ST. MARYS – The 2017 Pennsylvania General Election features one of the largest numbers of vacancies on the state’s trio of appellate court benches in the nearly three-century history of the Commonwealth.
A total of seven seats are on the ballot for election along with a retention vote in November. One position on Pennsylvania Supreme Court, four positions on Pennsylvania Superior Court and two positions on Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court will be decided when voters go to the polls.
They will also decide to retain a Justice on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. This weekend’s Elk Country Democratic Picnic will feature a slate of speakers that includes candidates for five of those vacancies as well as the candidate for retention.
Headlining the list of speakers at the picnic will be Justice Debra Todd, originally elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2007.
She will stand for retention for another 10-year term in November. From Allegheny County, Todd is in line to become the first female Chief Justice in the court’s history.
Three Pennsylvania Superior Court candidates will also be attending and speaking this Sunday. Judge Debbie Kunselman from Beaver County, along with Judge Maria McLaughlin and Judge Carolyn Nichols both from Philadelphia, are three of the four Democratic nominees.
Both Democratic candidates for Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, Judge Ellen Ceisler from Philadelphia and Attorney Irene Clark from Allegheny County are also slated to attend the picnic, the largest summertime event for Democrats in north-central Pennsylvania.
In addition to the statewide candidates, Elk County District Attorney Shawn McMahon, seeking reelection to his second term, is also on the schedule to speak.
The picnic, sponsored by the Elk County Democratic Committee, will be held at the Crystal Fire Department Training Facility, West Creek Road in St. Marys, this Sunday starting at 2 p.m.
Democrats from more than 15 different counties across Pennsylvania are expected to join the event. For more information on the picnic or the committee, call Rich at 814-594-5500 or e-mail chair@elkdems.com.
