Posted on 11/09/2005 1:58:41 AM PST by Kaslin
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Pennsylvanians have denied a state Supreme Court justice a second term, a sign of the public's anger at lawmakers for pushing through a pay raise last summer. A second justice won another term only narrowly.
Justice Russell M. Nigro, who got 49 percent of vote Tuesday, was the first statewide judge to be turned out of office in a yes-or-no retention election in the 36 years such elections have been held.
A Democrat, Nigro received strong support in and around his native Philadelphia but was overwhelmed by lopsided margins in south-central and southwestern regions of the state, where opposition to the pay raise was concentrated.
Justice Sandra Schultz Newman won a second term with 54 percent of the vote, a close margin for a retention election. In the last judicial election in 2001, the three jurists on the ballot all were retained by margins of 3-1.
Both candidates shifted their campaigns into high gear last week as lawmakers cast preliminary but decisive votes to repeal the pay-raise law - passed during the dead of night July 7 with no public notice or hearings. Legislators had increased their salaries 16 percent to 34 percent to at least $81,050 - more than any state except California.
Activists who protested the raises suggested the court bore some responsibility for the climate of secrecy in state government.
Nigro's term ends in January, when Gov. Ed Rendell will appoint a temporary successor. Voters will elect a replacement justice to a 10-year term in November 2007.
Citizen activists who advocated "no" votes on retaining the two justices cheered Nigro's defeat.
"It's a clear signal that Pennsylvanians have awoke from their long slumber," said Russ Diamond, chairman of PACleanSweep, a political action committee that aims to challenge incumbent legislators.
Nigro did not return a telephone message early Wednesday.
TENN ousted one a few years ago, because she was anti-death penalty. We nearly got a second a few years later, but he was black and screamed racisim very loud.
This is a good result, and it sends a clear message to the PA legislature. The (illegal) pay raise issue will not go away. We will remember in the 2006 primary and general elections.
"make sure you vote against your state rep AND senator if they're up for election next year too."
I'll try, but that usually means voting for a Dem. Sometimes, I just don't vote FOR certain candidates, or the opponents.
Do any of you other PA voters know why PA is one of only FOUR states to have a full-time legislature? Is there any way to change that?
Both getting voted out.
And we do want to pin this raise on Rendell.
How do they figure?
We in Nebraska did that about 15 years ago when the State Supreme Court started to get out of line. Best thing in the world for reigning in the others. I strongly recommend it.
I hope this means that I will continue to see the giant, pink pig on the news channels from Pittsburgh. They really crack me up!
It's way past time that the members of our elite, tax-fed class get the message that they are NOT royalty, and they CAN be fired. No incumbent should feel safe if he/she is not working hard at representing what the people want, not what their party wants. We need to start cleaning out incumbents of both parties who won't protect our children, our borders, and our pocketbooks, and who worry more about what the msm thinks than what their constituents think.
Sweet! I voted NO on retaining both.
I voted :0)
That's incredible that residents have to wait two years to select a replacement. There will be elections held before then in Pennsylvania.
I voted no too. It felt good!
Add a few more letters next time, took me 10 minutes to figure it out, (I thought you spelled bullsh*t wrong)
Nervous, Rendell?
I guess the Philly vote-making machine can't get worked up for a mere judicial retention.
It's about time a judge went. They should go more often. The next step is to get the House to impeach at least one federal judge every year.
They can't do that! It's racist to deprive a Nigro of his income. Unfair! Unfair! Unfair!< /mindless democrat mode >
< republican mode >Hey bozo's it's spelled NIgro. And no one has a constitutional right to an income. (Stupid dems!)
This is hugh in Pa. We now need to keep the pressure on. Even if they back off the pay raise, we still need to vote out every incumbent.
Kinda hard responding when the tongue is busily employed licking wounds.
A Democrat, Nigro received strong support in and around his native Philadelphia but was overwhelmed by lopsided margins in south-central and southwestern regions of the state, where opposition to the pay raise was concentrated.
Sweet. I bet this'll be all over the "Today" show.
A solution to judicial tyranny. Throw the bums out.
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