Unpacking Your Primary Ballot Questions

Jessica Hunter

In addition to the dozen or so races you'll be voting on during this year's municipal primary election, voters will face four ballot questions. For registered independent voters, now is your chance to vote in an off-year primary! The first three questions move to amend the PA Constitution. The first two deal with disaster emergency declarations (something we all experienced in 2020) and the powers of the governor. These are by far the most polarizing questions along partisan lines. The third deals with denial based on race or ethnicity, and the fourth is a budget measure for fire and emergency services. While these questions require a simple yes or no answer, any experienced voter will know that the phrasing of these questions is anything but simple. 

Ballot Question #1: Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law and increase the power of the General Assembly to unilaterally terminate or extend a disaster emergency declaration—and the powers of Commonwealth agencies to address the disaster regardless of its severity pursuant to that declaration—through passing a concurrent resolution by simple majority, thereby removing the existing check and balance of presenting a resolution to the Governor for approval or disapproval?

Ballot Question #2: Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to change existing law so that: a disaster emergency declaration will expire automatically after 21 days, regardless of the severity of the emergency, unless the General Assembly takes action to extend the disaster emergency; the Governor may not declare a new disaster emergency to respond to the dangers facing the Commonwealth unless the General Assembly passes a concurrent resolution; the General Assembly enacts new laws for disaster management?

Ballot Question #3: Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended by adding a new section providing that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of an individual's race or ethnicity?

Ballot Question #4: Do you favor expanding the use of the indebtedness authorized under the referendum for loans to volunteer fire companies, volunteer ambulance services and volunteer rescue squads under 35 PA.C.S. Section 7378.1 (related to referendum for additional indebtedness) to include loans to municipal fire departments or companies that provide services through paid personnel and emergency medical services companies for the purpose of establishing and modernizing facilities to house apparatus equipment, ambulances and rescue vehicles, and for purchasing apparatus equipment, ambulances and rescue vehicles, protective and communications equipment and any other accessory equipment necessary for the proper performance of the duties of the fire companies and emergency medical services companies?

If your eyes glazed over, awash with legalese, you're not alone. Both Republicans and Democrats have taken steps to inform their base on how they wish to see the votes go. PA Dems urge people to vote "No, No, Yes" on the first three measures. Organizations such as the PA Senate GOP push for "Yes" votes across the board. Searching online, it's much easier to find the Democrats' clearly worded stance than the GOP's. Perhaps that's for the simple fact that Pennsylvania has not rejected a ballot measure since 1993. Still, Republicans have pushed back, saying that the language of these measures set them up for failure. This of course, almost exclusively pertains to the first two measures. These two measures focus on the power of the state legislature to override declarations from the governor's office. Both parties — thankfully — are pushing for a "Yes" vote on the third question regarding race and ethnicity, one appearing in remarkably straightforward wording. Even with question four, It's hard to rally against loans for fire departments and emergency medical services, with neither side pushing against it. Know what you're getting into, read and reread each question before you go to the polls.

On Your Ballot

A partial list of who both parties will see on election day. Excluded from this list are many smaller municipal races. For an official list of candidates running, or to view your sample ballot by city, ward, and district, go to eriecountypa.gov. 

Justice of the Supreme Court (Vote For One) 

Democrat

MARIA MCLAUGHLIN - PHILADELPHIA 

Republican 

PAULA PATRICK - PHILADELPHIA

KEVIN BROBSON - DAUPHIN

PATRICIA A MCCULLOUGH - ALLEGHENY

Judge of the Superior Court (Vote For One)

Democrat

JILL BECK - ALLEGHENY 

TIMIKA LANE - PHILADELPHIA 

BRYAN NEFT - ALLEGHENY 

Republican

MEGAN SULLIVAN - CHESTER

Judge of the Commonwealth Court (Vote For Not More Than Two) 

Democrat

DAVID LEE SPURGEON - ALLEGHENY 

LORI A DUMAS - PHILADELPHIA 

SIERRA STREET - PHILADELPHIA 

AMANDA GREEN HAWKINS - ALLEGHENY 

Republican

DREW CROMPTON - CUMBERLAND

STACY MARIE WALLACE - MCKEAN

Judge of the Court of Common Pleas 6th District (Vote For One) 

Democrat/Republican

MARSHALL PICCININI - ERIE 

County Executive Four Year Term (Vote For One) 

Democrat

RITA BISHOP 

CARL ANDERSON 

DYLANNA GRASINGER 

TYLER TITUS 

Republican

SHAWN WROBLEWSKI

BRENTON DAVIS

Sheriff Four Year Term (Vote For One) 

Democrat

ANTHONY J SANFILIPPO 

CHRIS CAMPANELLI

Republican

BRIAN SHANK 

Clerk of Records Four Year Term (Vote For One) 

Democrat

AUBREA HAGERTY HAYNES 

KARLA L JEFFERY 

Republican

EDWARD T DIMATTIO JR

County Council 2nd District Four Year Term (Vote For One) 

Democrat 

ANDRE HORTON 

County Council 4th District Four Year Term (Vote For One) 

Democrat

JULIA ANN CALIPO 

ANGELA EUELL MCNAIR 

KEVIN E PASTEWKA 

JIM WINARSKI

Republican

TIMOTHY E. GOSTOMSKI

County Council 6th District Four Year Term (Vote For One) 

Democrat

HERBERT RIEDE 

LYDIA LAYTHE

Republican

SAMUEL CHARLES BAYLE IV 

SCOTT R. RASTETTER 

Mayor - City of Erie Four Year Term (Vote For One)

Democrat

JOE SCHEMBER 

SYDNEY ZIMMERMANN 

TOM SPAGEL 

City Controller Four Year Term (Vote For One) 

Democrat

TERESA STANKIEWICZ 

City Council Four Year Term (Vote For Not More Than Four) 

Democrat

MARCUS P YUILLE 

ELSPETH KATE KOEHLE 

JASMINE FLORES 

LIZ ALLEN 

CHUCK NELSON 

MAURICE MO TROOP 

CORY DILORETO 

KENDRICK TATE 

Republican

GREG BROWN

SHAWN LYONS

School Director Erie School District Four Year Term (Vote For Not More Than Four) 

Democrat

JAY BRENEMAN 

Democrat/Republican

ZAKARIA SHARIF 

LAUREN GILLESPIE 

LEATRA TATE 

TIMOTHY E GOSTOMSKI 

AARON J LUNDBERG 

TISHAR MOSS 

DEPEND TAMBA 

TYWONN MR T TAYLOR SR 

DARIA DEVLIN