Local elections can be very complex, what with all of the representatives that we elect to various offices. As citizens, our duty is to stay informed, not only about the issues and candidates but also about the process, dates and filings that lead up to the elections of Councilmen, Magistrates and our Mayor.

There are several sites dedicated to keeping Pittsburgh residents informed and prepared for these very important positions. The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, for instance, has an entire page devoted to Voter and Election information. Links from this page includes a Polling Place Locator, District maps for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and even some sites dedicated to election coverage and returns. Definitely, you should bookmark this handy page; it will be invaluable.

One very important site is VotesPa, the Pennsylvania Department of State’s online voting information and resource center.This site is the last word on voting and elections in Pennsylvania. You can download a voter’s registration form here as well absentee ballot applications. You can also stop in the Polish Hill Civic Association to pick up a registration form; we always have some handy. Not sure if you are registered? VotesPA also offers online registration confirmation. In Pennsylvania, the deadline to register to vote is 30 days prior to each election. Applications received after that date will be processed for the next primary, special, municipal or general election.

The next opportunity that you, as a conscientious citizen, will have to exercise your right to vote will be on May 19, 2009. Even though that seems like a long time away, don’t delay in getting yourself registered! In order to be eligible to vote, you must register by April 19, 2009. Please remember that Pennsylvania is a closed primary state, so only people who are registered to the party in question will be able to elect candidates for that party in the primary elections. By the way, the same deadlines apply if you want to change your party affiliation. To change your party affiliation, just fill out a new voter registration form.

The following list was compiled by P2pac. It’s a handy little scorecard of what we will be looking at for the May 19 primary election. The general election for these offices will be held on November 3, 2009. The names in parenthesis are the individuals currently holding those offices —

RACES TOUCHING THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH (incumbent)

MAYOR
(Luke Ravenstahl)

CITY COUNCIL
2nd (vacant)*
4th (Jim Motznik)**
6th (Tonya Payne)
8th (William Peduto)
For more information: http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/council/

COUNTY COUNCIL
12th (James Ellenbogen)
For more information: http://www.alleghenycounty.us/council/index.aspx

JUDGE OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
For more information: http://www.alleghenycourts.us/

DISTRICT MAGISTRATE
2-38 (Charles A. McLaughlin, Jr.)**
2-42 (Robert P. Ravenstahl, Jr.)
3-10 (Eugene Zielmanski)**
3-12 (Kevin E. Cooper)
For more information: http://www.aopc.org/T/SpecialCourts/MDJSearch.htm

SCHOOL BOARD
1st (Randall Taylor)
3rd (Thomas Sumpter)
5th (Theresa Colaizzi)
7th (Jean Fink)
9th (Floyd McCrea)
For more information: http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/14311059122535553/site/default.asp

This next election will include candidates from the Polish Hill Civic Association membership. We would like to acknowledge them in their efforts in the upcoming elections. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Councilman Patrick Dowd, both PHCA members, are contributors to the neighborhood newsletter, the Polish Hill Voice. Both are vying for the democratic nomination on May 19. In addition, Tony Ceoffe and Susan Banahasky, both subscription members of the PHCA, are putting in a bid for the Magistrate’s office, currently occupied by Eugene Zielmanski. The PHCA wishes all of these members the best of luck in the upcoming race.