Election rules force tough choice
The Fayette County Election Bureau is refusing to certify my election to both the Uniontown Area School Board and the Franklin Township supervisor posts unless I select just one. A Certificate of Election is a certified document that the Fayette County Election Bureau is required to send to the Prothonotary’s Office 10 days after the final results are tallied. A refusal by the election bureau to sign the Certificate of Election would force the prothonotary to declare both positions open. The ten days expired on Monday, Dec. 7.
I am truly saddened that my desire to give back to the school district that educated me and employed me for 34 years, and to the township that I have called home for my 61 years, is derailed by a ‘Section 3-322’ of the 1949 School Code, which lists incompatible offices that school directors cannot serve.
Understanding that ignorance of the law is no excuse, I take full responsibility for this error. I do believe the Fayette County Election Bureau should have been able to advise me of this “incompatibility” in March when I filed both petitions and again in August prior to the date to remove my name from the fall ballot.
The 1949 School Code predates the 1966 Consolidation of Schools to 501 school districts in Pennsylvania. In 1949 each township had its own school board. I find it truly puzzling that school director and township supervisor are “incompatible,” but school boards are permitted to hire immediate family members. At this point, I have studied the issues facing the school district and the township to see, where I could best represent the voters with the greatest impact. Topping the school district would be the building program (which is moving forward), hiring practices (nepotism), taxes, employee relations, and curriculum.
Turning to Franklin Township, would be water lines, sewerage, high-speed communication, development of Franklin Park (Curfew Recreation Center), zoning issues, etc.
Franklin Township is continuing to face the reality that long-time family farms are being subdivided, which is a double-edged sword as suburbia moves in. There is a need to provide greater infrastructure while balancing the rural atmosphere that makes Franklin Township a great place to raise a family.
It is after much thought and prayer, realizing that I am deserting 2,000 school district voters, that I am choosing the office of Franklin Township supervisor. I apologize to the voters, as my only intent is to give back to the area where I have lived my life and earned my living. I take full responsibility for this situation.
I have proven that with the help of many, you can run as a Republican and spend little money. I spent $230 for school director and $84 for township supervisor, so tell the people what they might not want to hear, avoid political entanglements, don’t litter the county with signs, listen to the voters, and you can win an election.