Commissioner extends thanks to poll workers

As chair of the Montgomery County Election Board, I would like to thank the 2,400 poll workers who ensured Election Day ran smoothly.

This year on November 7, more than 175,000 Montgomery County residents cast their votes for nearly 1,300 offices. In addition to statewide judicial offices, municipal offices and school boards, we elected judges to the Court of Common Pleas, district magistrates and the jury commissioner at the county level.

For each general and primary election, the county is in need of Judges of Election, Majority and Minority Inspectors, Minority Clerks and Machine Operators. Poll workers can earn up to $110 for each election they work. If you are registered to vote in Montgomery County, have an interest in our election process and would like to participate as a poll worker, you can contact the Voter Services office at 610-2789230 or read more at www.voterservices.montcopa.org. – Kenneth Lawrence, Vice Chair of Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, Chair of Montgomery County Board of Elections be a criminal, but he is also a victim of the system. Statistically speaking, within three years of release, 67.8 percent of released prisoners are rearrested (National Institute of Justice). Like many other cases, Rogan was rearrested for breaking probation, but this may not be entirely his fault. With an inefficient transportation system in Montgomery County to get from city to city, and Rogan’s low likelihood of being able to map a route and routinely stick to the schedule of public transportation, the prison system sets him up to fail in the real world. In addition, a lack of education and money may contribute to his inability to check in with his parole officer on time. Given Rogan’s numerous charges, he is a career criminal maintaining the prison lifestyle due to his inability to fit in to society; this may be accredited to the dearth of resources and support outside of prisons that prisoners can actually utilize.

It is difficult to ignore Rogan’s last uttered words of wanting to die. The mere thought of going in and out of prison, interacting with inmates of different security levels and different charges ranging from murder to rape, is hard to conceive. The constant battle of warding off bullies and predators in prison and simultaneously trying to keep sane is not an easy feat, a feat that none of suburbia could ever imagine. Those in prison can develop pathologies that can lead to mental illness and thoughts of suicide. The environment prison cultivates is unhealthy and corrupt, and thus is a spotlight in politics today. Daniel J. Rogan may be a criminal, but is undeniably a victim of the shortcomings of prison. – Joanne Lee, Blue Bell