Below is a series of candidate endorsements for contested nominations in the April 26 primary. The Post-Gazette published a recap of its recommendations Sunday, April 24.
Most Western Pennsylvanians don’t know the colorful, notorious history of Philadelphia Traffic Court. Nevertheless, they along with other state residents will have a say next Tuesday in whether it stays or goes. All Pennsylvania voters — independents as well as Republicans and Democrats, who have party primaries on April 26 — will be asked a ballot question: “Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to abolish the Philadelphia Traffic Court?” For anyone who believes in ethical government and untainted justice, the answer will be Yes.
Joe Szpara 46th Legislative District (Democratic primary)
The race for the Democratic nomination in the 46th Legislative District features two candidates with intriguing backgrounds. One, Joe Szpara, has served with the Federal Reserve police, trained as an emergency medical technician and worked as a union truck driver, auto transmission shop owner and transportation coordinator. The other, Jesse White, is an attorney who served as the district’s representative for four terms before his 2014 defeat — in a redrawn 46th — by Republican Jason Ortitay of South Fayette. The winning Democrat will face Mr. Ortitay, who is unopposed for his party’s nomination, in the fall. The district takes in about a dozen municipalities in southern Allegheny County and northwestern Washington County.
John Rafferty Jr. Pennsylvania attorney general (Republican primary)
Unlike two of the Democrats running for attorney general, neither of the Republicans has served as a county district attorney, a frequent proving ground for running the state’s top law enforcement office. John Rafferty Jr. of Montgomery County has worked to strengthen the state’s child protection laws, in part through his sponsorship of Jessica’s Law (which toughened penalties for sexual predators) and his push to improve Megan’s Law (which created a state registry of sex offenders). Mr. Rafferty also sponsored bills to strengthen arson laws, get tough on recruiters for criminal street gangs, stiffen punishment for gun straw purchasers and crack down on repeat DUI offenders.
Stephen A. Zappala Jr. Pennsylvania attorney general (Democratic primary)
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. is the strongest choice for the Democrats. Mr. Zappala, 58, of Fox Chapel has been Allegheny County’s district attorney for 18 years. He has worked with law enforcement at all levels — federal, state and local, by the dozens. He runs a prosecutor’s office of 250, including 118 lawyers, and has issued 300,000 indictments. But he’s about more than locking people up.
Ed Gainey 24th state Congressional District (Democratic primary)
Rep. Ed Gainey, 46, of Lincoln-Lemington is opposed by two serial candidates, William Anderson, 43, of Homewood and Todd Elliott Koger, 54, of Wilkinsburg. While its residents deserve better challengers for political office, they have been well-served by Mr. Gainey. The former aide to Joe Preston, who held the seat for decades, has proved to be a responsive political leader who continues to grow in the role. He has spent his time in the House supporting public transit, promoting affordable housing, expanding drug treatment and allowing the medical use of marijuana. He is vice chairman of Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Jake Wheatley Jr. 19th state Congressional District (Democratic primary)
Rep. Jake Wheatley Jr., 44, of the Hill District is opposed by home health-care worker and Democratic committeewoman Jessica Wolfe, 35, of Allentown. Ms. Wolfe arrived in Pittsburgh in 2008 while working for the Obama campaign. Although her husband later served for a time on Mr. Wheatley’s staff, she said there was no ill will behind her campaign. Mr. Wheatley has worked to develop the former Civic Arena site in the Lower Hill and called for more individualized education for all students. Overall, he’s been an effective representative for the 19th District, which includes Downtown, Uptown, the Hill District, Allentown, Knoxville, most North Side neighborhoods and parts of Oakland, South Side, Mount Washington, Beltzhoover, Hazelwood and Glen Hazel.
Mike Doyle 14th Congressional District (Democratic primary)
It’s good for voters to have choices, particularly in contests with long-serving incumbents. But when a choice provides no real alternative on policy or conduct in office, voters have to wonder why a challenger even bothers. That’s the situation before Democrats in the 14th Congressional District, where U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle of Forest Hills is opposed in the April 26 primary by Janis Brooks of North Versailles. Mr. Doyle, 62, has been a member of the House since 1995, while Ms. Brooks, 66, is pastor of the Church of Inclusion International Ministries in North Versailles and founder of Citizens to Abolish Domestic Apartheid, a nonprofit that offers food to the elderly and an after-school program.
Joe Sestak U.S. Senate (Democratic primary)
Democrats who want a formidable challenger to take on U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey in November should nominate the person who nearly beat the Republican six years ago: former congressman and three-star admiral Joe Sestak. Mr. Sestak, 64, spent two terms in the House after a 31-year career in the Navy that was capped by service under President Bill Clinton as a defense policy adviser. In 2010, after defeating newly minted Democrat Arlen Specter for the party nomination, he narrowly lost the general election to Mr. Toomey — by just two percentage points in a year that Republicans were ascendant. The Delaware County resident has spent the last several years crisscrossing Pennsylvania, denouncing an obstructionist Republican Congress, defending the merits of the Affordable Care Act and seeking a rematch with Mr. Toomey.
First Published: April 15, 2016, 5:54 p.m.
