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Candidates Guide“The
material in this Guide was compiled by the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania.
This material may not be altered or reprinted without the permission of
the League.”
LEAGUE
OF WOMEN VOTERS OF INDIANA COUNTY
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| MUNICIPAL ELECTION | NOVEMBER 8 , 2005 |
Candidates
from Indiana County for the
MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE
What is a Magisterial District Judge?
The Magisterial District Judge is the first level of Pennsylvania’s unified system of courts. The District Judge handles the less serious, non-jury criminal offenses, civil actions involving less than $8000, landlord tenant cases, and all traffic cases; matters pertaining to bail; and decides whether serious criminal cases, such as murder, should go to the Court of Common Pleas.
Candidates for District Judge can cross-file, meaning a candidate’s name can appear on both the Democrat and Republican ballots. Responses to questions from candidates who have cross-filed will appear only once under the Democrat listing. Only their names will appear under the Republican listing.
Candidates for Magisterial Distrct Judge
Candidates
from Indiana County for the
SCHOOL BOARD
What is a school board? The school board is the controlling and governing agency for the school district. The board has full power to carry out the responsibilities assigned to the school district by law. Boards may hire all personnel, provide for school buildings, buy textbooks and other supplies, levy taxes and issue bonds for school purposes. Although they are elected locally, they are really state officials, copartners with the Legislature. Most boards meet monthly in open session. School board directors serve without pay.
Each school district has a nine-member board of directors, elected for four-year terms, with four positions in each district expiring at the end of 2005 and five positions expiring at the end of 2007. There are three ways school districts in Pennsylvania may elect board members -- at large, by region or by a combination of these.
