PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

Presidential Preference Primary:

Voters in Pennsylvania have the opportunity to express their preference for a presidential nominee of their party.  They may write in the name of their choice if it is not listed on the ballot.  The results of this Presidential Preference Primary are not binding on any delegate to the national nominating conventions.  The following names will appear on the Pennsylvania primary ballot.

DEMOCRATIC

(Vote for one)

BARACK OBAMA

HILLARY CLINTON

REPUBLICAN

(Vote for one)

RON PAUL

JOHN MCCAIN

MIKE HUCKABEE

Delegates to this summer’s national political conventions are elected at this time.  The delegates choose the party’s nominees for President and Vice President and write party platforms.  Alternates have no vote unless they replace a delegate.  Pennsylvania delegates – both Republican and Democratic – are not bound by the results of the state’s Presidential Preference Primary.

Democratic candidates for delegate run as committed to a presidential candidate, and that information is on the ballot, including the name of the candidate to whom the delegate is committed.  Democratic delegates are committed to a given delegate on the first convention ballot only, and may be released by the candidate prior to that.  Democratic voters may vote for any combination of delegates they choose.  It does not have to coincide with their expression of preference for a presidential candidate.  Delegates are elected as individuals, even if committed to a candidate, and no voter has to choose the entire slate of delegates for one candidate.

While Republican candidates for delegate may publicly express a preference for a particular presidential candidate, that information does not appear on the ballot, and they are not committed to vote for a particular candidate.

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 28^th 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, 132^nd 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.

REPUBLICAN

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.

REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

JOB DESCRIPTION:  A Representative serves the electorate as a policy and lawmaker for the Commonwealth.  He or she is responsible for considering and voting on major legislative proposals that affect the entire state and minor legislation that affects only select districts in the Commonwealth.  A Representative also has oversight of the executive branch through review and approval of budgets, expenditures and program accomplishments.  Every law concerning taxation must originate in the House.

Term:  2 years; Salary:  $76,163

QUESTION:  What should state government do to ensure that every Pennsylvanian has health insurance coverage?

101^ST LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

REPUBLICAN

(vote for one)

102^ND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

DELEGATES

Delegates to this summer’s national political conventions are elected at this time.  The delegates choose the party’s nominees for President and Vice President and write party platforms.  Alternates have no vote unless they replace a delegate.  Pennsylvania delegates – both Republican and Democratic – are not bound by the results of the state’s Presidential Preference Primary.

Democratic candidates for delegate run as committed to a presidential candidate, and that information is on the ballot, including the name of the candidate to whom the delegate is committed.  Democratic delegates are committed to a given delegate on the first convention ballot only, and may be released by the candidate prior to that.  Democratic voters may vote for any combination of delegates they choose.  It does not have to coincide with their expression of preference for a presidential candidate.  Delegates are elected as individuals, even if committed to a candidate, and no voter has to choose the entire slate of delegates for one candidate.

While Republican candidates for delegate may publicly express a preference for a particular presidential candidate, that information does not appear on the ballot, and they are not committed to vote for a particular candidate.

DELEGATE TO DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

(vote for not more than four, two males and two females)

DEMOCRATIC ALTERNATE DELEGATES: (vote for one)

DELEGATE TO REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION (vote for not more than three)

REPUBLICAN ALTERNATE DELEGATES (vote for not more than three)

MEMBER OF REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE; The State Committee determines party rules within tthe Commonwealth.

2 year term; (vote for one female, one male, one either)