No off-years for elections
To the Times: Just before Christmas last year, my family had a dinner to welcome my son home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. We talked a lot about his experiences, and about what he’d missed while he was away; but we also talked about what it really means to serve. His passion for public service inspired me to take a big step in my career, one that might allow me to serve my community in a unique and profound way. He inspired me to run for the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.
The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court is one of the most fascinating courts in the entire country. There is no other court like it in the United States. The Commonwealth Court sits right below the Supreme Court, and exclusively handles cases related to the government. Over the next few years, the Commonwealth Court will hear cases related to school funding, taxes, environmental regulations, organized labor, election law, and gerrymandering, and much more.
Now, more than ever, the courts are our democracy’s last line of defense. Judges must have the courage to stand up to the other branches of government to ensure our most cherished rights are protected. Those rights guaranteed by our federal and state constitutions are only as safe as the judges who interpret them.
Many of the issues plaguing Pennsylvanians are deeply personal to me. I grew up the daughter of a single mother who worked multiple jobs just to keep a roof over my family’s head. There were some months when she couldn’t make rent and we were evicted from our home. I’ve had close family members suffer from mental illness and substance abuse. I know what it’s like to try to survive on minimum wage.
I also know what it’s like to fight my way out of an underprivileged situation. I worked my way through community college, and eventually through law school. As a prosecutor, I protected victims of domestic abuse. From the District Attorney’s Office, I moved to CBS News, where I became an investigative journalist uncovering government fraud and abuse. While serving as the Director of Integrity and Accountability for the Philadelphia Police Department, I strived to improve police practices to protect the citizens of Philadelphia as well as the officers in the line of duty. Finally, as a judge for the past 10 years, I have given my best effort to ensure justice was properly served in every case coming before me.
Too many people are calling this year an “offyear election.” There should be no “off-year” elections. The judges who are elected on Nov. 7 will pretty much serve for life. They will make decisions directly impacting every Pennsylvanian. Please, come out and vote on Nov. 7. And when you do, I would be honored to earn one of your two votes for the Commonwealth Court.