Editorial...Our primary election choices

All elections are important but the May 18 primary election is exceptionally significant because the governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. Senate races and two critical state representative seats are up for grabs.

Battling for the right to represent the Democratic Party in the U.S. Senate race are Joe Sestak and Arlen Specter. Both have impressive records and would make outstanding senators but we lean toward Specter because over the years when it wasn’t popular to do so in the GOP, he has proven to be a friend to the African-American community. He has, time after time, stood up for causes and offered solutions to some of the many problems facing the Black community. Sestak will have his day, but now is the time for us to support the man who has supported us so many times when it wasn’t the popular thing to do. We endorse Sen. Arlen Specter.

In the governor’s race on the Democratic side we endorse Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. Even though he has received a lot of criticism over his Drink Tax, which we feel was a mistake on his part, on the whole he has done a very solid job over the past eight years in running the county, especially in his fight to block any property tax increases. We also believe it will be to our advantage to have someone from western Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. And as chief executive he ran the county as an administrator, his opponents haven’t run anything.

On the Republican side we endorse Tom Corbett because he has done a solid job as attorney general, with the exception of the frivolous use of taxpayers’ money in his lawsuit against the federal health care reform law.

For lieutenant governor, Doris A. Smith-Ribner gets our nod on the Democratic side. She is a very intelligent person who had a sparkling record as a judge before she retired. She will make an excellent lieutenant governor.

Joe Preston Jr. is running again as state representative from the 24th state Legislative District. This will be his 14th term and 28th year in office, which means he has built up seniority in the House, which will allow him to do more for his area. And he has had strong voter support throughout his years in office.

To represent the 19th state Legislative District we select Jake Wheatley. Wheatley has done an outstanding job since replacing Bill Robinson in 2002. He has worked closely with the city and feds to continue the development of the Hill District and the lower North Side, while building stronger relationships in the House.

Endorsements