Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, there was an article on the front page of The Spirit entitled “Rathmell’s name removed from primary ballot.”
The article explained that two residents challenged Rathmell’s nominating petition in the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court. The petition had 1,306 signatures, well over the required 1,000. Sadly, 374 were removed for various reasons.
I was shocked to learn that my signature, as well as my sister’s, were two that were removed.
A few months ago, someone from George Rathmell’s campaign came to my home for me to complete the petition. The same person went to my sister’s home, and she signed the petition as well.
Much to our surprise, the accusation was made that one person completed the petition for both of us. I drafted a letter for the judge that I had notarized, explaining that I completed the petition on my own and would never have completed it for someone else. It was very frustrating having my integrity questioned. I wonder if the other 372 people felt the same.
I also wonder why the individuals who challenged the petition felt it necessary to do so. I can only speculate that, possibly, Mr. Rathmell proved to be a threat to the other individual’s campaign.
The point of my letter is to encourage everyone who is registered to make the time vote on May 17, but to go one step beyond that and research the candidates. Who most aligns with your beliefs? Who truly makes the people of the commonwealth a priority?
If you aren’t at peace with the way things are going, or with our current congressman, and you want to see a positive change, please take the time to consider an alternative. You don’t have to vote for someone just because s/he is the only name on the ballot.
And while the article mentioned previously explained that George Rathmell’s name won’t be on the ballot, it did not mention that his name can still be written in.
I hope the other 1,305 people who signed the petition will share with everyone they know why they signed it in the first place and will remember to write in George Rathmell’s name on election day.
— Kathi Barr, Punxsutawney
Dear Editor,
For the past eight years, Pennsylvania has been mismanaged by Gov. Tom Wolf. Adjusted for inflation, school funding is worse than ever, at a time when an agile and educated workforce is needed more than ever. According to US News & World Report, Pennsylvania’s support for higher education is 50th, worst in the nation! Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Integrated Water Quality Report added 2,398 more stream miles to the state’s impaired list, suggesting that one- third of all the state’s waterways are now considered polluted enough to harm wildlife, recreation or drinking water. I raise these concerns because Pennsylvania is at a crossroads. It’s time for change. We need a governor that can’t be bought. We need a governor who will work for us, the citizens of Pennsylvania. In order to win the November election, and fix these problems, we need Dr. Nche Zama to win the May 17th primary election for governor of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania can’t afford another four years of Wolf/ Shapiro degradation. Please let’s fix Pennsylvania and elect Dr. Nche Zama on May 17.
— Lu- Ann Grube, Punxsutawney