In the midst of a presidential election that drew many students outside of the classroom and into the voting booths today, Nov. 6th, many local politicians are running on the same ballot as Mitt Romney and Barack Obama for a chance to represent those in the North Philadelphia community.
For those registered to vote in and around Main Campus, there are several other offices up for election.
For U.S. Senate, Democratic incumbent Senator Bob Casey Jr. is running against Republican Tom Smith and Libertarian Rayburn Douglas Smith.
For U.S. Congress, two districts split Main Campus, the 1st Congressional District lies East of Broad Street, where Democratic incumbent Congressman Robert Brady is battling Republican John Featherman. In the 2nd Congressional District west of Broad Street, Democratic incumbent Chaka Fattah is running against Republican Robert Mansfield Jr. and James Foster, an independent.
On the state level, the position of Auditor General is up for grabs between Democrat Eugene A. DePasquale, Republican John Maher and Libertarian Betsy Elizabeth Summers. For State Treasurer, Democrat Robert M. McCord is up for re-election against Republican Diana Irey Vaughan and Libertarian Patricia M. Fryman. For Pennsylvania Attorney General, Democrat Kathleen G. Kane is running against Republican David J. Freed and Libertarian Marakay J. Rogers.
In the 3rd Senate District in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, which encompasses Main Campus and the surrounding North Philadelphia community, Democratic State Senator Shirley Kitchen is running unopposed. Most of Main Campus and the surrounding student community west of Broad Street find themselves within the General Assembly’s 181st Congressional District, where Democratic Representative W. Curtis Thomas is also running unopposed. Some students living north of Susquehanna Avenue between 17th and North Broad streets will find themselves in the Assembly’s 197th District, where Democrat Jose Miranda is running against Republican Steve Crum.
All voters have the option of voting for one, all, or some of the elected positions on the ballot. There is also an option to vote a straight party line, or to vote for no candidate for any office.
“I’ll be honest, I’m not very informed on that subject, I should be, but I’m not,” Charles Brown, a junior journalism major, said. “I voted among party lines.”
Fiona Allen, a sophomore communications studies major, said that while she voted for all local candidate positions, she knew less about them than she did the presidential race.
“I’m not extremely informed on local candidates at all, I was extremely concerned about with presidential election,” Allen said. “I did do a little bit of research, but it is hard because everyone is so hyped about the presidential elections.”
For information about how to find your voting place, visit votespa.com.
John Moritz can be reached at john.moritz@temple.edu or on Twitter @JCMoritzTU.
