ANOTHER OPINION: Let’s Have Fewer Special Elections

BY STATE REP. TONY DeLUCA (D-Allegheny)/ The House of Representatives swore in six new members last week, all elected in special elections held in conjunction with the April primary elections. Four of the six will not serve beyond Nov. 30 of this year because they failed to win their party’s primary election. All six of the vacancies occurred because sitting members of the House ran for other offices last fall, in the middle of their two-year terms. Since then, two additional vacancies have occurred in the House.

Every time special elections are called, they can cost Pennsylvania taxpayers in excess of $175,000 for each election. Additionally, when members of the General Assembly leave midterm, it often results in their constituents’ going unrepresented for months. For instance, the Speaker just announced a special election will not be held to fill the vacant seat in the 50th Legislative Dist. This means more than 50,000 Pennsylvania citizens will go unrepresented in the State House for more than six months.

For these reasons, I have introduced legislation (HB 2340) which will put an end to the practice of public officeholders’ running for one office while holding another, or from running for two offices in the same election cycle. My legislation will not affect the current election cycle, but I am concerned about the avoidable cost of special elections. My legislation will not prevent someone from seeking higher office, but it would require a candidate to resign from one position in order to seek another, if the terms of the two positions would overlap. The proposal also would end the practice of candidates’ seeking two offices in the same election cycle.

It would cover elected positions at the local, county and state level, including those for congressional seats. In addition to the General Assembly, in recent years we have seen appointments to fill incomplete terms of the State Treasurer and the State Attorney General. This was the result of people choosing to seek higher office while still holding another elected office.

I realize this could be inconvenient for those who use one public office as a steppingstone to another. I know this will not prevent anyone from resigning a position to run for higher office; but I also realize it is long past due for the cost and the confusion related to unnecessary special elections and interim appointments to end. Also, at a time when government is being asked to do more with less, I think this is an easy call.

Allegheny Co. and the City of Philadelphia already require officeholders to resign from a public office if the holder intends to seek a different elected public position. There is a risk associated with running for any elected office. First-time candidates often do not have a job that is as flexible as it could be for the purpose of seeking an elected office. Many times, challengers are forced to take leave that has no guarantee they will be able to return after an unsuccessful campaign.

It is past time that sitting elected officials should face some risk in trying to seek another office. I am hopeful this discussion can be a part of efforts to “reform” Pennsylvania political campaigns.

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