5.23.06

PRIMARY ELECTION UPDATE:

If you have not heard already, the Primary Election held on Tuesday May 15 was an election of historic proportions. With voters still angry over the so-called pay raise debacle and legislator’s failure to deliver meaningful property tax relief, a total of 17 incumbent lawmakers went down to a historic defeat in the primary.

Most notably was the defeat Senate Majority Leader David J. "Chip" Brightbill (R-Lebanon) and Senate President Pro Tem Robert Jubelirer (R-Blair). They are the first legislative leaders since 1964 to lose an election.

Here in the Lehigh Valley, 23-year incumbent Representative Paul Semmel (R-Lehigh) lost to Paul Mantz, a Kutztown Borough Councilman.

In the hotly contested Democratic primary race for the open-seat 133^rd Legislative District, Joseph Brennan, chief-aide to Representative TJ Rooney, narrowly defeated REALTOR^®-supported candidate Jose Rosado by fewer that 300 votes. Although Rosado was not victorious, LVAR’s support certainly had a big impact on the race. Brennan will go on to face Dawn Berrigan (R) in the General Election in November.

Statewide, Bob Casey (D) won the three-way Democratic Primary for United State Senator, and will go head-to-head with incumbent Senator Rick Santorum in November. In the race for Lieutenant Governor, Katherine Baker-Knoll won the four-way Democratic Primary by a wide margin.

To view results for all races in the Lehigh Valley and across the state, visit the Pennsylvania Department of State’s website by clicking here.

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That’s okay. You are still eligible to vote on Primary Day even if you are going to be out of town. You can vote by Absentee Ballot.

An Absentee Ballot is essentially a paper version of a voting machine that can be filled out in advance and mailed to the County Board of Elections office prior to Primary Day. There are strict deadlines to ensure your vote counts. Check out the information below.

Lehigh County Residents

There are two ways to obtain an Absentee Ballot application:

1) Click here to download an Absentee Ballot application. Simply fill it out, sign it, and mail it to:

Voter Registration
Lehigh County Government Center
17 S. Seventh St.
Allentown, PA 18101-2400

2) Stop by the Lehigh County Voter Registration Office at the address above. Absentee Ballot applications are available in the office.

Northampton County Residents:

There are two ways to obtain an Absentee Ballot application:

1) Click here to download an Absentee Ballot application. Simply fill it out, sign it, and mail it to:

Voter Registration
Governor Wolf Building
45 North 2^nd Street
Easton, PA 18042

2) Stop by the Northampton Count Voter Registration Office at the address above. Absentee Ballot applications are available in the office.

To ensure your vote counts, please comply with the following deadlines:

• Tuesday, May 9, 5:00 p.m. -- Absentee ballot applications must be received by your county’s voter registration office
• Friday, May 12, 5:00 p.m. -- All completed absentee ballots must be received by your county’s voter registration office.

 

PAR Capitol Briefs

April 28, 2006

This legislative summary is brought to you by the PAR Department of Government Affairs. The Briefs give an abstract of the actions occurring in the General Assembly that impact REALTORS® and the real estate industry. The Capitol Briefs is available for viewing on the PAR website.

This edition of the Capitol Briefs includes:

RELRA Amendment Language Introduced
Eminent Domain Language Moves to Governor
Still No Plan for Property Tax Reform
DEP to Hold Additional Meetings on Tributary Strategy

If you cannot enter the page as provided, go to http://www.parealtor.org/ - click on Legislative & Regulatory, then Current Legislative Initiatives, and then Capitol Briefs.

The Department of Environmental Protection is holding two meetings for builders and developers relative to the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy (TS). The Tributary Strategy seeks to reduce the amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, and sediment in the Bay by 2010. The Strategy, as proposed, imposes strict guidelines on sewage authorities in the Bay area and may halt future development.

If implemented as written, the TS is very likely to restrict the ability of existing sewage facilities to add new customers. The bottom line is the TS will slow or stop growth in parts of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed due to lack of adequate sewage service. It could have an impact on development in the Lehigh Valley, which lies just outside of the watershed.

At the meetings, DEP Deputy Secretary Cathy Myers will explain the purpose of the Tributary Strategy and then take questions on how it affects the building industry. These meetings will provide a much-needed forum to express concerns about the Strategy.

The two meetings are scheduled as follows:

May 1, 2006, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

May 18, 2006, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

To confirm your attendance or if you have any questions please contact Ann Smith of the DEP Water Planning Office by email at annsmith@state.pa.us or by phone at 717-772-4785.

A short background piece about the Strategy, talking points, and a list of suggested questions can be accessed by clicking here.

Also, please visit the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy website by clicking here for more information.