THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS^®
OF GREATER PITTSBURGH, INC.

Facts For Citizens
2010 Guide To Elected Officials

for Citizens of Allegheny County

Find out who represents you in the various levels of government.

This guide is updated for 2010. It reflects the elections for federal and state offices in 2008 and for county and municipal offices in 2009. It also contains updated information on appointed officials, changes due to resignations, and other information submitted by municipalities and school districts.

(Municipalities and school districts marked 2008 or 2009 have not yet provided updated information.)

Membership in the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh is open to all citizens of voting age. For further information, telephone 412-261-4284 (Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) or see our membership page.

Contents

Municipalities

School Districts

Election Information

Be an Effective Voter

Government Information

Publication Information

End of contents

Federal Government

Elected Federal Executive Officials

Address correspondence to:
The White House,
Washington, D.C. 20500.
Comments Line: 202-456-1111. Fax: 202-456-2461
Email comments to comments@whitehouse.gov

President: 4 year term - $400,000

Vice President: 4 year term - $227,300

Elected Federal Legislative Officials

Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121, TTY (202) 225-1904

Senate: 6 year terms - $174,000

Address correspondence to:
The Honorable (Name)
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510.
Telephone: 202-224-3121
 

House of Representatives: 2 years terms - $176,000

Address correspondence to:
The Honorable (Name)
U. S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515.
Telephone: 202-224-3121

 Next election: 2010
 

Local offices:

Sen. Casey: 425 Sizth Avenue #2490, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Sen. Specter : 425 Sixth Ave., #1450, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Rep. Altmire: 2110 McLean St., Aliquippa, PA 15001
Rep. Doyle: 225 Ross St., 5th Flr., Pittsburgh, PA 15219, 412-261-5091; 11 Duff Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15235,
412-241-6055; 627 Lysle Blvd.,McKeesport, PA 15132 412-664-4049; .
Rep. Murphy: 504 Washington Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15228

Pennsylvania State Government

Elected State Executive Officials

Address correspondence to:
The Honorable (Name)
Capitol Bldg.
Harrisburg, PA 17120.

Commonwealth Information Center 8 A.M.-5 P.M.-800-932-0784.
 

Governor: 4 year term - $174,914

Lieutenant Governor: 4 year term - $146,926

Attorney General: 4 year term - $145,529

Auditor General: 4 year term - $145,529

State Treasurer: 4 year term - $145,529

Elected State Legislative Officials

Address correspondence to:
The Honorable (Name)
Capitol Bldg.
Harrisburg, PA 17120

To find local office addresses and more specific Harrisburg office addresses with phone numbers, see Use Your Voice, a publication of Duquesne Light.
 

State Senators: 4 years terms - $78,315

State Representatives: 2 year terms - $78,315

Next election: 2008
 

Legislative leadership:8
Senate President Pro Tempore, Joseph B. Scarnati, III, Salary $122,254, Telephone: 717-787-7084; Email
Senate Minority Leader: Robert J. Mellow, Salary $113,468, Telephone 717-787-7084, Email
Speaker of the House, Keith R. McCall, Salary $118,896; telephone: 717-787-4610, Fax: 717-783-1339, Email

Allegheny County

Elected Officials

Address correspondence to:
The Honorable (Name)
County Court House
436 Grant St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

County Chief Executive: Room 101
County Council: Room 119

County information: 412-350-4636

Email form: http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/feedback/index.asp

4 year terms s

 Some Appointed Officials:

Medical Examiner: Dr. Karl E. Williams, 412-350-4800, $180,251

Department of Court Records: Kate Barkman, 412-350-5322, $98,345

Division of Real Estate: Valerie McDonald Roberts, 412-350-4226, $92,700

County Council: 4 year term Salary $9,000 stipend (part time)

• Map of County Council Districts
• List of Municipalities Within Districts

412-350-6490

Council meets every other Tuesday at 5:00 P.M.
Schedule of regular Council meetings and committee meetings.

County Real Estate Tax 4.69 Mills

Courts

Federal Judiciary

The U.S. Constitution provides for the administration of justice. The United States is divided into several districts, each having a U.S. District Court. Allegheny County is included in the Western District of Pennsylvania. All federal court judges are appointed for life by the President of the U.S. with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate.

State Judiciary

The Pa. Constitution, as amended January 1, 1969, provides for a unified judicial system. The judicial officers are nominated at primary elections and elected at municipal elections, which occur in odd-numbered years. A judge who has completed a full elected term of 10 years may qualify for retention election. The candidate's name appears on the ballot in November without political party designation. The voters indicate by voting "yes" or "no" whether that candidate shall be retained as a judge for an additional 10 year term. The Governor makes appointments to fill any vacancies that occur; the Senate confirms. Appointed judges must then stand for election, usually at the next municipal election. Pennsylvania judges must retire at 70.

 Supreme Court of Pennsylvania - 412-565-2816

 Superior Court of Pennsylvania - 412-565-7592

*Year of mandatory retirement -- at age 70.

 Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania - 717-255-1600

*Year of mandatory retirement -- at age 70.

Terms begin first Monday in January following election.

Court of Common Pleas - 412-350-5410, FAX:412-350-3930

Fifth Judicial District

Four Divisions: Civil, Orphans, Criminal, Family
 

*Year of mandatory retirement -- at age 70.

**Adminstrative Judge: $162,555 (fewer than 6 judges in division)--$163,260 (more than 6 judges in division)

Judges are elected for a 10 year term. Term begins the first Monday in January following election. Direct complaints against judges to: Judicial Conduct Board, 225 Market St., Harrisburg, PA 17101.

Local or Minor Courts - 412-350-5485

Allegheny County has 48 magisterial districts. One Magisterial District Judge is elected in each district for a 6 year term. Salary $80,927.

Information on Elections 2008

Primary: May 18, 2010
Registration closes April 19, 2010

General: November 2, 2010
Registration closes October 4, 2010

The polls are open from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M. The Court of Common Pleas is in continuous session on Election Day from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M. to hear Election Day complaints. 412-350-5463

Qualifications for Voters

1. You must be a citizen of the United States.
2. You must be at least 18 years of age on the day of the election.
3. You must be a resident of Allegheny County and of your election district for 30 days.
4. YOU MUST BE REGISTERED IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. You may register at the County Office Building or by mail. Mail registration forms are available at driver photo centers, municipal buildings, public libraries, political party headquarters, Giant Eagles, League of Women Voters offices or downloaded from http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/elect. If you move within Allegheny County you must notify the Registration Commission by mail or in person.
5. Pennsylvania is a closed primary state. You may or may not choose to be affiliated with a political party. However, only voters registered as members of a RECOGNIZED POLITICAL PARTY may vote for candidates in that party in a primary election.

Absentee Voting

An absentee ballot may be used by any registered voter who expects to be absent from one's municipality on Election Day, or who is ill or incapacitated. There are three steps in securing an absentee ballot:

1. A request for an official application form. Call 412-350-4520.
2. Return of the application form.
3. Return of the absentee ballot.

Absentee ballots must be in the Division of Elections office at 5:00 P.M. the Friday before an election. The ballot must be mailed or delivered by the voter.

Election Information Available

Elections Division, County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Telephone: 412-350-4500

Be an Effective Voter

1. Know your candidates at election time. The Voters Guide, compiled by the League of Women Voters and published in the New Pittsburgh Courier the Wednesday before elections, lists all the candidates with their biographies and views. The Guide is also available on the LWVGP web site.
2. Comprehensive non-partisan information about contests and candidates on the voter's own ballot is available at www.smartvoter.org
3. Keep in touch with your representatives and public officials, letting them know how you feel about issues and legislation.
4. Be active in the party of your choice.

When You Write, Do It Right:

• Address your officials correctly.
• Be polite but businesslike, brief but not terse.
• State your position on the subject clearly.
• Request action. Ask for an answer.
• Thank them for good votes.

Government Information

Information About Federal Government

Federal Information Center
Telephone: 800-333-4636

The White House
The Senate
The House of Representatives

Congressional Connection: 888-355-3588

Information About State Government

League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania
Legislative Information Center
226 Forster Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102-3220

Toll free telephone: 800-692-7281
Hours: 8:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
URL: http://www.palwv.org
Email: info@palwv.org

Publication Information

Facts For Citizens is published by the League of Women Voters Education Fund.

Donations to support printing and distribution of Facts For Citizens are welcome.
Make check payable to League of Women Voters Education Fund.

League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh
Community Information Center
425 Sixth Avenue
Room 1490
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Telephone/Fax: 412-261-4284
e-mail: info@pgh.lwv.org
URL: http://www.palwv.org/pittsburgh
Monday through Thursday 9:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.

February 2010

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. It is affiliated with the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and the League of Women Voters of the United States.

Membership in LWV is open to all citizens of voting age.
For further information, telephone 412-261-4284 (Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
or see our membership page.

This page is maintained by Suzanne Broughton.  Page last revised on February 24, 2010.

Permission is granted to freely copy this document in electronic form, or to print it for non-commercial use as long as credit is given to the League of Women Voters.