Op-Ed: The Word from ThePurd

In recent weeks I’ve received several mailings and hand-outs from Republican candidates for Common Pleas judge in Dauphin County. But nowhere on the literature is their party affiliation noted. In this primary, candidates are permitted to cross-file – to have their name placed on both sides of the ballot no matter which party they are registered in.

Just today, a friend of mine received a mailing from three Republican candidates who bill themselves as “Your Dauphin County Judicial Team.” It tells Democratic voters where they are located on the Democratic ballot. Again, no where on the mailing can you find the word "Republican."

This is not in the best interest of an informed electorate. Because of legal constraints on how judicial candidates can comment on specific issues, voters must decide based on limited information and the biographical backgrounds of the candidates.

While a great number of voters base their ballot mainly on what they believe to be a candidate’s character than their political allegiance, knowledge of affiliation with a political philosophy can be important as voters decide who will sit in judgment of their fellow citizens.

An obvious attempt to confuse voters is hardly good testimony to one’s judicial ability.
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Jay Purdy is a former Lower Paxton Twp. supervisor and has run for various public offices over the last decade or so. His letters and commentaries occasionally appear on Linglestown Gazette.

The primary election mentioned above will take place this Tuesday, May 19.