER
JOB DESCRIPTION
The position of State Treasurer is an independently elected office established under the Pennsylvania Constitution. Pursuant to the Administrative Code, the State Treasurer serves as chief executive of the Treasury Department. The powers and duties of the Treasurer and the Treasury Department are delineated for the most part in The Fiscal Code and generally involve the receipt and disbursement of funds by the Commonwealth, as well as the deposit, investment, and safekeeping of moneys and securities belonging to the Commonwealth.
Term: 4 years
Salary: $141,565.00
(Vote for one)
Question: What specific priorities do you have if elected to the office of State Treasurer?
DEMOCRATIC
JOHN F CORDISCO, New Hope Boro
D.O.B: 02/17/1955
EDUCATION: 1977, Rider University, B.A.
1987, Temple University School of Law, J.D.
OCCUPATION: Attorney
QUALIFICATIONS: Bristol Borough School Board, 1978-1981, PA House of Representatives, 1981-1986, United Vietnam Veterans Organization, Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Award, Dept. of Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW Legislative Award
ANSWER TO QUESTION: My first priority is to protect the hard-earned dollars of PA’s taxpayers by making public all data concerning the performance of PA investment funds and by cutting excessive fees charged by Wall Street investment firms. Secondly, I would promote economic revitalization by using PA funds to create PA jobs. Lastly, I would invest in clean technology and alternative energy firms to help reduce global warming.
ROBERT MCCORD, Lower Merion
D.O.B: 03/05/1959
EDUCATION: 1982, Harvard University, AB
1989, University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, MBA
OCCUPATION: Full-time candidate after 15 years as a financial executive
QUALIFICATIONS: 15 year career in finance
Managed more than 1 billion dollars in assets
Raised money for start-up companies that have created more than 2,000 jobs in PA.
ANSWER TO QUESTION: In these uncertain economic times, it is more important than ever to have a State Treasurer with appropriate business and financial expertise. As a business leader who has managed over $1billion in assets and helped fund startup companies that created over 2,000 PA-based jobs, I will serve as a catalyst for positive economic change. In addition to generating jobs, I plan to help improve pension performance, cut wasteful spending, and invest in environment-protecting technologies.
DENNIS MORRISON-WESLEY, Harrisburg
D.O.B: 01/13/1950
EDUCATION: 1974, Philadelphia Community College, G.A.S
2002, Almeda University, B.S.
OCCUPATION: Account Executive, Financial Advisor
QUALIFICATIONS: 19 years in the financial industry license and register investment advisor
ANSWER TO QUESTION: My most important job as PA State Treasurer is to seek good returns on the invested dollars of the PA citizens. My order of investment would be first in PA, secondly in the United States, and lastly in the international market. When we can get the same monetary return from a company in PA as a company outside of PA, then PA will get the fair advantage, if we invest in PA first. The same can be said about a company in the United States.
JENNIFER L. MANN, Allentown
D.O.B: 05/17/1969
EDUCATION: 1991, Lehigh University, B.A. Government and Economics
OCCUPATION: State Representative, 132nd Legislative District
QUALIFICATIONS: First State Representative in 1998; chosen Speaker Pro Tempore by Speaker of the House; Vice-Chairwoman, House Finance Committee; National Board Chairwoman for the Democratic Leadership Council; former successful small business owner
ANSWER TO QUESTION: The Treasurer is the first line of defense for Pennsylvania’s taxpayers; it ensures that your tax dollars are being invested wisely. I will establish the highest ethical standards and accountability so that you know that your taxes are used appropriately. The best investments not only have the highest rate of return for the Commonwealth, but promote the common good. Therefore I will invest in companies that invest in PA first and help create jobs here.
TOM ELLIS, Cheltenham
D.O.B: 07/14/1959
EDUCATION: 1982, University of Pennsylvania, B.A. (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa)
1985, University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D. (cum laude, Editor, Law Review)
OCCUPATION: Public Finance Attorney – Partner, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP, 1985-
QUALIFICATIONS: Chairman, Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, 2004-07-reduced property taxes, saved $30million; Cheltenham Board of Commissioners, 1990-02 (Chair, Finance Committee); 22 years experience in finance
ANSWER TO QUESTION: The courage to assess the facts and apply the law free from political pressure or regard for popular sentiment. Unlike legislators, judges gain respect by proving they will decide each case with absolute impartiality, integrity and open-mindedness. To do this, judges must not fear retaliation from political entities or the media. If the public distinguishes the interpretive role of the judiciary from the law-making role of the legislature, judges will be free to perform their constitutionally-mandated role independently.
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