THE CULT OF PERSONALITY INVADES AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

 

“They kiss on the ring, I carry the crown….I'm the man and nothing can break me down”

The Man, song by The Killers

The idea of a “cult of personality” is a long-standing concept of authoritarian rule that has existed since the time of the Roman Emperors in antiquity. In modern history, the term became popular after Nikita Khrushchev gave his 1956 “secret speech” to the Russian Communist Party. Khrushchev criticized the recently deceased Joseph Stalin for his propaganda machine, which for decades had focused on getting the Russian people to love and honor him at all costs.  In fact, Stalin’s cult of personality was a mirage that covered up his many missteps and abuses of power. His actions directly caused the death of millions of his own people.

Since the end of the Cold War, political observers have used the cult of personality to describe numerous authoritarian leaders. Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are all dictatorial regimes that are governed by a leader who utilizes this autocratic approach. These leaders support each other both economically and militarily to remain in power.  

In Russia, Vladimir Putin has resurrected Stalin’s cult of personality by telling his citizens that the war in Ukraine is a struggle for survival against the West and that only his efforts can save them. Dissent is not tolerated.   Putin has worked to convince the Russian people that they must endure corruption and the violation of their own rights or things will get worse.

Before Donald Trump, no one believed that the cult of personality could take hold in a constitutional democratic republic like the United States. Our Founding Fathers sought to guarantee that American citizens and their governing officials would follow established rules. The Constitution divided our federal government into three branches of equal weight to provide checks and balances.  It was designed to prevent any one individual or group from easily controlling all political power. Competitive elections, civil rights for all citizens, and the proper rule of law have been the keys to preserving our balanced democracy. Only a decade ago, it seemed impossible that a single individual could threaten all these established rules, norms and institutions.

Many people lose sight of the fact that liberty and democracy are not the natural political order.  For most of human history, the strong have dominated the weak and stamped out freedom. Moreover, societies have always chosen the authoritarian cult of personality as more acceptable than anarchy. In modern democracies, the rise of someone like Donald Trump was never far from the surface.

Political scientists and psychologists now question how tens of millions of Americans are fully prepared to reelect a man like Donald Trump as president. After all, his many transgressions and degraded moral character are in the open and repetitive. Why do Trump supporters embrace him with such religious zeal?

For some answers, I turned to a book by Steven Hassan, The Cult of Trump. As a teenager, the author was recruited to join the Unification Church, a religious cult. After freeing himself, he made it his life’s work to study all the traits that are responsible for cult behavior, including the cult of personality.

Hassan points out that the personality traits of leaders who exercise the cult of personality are eerily similar. They are often paranoid and demonstrate “delusions of grandeur.” They humiliate others and demand obedience. Each leader exercising the cult of personality exhibits a sense of entitlement and a predisposition for dominance and aggression.

Hassan believes that Trump has employed classic indoctrination techniques to build devotion from his supporters. The tactics include spreading repetitious untruths until the “big lie” becomes accepted as fact. Trump never beleives he is wrong, and he projects his shortcomings onto others. His speeches and social media are a nonstop reminder of his “chosen one” status that spreads the divisive message of us vs. them. Biased cable channels help to spread the Trump message 24/7 and solidify the message.

If Trump were elected to a second term, what measures would he likely take to advance his cult of personality? A review of well-entrenched authoritarian governments, as well as Trump’s own statements, provide some probable actions.

First, he would fill government agencies with employees who have signed a loyalty oath to support his authoritarian agenda. Second, Trump would turn the Justice Department into the “department of revenge” to bring legal action against the media, and all perceived political enemies, including Republicans. Third, he would use executive orders to strengthen his presidential power to undermine other branches of government. Fourth, Trump would exploit his enhanced executive powers to rig our election system to guarantee that his brand of governing remains in place. Lastly, he would seek a constitutional amendment to remove limits to his term, or simply refuse to leave office.

As the presidential election season gets under way, former conservative Wyoming U.S. Representative, Liz Cheney, has forewarned the voting public of the dangers of a second Trump presidency. She has addressed the issue in an excellent new book, Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning. For those without the time to read the entire treatise, Cheney’s 12/14/23 op-ed in the Wall Street Journal is a summary of her position.

Ms. Cheney concludes, “Those who try to dismiss the risk of a second Trump term do our country a grave disservice.”

 

 

 

SOME THOUGHTS ON SURVIVING COMPASSION FATIGUE

 

In this holiday season, we would all like to turn our thoughts to joy, peace, and “goodwill toward men.” Given the state of our bitter domestic politics, the continuing war in Ukraine, and the horrific Hamas attack on Israel and the Israeli response, feelings of kindness are difficult to come by. Our well of empathy is all but drained.  Compassion for human suffering can be fleeting in the wake of continuous tragedy.

Short of watching the Hallmark Channel 24/7, is it possible to place ourselves in the holiday spirit to bolster our mood for the coming year? Can we maintain compassion when the constant torrent of suffering through news sources causes fatigue and wears down our capacity to care?

I am going to suggest a perspective for processing world events that has helped me remain compassionate. It is not a viewpoint wrapped in holiday pageantry. It avoids the solution for tolerating tragedy and surviving compassion fatigue advocated by Pig in the comic strip, Pearls Before Swine. When faced with bad news this sensitive character hides under the bed covers.

My alternative starts from the premise that humanity is complicated. It recognizes that it is not easy to find a moral center in disputes like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Each conflicting narrative has a complex history. It is my responsibility to study past events in order to understand the dispute. When an individual, a religion or a nation believes it has the only way forward, it causes compromise, world order, and stability to go off the tracks.

Let me start with the simplest of examples. During this season of celebration, I wish everyone “Happy Holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas.” I sometimes receive uncomfortable stares indicating I must be disrespectful of Christmas. In fact, I am making a conscious effort to recognize the dozens of important December holidays that have nothing to do with Christmas. “Peace on Earth” requires a broad perspective and the willingness to honor the celebrations of all humanity.

My second point involves our families, communities, and fellow Americans. Let us make a commitment to celebrate what we have in common as we work to respect and understand each other’s different points of view. For example, we all can agree to show gratitude for our first responders and to service members who are not able to join us because they are away, keeping us safe.  Moreover, in the upcoming national election year we can all recognize that the privilege of voting is as important as who we vote for. The least we can do in a moment of reflection is to wish every fellow American good health and happiness for the year ahead—and mean it.

Things become more difficult when faced with tragedies abroad that require our compassion. Support for the war in Ukraine is slipping as the conflict enters an extended stalemate.  The shocking attack by Hamas in Israel has divided public opinion on the appropriate Israeli military response. Hamas employed barbaric methods to massacre 1200 civilians and took 240 hostages, including 10 Americans. So far, over 18,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including many women and children.

Like most Americans, I find it difficult to reconcile the horror of this conflict with the message of the holidays. Worse, no compassionate solution seems possible.

Several factors have helped me avoid compassion fatigue. First, I gave myself permissible to feel empathy for the suffering of both the Israeli and Palestinian people. I recognized that it was my responsibility to study and understand the history of the conflict and the positions of both sides, free from the emotions caused by violent soundbites on the news. I decided no one could fault me for believing that serious violations of humanitarian law by one-participant does not give the other license to do the same.

Second, I came to the realization that in a complex tragedy of this magnitude, there are many different perspectives at work. The diplomats seeking the release of hostages have a contrasting role from the elected leaders looking to gain public support. Those in charge of the military are focusing on issues far removed from those that concern the humanitarian organizations. Ironically, the only participants sharing the same emotional response are the families burying their dead on both sides of the conflict.

I was encouraged by the two University of Pittsburgh Professors, one Jewish the other Muslim, who recently came together to provide a forum for dialogue and compassion on Pitt’s campus. According to the December 6, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “The two hour event centered on what compassion looks like locally and nationally during tumultuous times.”

Lastly, the weekly Obituary column in a recent issue of the Economist magazine rejuvenated my enthusiasim for compassion. It tells the story of the 74-year-old Jewish peace activist, Vivian Silver, who spent her later years organizing 45,000 Israeli and Arab-Israeli women into an organization called Women Wage Peace. Ms. Silver was confirmed killed in the Hamas attack on October 7. Her son was asked what Vivian’s reaction to the new war would have been. He replied, “This is the outcome of not striving for peace.”

After all the carnage, I can hope that more antagonists on both sides will now listen to this message. I will show compassion for the actors who are willing to compromise for a lasting peace in the Mid-East and elsewhere. Happy Holidays!

 

 

 

DIANA IREY VAUGHAN: A POLITICAL JOURNEY

 

At the end of this year, one of the most remarkable political careers in Washington County history will end. For 28 years, (1996-2023) Diana Irey Vaughan has served as an elected Republican representative to the Washington County Board of Commissioners.

For most of Irey Vaughan’s career, the position of minority commissioner in our county that was solidly Democratic was not a sought-after elected office. It required patience and political skill. With the Commissioner’s acumen, Washington County Republicans began building a grassroots organization that would give them a majority in voter registration. Finally, in November 2019, aided by a Democratic theft scandal in the Clerk of Courts Office, Ms. Irey Vaughan was catapulted into the Chairman’s chair on the Board of Commissioners.

Diana began her journey as Washington County’s youngest commissioner and the only woman ever elected to the position in 1996.  Early on, she endured many of the inevitable slights common in the workplace when women break through the glass ceiling in politics.  Diana’s short stature, young age, and lack of experience made her an easy target. However, her learning curve was quick.

Fellow Republican James McCune Esq., now county chief of staff,  recalled Diana’s first campaign and beginning years as a commissioner when he was county solicitor. “I remember one early agenda meeting when the other two commissioners vehemently disagreed with her decision and became very loud and intimidating.  She stood ‘toe to toe’ with them and did not flinch or give an inch.  Everyone in the room was impressed.”

Over her years as commissioner, Diana told me one accomplishment stands out, “I volunteered in the Washington County Correctional Facility encouraging female offenders in personal development. Occasionally, I see or hear from women I mentored who are still appreciative of the time I spent with them.” For the Commissioner, the needs of county residents trumped party politics.

In the Commissioner’s years as the minority representative, Diana saw her role as providing a voice for conservative values.  Ms. Irey Vaughan believes in the Republican principles advanced by Ronald Reagan. However, she was able to put ideology aside to work with the Democratic commissioners for the betterment of the county.  Diana’s goal was community service, not political upheaval.

There were dark clouds early in the Commissioner’s final term, after she assumed the office of Commissioner Chairman, the highest political position in Washington County. Republican officials, elected to serve in the normally mundane Row Offices, began testing the limits of their political power.

The Washington County Republican Party wanted a house cleaning of career civil servants from the previous Democratic administration, no matter how well they performed. Diana’s Republican running mate and fellow commissioner, Nick Sherman, often sided with the dissidents when it was politically expedient.

The Pandemic. While Commissioner Irey Vaughn was settling into her new office as Chairperson, COVID-19 was developing into a nationwide pandemic. By the spring of 2020, there was a full-blown public health crisis. Early on, then-President Trump passed most of the responsibilities for pandemic containment to the individual states. Diana often disagreed with the length and severity of Democrat, Governor Wolf’s pandemic policies. There were rumblings among MAGA Republicans that Diana did not do enough to take on the Governor, an impossible task given his constitutional authority.

The Government Study Commission.  Early in her administration, Commissioner Irey Vaughan decided it was an ideal time to form an eleven-member Government Study Commission. The Commission would consider changes allowing Washington County to adopt a Home Rule form of government. While Diana and minority commissioner, Larry Maggi, had different goals, they both supported an election referendum calling for the Commission. The voters would choose the citizens to serve on the Commission. The elected members would then hold public meetings to review important matters like term limits and county reorganization initiatives.  Diana was sure that Republican voters would appoint Commission members who favored Republican objectives in improving county government.

Against Diana’s well-reasoned plan, the Washington County Republican Party, Republican officials in the Row Offices, and Republican Commissioner Nick Sherman launched a successful campaign for a “no-vote” on the formation of a Commission. Rather than seek the government reforms these Republicans had called for in their 2019 election campaign they supported no reforms and wanted business as usual. The vicious Republican rhetoric to defeat the Study Commission included personal attacks against Diana as a RINO (Republican in name only).

Events Following the 2020 Presidential Election. In the 2020 Presidential election, while Joe Biden won Pennsylvania, Donald Trump captured 62% of the vote in Washington County. Our County was clearly not fertile ground for MAGA supporters to contest the election.

However, a group of Republican election deniers began an organized disruption campaign at every public commissioner’s meeting.  They demanded the illegal decertification of the county’s presidential election results and made other outrageous claims about voter fraud and the expensive replacement of voting machines. Diana endured repetitive unwarranted public rants calling for her resignation.

Attacks by Republican “Patriots.” During the past three and a half years, Republican Row Office officials launched an ongoing campaign against the county court system and the commissioner’s office. As Diana sought to address each new crisis, the local Republican Party leadership also increased its personal attacks. It became clear that radical Republicans would challenge her reelection. While she believed she could win in the primary, she decided not to run.

Recently, Ms. Irey Vaughan announced her plans after leaving county government. On March 1, 2024, she will replace Dean Gartland as President and CEO of the Washington City Mission. Her dedication to community service will continue. All of Washington County should wish her well as she begins this new and important chapter of her illustrious career.

 

 

AN UNEXPECTED AWARD

There are many examples of older citizens who achieve noteworthy accomplishments over age 70. The public seems fascinated by actors, novelists, and artists who continue to produce masterpieces in their later years. Award shows often honor individuals in the creative arts and other fields for their ongoing productivity in later life.

The artist Matisse created powerful art late in his life. Grandma Moses did not begin painting until she was in her 70s.  A recent issue of the New Yorker profiles the 85-year-old movie director, Ridley Scott. His new film Napoleon opened in theaters on November 22.  He is hard at work on the follow up to his blockbuster movie, Gladiator. Frank Lloyd Wright completed some of his most famous projects after age 60 and continued working until his death at age 91.

It is a very different kind of recognition to be honored after age 70 for an achievement that occurred over 50 years earlier. This was a time, long ago, when I was a member of an undefeated New Jersey high school cross-country team. In July 2023, all varsity team members received a letter that began, “Congratulations! The North Hunterdon High School Lions Athletic Hall of Fame has selected the 1968 Boys Cross Country Team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame Class of 2023 as a team.”

The letter went on to request information, photos, and stories about our championship team on which I had received a varsity letter for three seasons. As it turns out, our senior effort in 1968 marked the first undefeated varsity team in the history of the high school.

Unlike my spouse and other members of my family, recalling events from over 50 years ago is not my strong suit. Luckily, one of my running mates kept all of the newspaper clippings and other mementos from our championship season and sent me a copy. This collection, along with my dusty senior high school yearbook, helped to unlock some recollections. The Hall of Fame event was held in early November at a local N.J. country club. It was a pleasant afternoon breaking bread with my teammates after 50 years and given the opportunity to trade war stories.

We decided that four factors were instrumental in leading to an undefeated season. First, the team was led by a coach who knew how to train and motivate young men to run. Second, one of our teammates kept improving as the championship season wore on and developed into an elite runner who often finished first. Third, the rest of the team had a core of senior and junior runners who pushed each other and finished each race near the front of the pack. Fourth, home meets were usually automatic victories. Other N.J. schools trained on and laid out their courses in flat, local parks. Our training area and official course was full of hills that quickly deflated visiting teams.

Our winning team made a commitment to train hard over the summer preceding the new school year in September. We started the fall season with an additional early morning practice to pack on extra miles. The seniors gave up the traditional overnight class trip to Washington D.C. to train for the year-end state championship competitions.

As members of our undefeated team finally got the opportunity to trade thoughts, the inevitable subject was why we were being honored over 50 years after our memorable season. While we all appreciated the recognition, receiving it closer to our achievement may have had a greater impact on our lives.   

I could not help thinking about the celebratory atmosphere that is created when professional and college athletes, still in their prime, are inducted into their respective Halls of Fame. His or her career are still fresh in everyone’s mind. Conversely, when an elderly military veteran of a decades-old foreign conflict or an early civil rights leader is presented with a well-deserved medal, while sitting in a wheelchair, the effect is one of solemn sadness. The military heroics or civil rights accomplishments are long forgotten.

A mitigating factor in our case was that the first school induction ceremony did not take place until 2002. We realized that cross-country has long been considered a second-tier varsity sport, overshadowed by football, basketball, baseball and wrestling. I am sure there was a demand to honor participants in those sports that garnered widespread public adulation. Those students whose forte was running could be considered later.

We were pleased to see several young women honored at our induction ceremony. In 1968 the Federal anti-discrimination statute, Title IX had not yet become law. The statute required that women’s sports comparable to men’s offerings be included in athletic programs. At our high school, an expanded field of sports are now considered for awards that includes both genders.

At the induction ceremony, awards were granted to recently graduated participants in golf, track & field, soccer, and cheerleading. There is strong evidence that another worthy individual or championship team will not wait for 50 years to receive a place in the Athletic Hall of Fame.

To make my point that a future oversight should be avoided, I began my brief remarks from the awards podium with an opening comment to wake up those dozing in the back of the room. “What the heck took you so long?”

 

 

 

  

A LOOK AT TRIBALISM IN AMERICA

In today’s winner-take-all political climate, it is fashionable to discuss tribalism in America as the new normal. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, tribalism is “a very strong feeling of loyalty to a group so that you support them, whatever they do.”  Many view tribalism as one step removed from being a card-carrying Democrat or Republican. In fact, political partisanship is only the tip of the tribal iceberg. Something more sinister is going on that should trouble all of us concerned about the future of American democracy.

It is helpful in understanding tribalism is to look outside our borders to find examples of tribal conflicts that have existed far longer than our American variety. The past situation in Northern Ireland, the struggles in Israel-Palestine, or ongoing conflicts in Africa come to mind. All of these disputes have been marked by recurring violence motivated by tribal self-interest. American tribalism appears to be headed in the same direction.

Tribalism has distinct characteristics. First, it does not stop at political differences. Tribalism creates rigid views on history, immigrants, gender,  religion, and social values. A MAGA hat or flag from the QAnon movement can define the tribe. There is no room for critical thinking within the narrowly defined group.

Second, the tribal community provides the all-important sense of belonging to an insulated faction rather than the nation as a whole. The German political theorist Max Weber defined a nation as “a community of sentiments which would adequately manifest itself into a state of its own.” What we have seen in America is several sub-groups that have total distrust for each other making a workable nation difficult to achieve.

Tribes do not believe in a democratic, pluralistic society. They do not accept members of diverse communities. In tribal politics, it is a binary choice between “us” and “them”.

Third, maintaining a democratic form of government becomes difficult. As we witnessed in the aftermath of the 2020 national election, an electoral defeat is taken as an existential threat to the losing tribe’s existence. All that matters to tribal members is staying in power to avoid imagined domination.

Tribalism becomes attractive to politicians motivated by power because the tribe never asks for public accountability. Moreover, a tribe provides an unending source of cult-like political support.

What has caused the rapid increase in American tribalism?      
When like-minded individuals are convinced they are being attacked, bullied, persecuted and discriminated against, rampant tribalism can result.  Generally, tribalism feeds off economic and psychological needs that society has not addressed, as described below.  

The Urban-Rural Divide. In recent decades, the urban-rural divide has determined how America votes and the make-up of Congress. Republicans dominate in rural states and rural congressional districts while Democrats control the metropolitan areas. The decline of economic opportunities in rural America has led to views of white victimization and encouraged tribalism based on white supremacy.

The Forgotten Middle Class.  The middle class has steadily diminished since the 1970s. According to the Pew Research Center, the national aggregate income of the middle class has shrunk from 62% in 1972 to 42% in 2020. Even with both parents working, a family often lacks the resources to cover housing and healthcare.  Declining union membership has removed a major voice in achieving middle class goals.  Anger and feelings of victimization increase when poorer neighbors, including recent immigrants, receive Medicaid, housing vouchers or food stamps.

White Christian Nationalism. The American social commentator and author, Bradley Onishi has described this ideology as a "national renewal project that envisions a pure American body that is heterosexual, white, native-born, that speaks English as a first language, and that is thoroughly patriarchal.”  White Christian nationalism is neither patriotic nor evangelical, although it hijacks these terms. The slogan “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) and its proponent, Donald Trump, gave this tribe new life in American culture.

Conspiracy Theories.  Conspiracy theories have come out of the shadows and into the mainstream because of social media. Disinformation campaigns sponsored by QAnon, election deniers, vaccine skeptics, and other provocateurs entice disgruntled Americans to join the associated tribe.  Conspiracy theories are attractive because they explain the ultimate causes of significant social and political events by means of unprovable secret plots between two or more powerful actors.

Identity Politics.  The progressive left has also contributed to the growth of tribalism because of identity politics. The original idea was that encouraging ethnic, gender, and sexual groups to take pride in their identity could achieve social justice. Martin Luther King called for universal civil rights for all minorities and poor people.  More recently, the goal in stressing identity has gone too far. Each group discourages dialogue with others who hold disparate views or have different backgrounds. The problem with identity politics is that it insists on respect for each minority group as unique rather than encourage universal inclusion as part of the nation.

Is it possible to reverse tribalism in America? Lofty pleas to support our democratic constitutional republic rather than the tribe have not worked. Moderate Americans must get involved and make the case that long-term national unity is only achievable through the application of tolerance, peaceful conflict, and ultimately compromise.

To keep the American experiment alive, we must return to and employ these basic principles.

 

 

 THE ELDERLY SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM SCAMS

In today’s world of disinformation, dishonest sales swindles and outright criminal frauds, nothing upsets me more than those actors who exploit the elderly. We all have older friends and relatives, many living alone, who have lost valuable savings to a multitude of schemes designed to take advantage of them. This commentary will examine some of the common fact patterns and offer information on how to address this growing and troubling problem.

An ever-shrinking number of seniors have never adapted to using personal computers or smart phones. This protects them against the numerous scams directly related to the internet. Unfortunately, our oldest citizens who communicate primarily by landline telephones and the mail service are hardly immune from swindles.

Consider the elderly relative or close friend, living alone. One of the events that provides some welcome stimulation is the daily mail delivery. This individual may have developed a special affinity for missionary work, world hunger or domestic and wild animals. In the mail are multiple pleas for donations, focusing on the one or several causes that this person has supported in the past. The involved charities all trade mailing lists to insure maximum penetration into each older person’s checkbook. In no time, our elderly friend is getting dozens of solicitations each week and is writing numerous checks to demanding charities, often to the same organization more than once a month.  

Unfortunately, there is nothing illegal about a charitable scheme that plays on the emotions of the elderly. However, there are several defensive measures to suggest. First, the older person should be encouraged to stop the check writing and to seek assistance in researching each charity to determine which ones are worthy of a contribution. The Pennsylvania Charity Search, Better Business Bureau Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator and Charity Watch are good sources of information.

Second, many older people rely on IRA income to meet expenses. Each IRA is subject to yearly Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). Many older Americans are unaware that they can make a tax free Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) as part of their mandatory IRA distribution. If the older person is convinced to make a single reasonable contribution through a QCD to satisfy their empathy for a charitable cause, the constant barrage of daily mail solicitations can be thrown in the trash bin.

Lastly, assist the older person in contacting unsolicited charities to delete their name from mailing lists. Inform supported charities to remove their names from any lists that are rented or exchanged. Register with the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) to reduce unwanted solicitations.

Phone and in person solicitations are also problems for the elderly. Our senior friends should be encouraged to not answer calls from unknown numbers and to never give out personal information.  They should also be registered at the National Do Not Call Registry (donotcall.gov).

At the front door, our area is afflicted with fast-talking marketers who are well-trained in getting the elderly to change their gas and electric suppliers. The homeowner is offered a reduced teaser rate that often does not provide a less expensive long-term solution. All of these in-person offers should be declined. The older person should be encouraged to work with a friend familiar with gas and electric rates or to consult a public information source like PaPowerSwitch or PowerSetter. These sites provide the best consumer options for suppliers in each community with no hard sales tactics.

We are now in the middle of the Medicare marketing season directed at seniors. The saturation of TV ads and infomercials, unsolicited phone calls and mailings is overwhelming.  The regulations against unsolicited direct contact are rarely followed.

The danger in too much Medicare marketing is utter confusion that leads older adults to enroll in plans that do not meet their needs. There are many examples where unscrupulous representatives enroll the elderly customer in a plan that does not provide coverage where he or she lives. Others offer plans where needed prescriptions are not covered by the new policy. If a local senior needs unbiased help with Medicare, they should contact the Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI) to receive reliable advice.

Most individuals over 60 now have ready access to the internet through a personal computer, iPad or smart phone. There are countless conveniences when utilizing internet technology in everyday senior living, including personal safety.  However, these communication and search devices subject seniors to another level of potential scams.     

Many older people consider emails to be a safe and convenient method of communication. The truth is that those over 60 are frequent cybercrime targets. Our seniors need constant reminders to update software, purchase cyber security protection, to use strong passwords, and to avoid phishing scams. They incorrectly believe it is safe to post personal information to close friends on social media. Their curiosity leads them to open emails from unknown sources and worse, to open email attachments from these sources. All of this activity is an invitation to the cybercriminal.

Our seniors deserve accessible information programs that make them aware of the scams and frauds that are lurking everywhere. Regular community events can educate them on how to avoid becoming the next victim and encourage them to report any instances of fraud without embarrassment. Basic technology training and free internet safeguards should be made available. Seniors have earned our constant vigilance and the right to be protected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A REVIEW OF THE 2023 ELECTION RESULTS

 

Local Republicans are to be congratulated for painting Washington County red on Election Day. None of the theories on how County Democrats could reverse the outcome from four years ago were valid.

According to my back-of-the-envelope calculations, the voter registration advantage that Republicans hold in the County, combined with one-half of those registered Independent, was the percentage of total registrations that provided the large margin of victory in the Row Office races. The Democratic team for Commissioner garnered a higher percentage of the votes in a loss as did the Republican candidates for County Treasurer and District Attorney in wins.

The closest contest was for the third and deciding seat on the Board of Commissioners between Democrat Cindy Fisher and Republican Electra Janis. Janis won by 1,060 votes giving Republicans a majority on the Board for another four years. Republicans also did well across the county in municipal and school board elections.

The winning Republican Commissioner team campaigned with a number of general slogans like, “protect taxpayers, increase transparency, and grow jobs.” It remains to be seen whether there is a hidden Republican agenda to reorganize county departments and agencies, including the Election Office and those responsible for economic development. Extreme members of the local Republican Party have called for such a move. If a decision by the Republican majority radically changes the status quo, minority Commissioner, Larry Maggi, will be limited to recording a dissenting vote and presenting his objections to the public.

Republican Row Office candidates all won, and will be entering their second term in office, with one exception in the Clerk of Courts where a first term Republican will assume office. The well-publicized disruptions that occurred during the incumbents’ first term are behind them. There is now the opportunity to reset Row Office goals and to serve the court system and Washington County’s citizens in a professional manner, free from partisan politics.

The local Republican Party has enjoyed contrasting its conservative views with its larger, progressive neighbor to the north. Now that liberal Democrat, Sara Innamorato, has been elected Executive of Allegheny County, this ongoing juxtaposition of policies and values can continue in earnest.

Ms. Innamorato has promised to introduce a number of progressive programs in Allegheny County. She will work with Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey to revitalize downtown Pittsburgh, reform police practices, increase available housing and to manage the homeless problem. Local Republicans will gleefully point out any setbacks and encourage disgruntled Allegheny County residents to move into our communities.

As pointed out in a post-election study conducted by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Allegheny County totals were not the expected straight party vote of urban Pittsburgh Democrats surrounded by a sea of straight party Republican vote in outer suburbs. The race for County Executive was much closer than the larger Democratic registration would suggest. Moreover, the Democratic progressive candidate for District Attorney, Matt Dugan, lost to the long-term office holder, Steven Zappala Jr.

The PPG study found that, “In 40% of precincts, both a Democrat and a Republican won at least one top-tier race. That includes nearly 50 voting districts within city limits, and dozens more in some of the county’s most Republican areas.” Interestingly, very little ticket splitting was evident in Washington County where voters favored their party of registration.

In contrast to Washington County’s red wave, Pennsylvania voting patterns across the state were noticeably blue. Eastern counties, including Bucks and Dauphin flipped their Boards of Commissioners to Democratic. Democrat, Dan McCaffery, won the most significant Pennsylvania contest for the open Supreme Court seat. This maintained a Democratic majority on the Commonwealth’s highest court. Five Democrat Justices and two Republicans will now tackle important cases including voting rights, abortion, and gun control.
Both Democratic and Republican political strategists across Pennsylvania believe that the continued backlash against the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion that overturned a 50-year-old -right to abortion is behind an increase in Democratic victories. It is uncertain whether this trend will hold in 2024. Pennsylvania will be a key battleground state in determining our next president and control of the U.S. Senate.
Nationally, several closely watched elections added to the Democratic winning streak. Democratic Governor Andy Beshear won re-election in deeply Republican Kentucky. In Virginia, Democrats continued to control the state Senate and were able to flip the state House blue. Lastly, in the red state of Ohio, Democrats pushed across voter acceptance of a ballot measure to amend the state constitution to include the right to an abortion.

To temper the good news for Democrats is a recent nationwide poll that shows President Biden with only a 39 percent approval rating in the battleground states. According to the New York Times, “The great question for the next year is whether the less engaged, less ideological, disaffected young people and nonwhite voters who do not like Mr. Biden will return to his side once the campaign gets underway.”

Both political parties will continue to analyze the 2023 election results hoping to gain an advantage ahead of the 2024 national elections.

 

THE BORDER CRISIS REVISITED

Several years ago, I wrote about the border crisis. While circumstances have changed and presidential administrations have come and gone, the situation has gotten worse. Permitting tens of thousands of migrants to be stranded at the border in a humanitarian and political crisis was unheard-of until 2019. These untenable conditions are now taken for granted.

The solution to the border crisis remains in the hands of Congress. A complete overhaul of American immigration policy is not in the cards. However, recent bipartisan discussions to tighten up asylum policy as part of a government funding deal are encouraging.

We are overwhelmed by the daily news coverage of thousands of migrants in Mexico waiting for the opportunity to cross the border, only to form large encampments in America’s border towns. Buses full of migrants are sent to northern cities that lack the capacity to care for them.  Congress has not allocated federal funds to aid the involved states or local border communities.

Frustration and anger are directed at the President and his administration. In fact, the executive branch can only take limited action because of existing laws. This is unfortunate because Congress is often ungovernable and in no position to restore order at the border.

The two key components of the border crisis are (1) the need for border security and (2) legislation on comprehensive immigration reform. Republicans have insisted on addressing only the security problem with illegal or unhelpful physical barriers and a draconian show of force. Republicans have long avoided passing immigration reforms which would provide funding for border security based on new technology and that would provide the ability to decide asylum claims quickly.

Democrats support immigration reform legislation that includes funds for more advanced and humane border security along with an overhaul of the entire immigration system. This would include the fate of the Dreamer population, those undocumented immigrants living in America since they were young children.

In the last several years, the nature of the border crisis has dramatically changed. The problem is no longer undocumented migrants from Mexico entering illegally to work or join family members. According to government statistics, the majority of recent migrants are citizens from the troubled Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Increasingly there are also new migrants from Haiti, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba.

The US Customs and Border Patrol reports that 250,000 migrants from these countries aggravated the most recent crisis over the past eighteen months. These individuals made the dangerous journey north to escape violent crime, poverty, natural disasters, climate change and other economic struggles. Few of the cases actually involve political persecution. However, after crossing the border, the majority of these migrants can legally claim political asylum until their cases are processed.

The existing U.S. asylum system was created in the Refugee Act of 1980 to review claims of persecution on a limited basis. Today, the asylum system has been transformed into the main avenue for mass immigration, a function it was never designed to serve. Julia Preston, the national immigration correspondent for the New York Times, addressed the problem in the July/August issue of Foreign Affairs. (The Real Origins of the Border Crisis). Ms. Preston found that “By the end of 2022, almost 800,000 asylum cases were awaiting adjudication in the immigration courts. The average asylum case took more than four years to decide. Since Congress has passed no clear-cut procedures for deporting asylum seekers whose claims were rejected, many of those people and their families, along with tens of thousands of asylum seekers denied in previous years, have quietly joined the millions of undocumented immigrants already in the country.”

The existing law creates a classic funnel, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. Initially, all migrants can request asylum once they set foot on American soil. Next, these thousands of applicants are processed through an ever-narrowing chute of bureaucratic and legal requirements that takes years to implement.

What would new asylum legislation look like? It is clear that a system, which quickly and fairly processes new arrivals, is the sensible approach. When there is no opportunity to remain in the country for years as an unprocessed asylum seeker the flow of migrants will dramatically decrease. To this end, legislation must be passed to create numerous, large reception centers in border cities. These processing centers would provide faster screening, immediate deportation for ineligible applicants and give resettlement assistance for those who qualify. More asylum judges and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) asylum officers must be hired. The DHS officers must be given the legal authority to make administrative decisions on uncomplicated claims to reduce those cases that require time-consuming court action.

Lawmakers should update and clarify the all-important “asylum persecution standard” to include those migrants who are victims of organized crime or sexual abuse. There must be immediate deportation of migrants whose claims are denied.

Congress must restore the asylum system to its intended, limited role. First, the requirements for asylum must be modified to match a changing world. Second, the other legal paths to immigration such as the labor and family unification options that are now underutilized must permit more legal immigration.

There has been a lack of Congressional will to find common ground and pass a bipartisan immigration bill. It is time for the American public to understand this complex problem and demand that Congress address the crisis.

ITALIAN FOLKTALES BECOME A BEDTIME RITUAL

“Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again” C.S. Lewis

Last June, while browsing through the latest issue of The London Review of Books, I came across an essay on the life and works of an Italian author, Italo Calvino (1923-85). He was one of Italy’s greatest and most popular writers.

Because Calvino led an interesting life and was once considered for a Nobel Prize in literature, I researched which of his works were translated into English. To my surprise, Calvino’s most popular work available on Amazon was not one of his novels. This honor went to a 700 page edited volume of 200 Italian folktales lovingly organized by Mr. Calvino. (Copyright 1956, first English translation, 1980)

All of the critic’s reviews of this compilation were over the moon. When first translated in 1980, the Los Angeles Times called the effort “One of the New York Times Best Books of the Year. These traditional stories of Italy, retold by a master, are a treasure.” The New York Times Book Review continued, “This collection stands with the finest collections anywhere.” Finally, Time Magazine opined, “A magic book, and a classic to boot.”

Because my spouse is a full-blooded Italian and a retired elementary school teacher, I thought the collection would make a great addition to our library. Little did I know that for months to come this book of Italian folktales would frequently be our bedtime ritual. The stories are leading us down a rabbit hole filled with the magic of folklore that have nothing to do with the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, or Disney. We finally understood what the renowned expert on interpreting myth, Joseph Campbell, meant when he said, “The folktale is the primer of the picture language of the soul.”

Since we received our well-preserved used copy of the book in July, our evening routine has often included a bedtime story. The retired teacher, who knows how to interpret a yarn with appropriate vocal emphasis, reads each tale aloud. When the story is finished, she reads the short biographical note at the end of the book, giving us some background. In many cases, Calvino has merged different oral versions of the same folktale, from different regions of Italy, adding his own literary embellishments, to construct his own interpretation.  

Next, it is on to Google where we research the oral tradition for each tale and determine if the creative arts have reimagined each ancient story for some modern purpose. To our amazement, many of the folktales introduced by Calvino have been reworked as record albums, children’s picture books, short operas, theater productions, and, in one case, a French movie. Our research reveals that the citizens of Italy know these stories well and are proud of their oral traditions.

As we make our way through the folktales, certain themes emerge. Overall, the stories are delightful, inventive, charming, often unexpected, and occasionally horrific.  Good and humble decisions lead to positive outcomes while poor or selfish acts lead to unwanted results. It is easy to imagine a parent sitting around an ancient hearth relating the milder tales to children to encourage good behavior.

When reading the stories, we are always on the lookout for the numbers three and seven, which seem to provide organizational themes for many of the folktales. Like a good joke, a plot based on “threes” creates more interest than one centered on “twos” or “fours” (e.g. three sisters, three tasks). Moreover, the number three has Biblical implications of something complete and good (e.g. the Trinity, Jesus rising after three days). The number seven also signifies Christian completeness (seven days of creation). Characters in the stories are often affiliated with the number seven to signify an insightful or wise personality.      

Some of my favorite tales revolve around the village idiot as the major protagonist. This character is not mentally disabled but is shown to be a free spirit, and unrealistically optimistic or naïve. His misunderstanding or misuse of common language often leads to comical results and good endings.

As in folktales from around the world, many females, particularly young women, are not treated well. Forgetting to retrieve one object or failing to be obedient will likely result in being cursed with the head of a monster and rejected by the handsome prince. Thankfully, these same characters are resourceful and eventually are transformed back into the most beautiful maidens in the land.

Many stories are so different from familiar folktales that they immediately grab your attention. The apple holds a prominent place as temptation in the Bible and as a symbol of everything from evil to nobility in folktales. Italians from Tuscany concocted their own interpretation. In Apple Girl, a barren queen finally gives birth to an apple “redder and more beautiful than any other.”  The fruit holds within it, a young girl who must endure the violent attacks of an evil stepmother before shedding her bloodstained apple shell to marry the waiting prince. The blood from the attack signifies every young women’s passage from maidenhood to adult. She is now capable of producing her own fruit of the womb.

Calvino’s Italian Folktales may not be everyone’s cup of tea. For the two of us, the nightly anticipation of a new tale followed by a restful sleep makes all the difference. We only have 120 more folktales to go.

 

VOTERS SHOULD RETAIN JUDGES COSTANZO & LUCAS

The final item on the November ballot asks voters to consider the retention of Judges Valarie Costanzo and Michael Lucas for a second ten-year term on the Washington County Court of Common Pleas. This pair of jurists were initially elected to the bench in 2013 on both the Republican and Democratic ballots. On November 7, if these judges receive more “yes” votes than “no” votes, each will serve another term.

There are two questions facing non-lawyers who are being asked to make this important decision. First, what is the purpose of a judicial retention election? Second, how is a voter unfamiliar with the day-to-day work of a local judge expected to make an educated decision? Fortunately, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) and the local Washington County Bar Association (WCBA) provide some answers to help inform voters not familiar with the legal system.

When candidates for the Court of Common Pleas initially run for election, they are affiliated with a political party. They campaign against other candidates and are permitted to run on both Democrat and Republican ballots in the primary. The fact that ten years ago both Costanzo and Lucas won on both ballots is a strong reminder of their qualifications to serve as judges. A majority of voters from both political parties elected them to serve on our local Court of Common Pleas.

This November, when running for retention, Costanzo and Lucas are not labeled as members of either political party.  According to the AOPC, “Retention is a nonpolitical method of reelecting Pennsylvania judges and is intended to be politically neutral as they do not require judges to engage in campaigning against other candidates.”

In the federal courts the judges at all levels, including the Supreme Court, are appointed and often serve for life. In Pennsylvania, because judges are initially elected, there must be a method to permit the public to “judge the judges” on a recurring basis. Retention votes are designed to be a non-political means for voters to weigh in on the overall performance of members on the bench.

In order to make the process as non-political as possible, the names of retention candidates appear on a separate area at the end of the November ballot, apart from individuals running for other elective offices. Political considerations are not part of the retention election equation. The only factors for voters to consider in retaining Costanzo and Lucas are performance and integrity.

Retention elections were adopted by Pennsylvania with the view that most sitting judges would be retained in subsequent elections. After all, ten years of judicial experience is a valuable commodity, particularly in a smaller county like Washington where each judge has been asked to work in the diverse areas of civil, criminal, and family court. Moreover, once a judge’s courtroom demeanor and legal opinions are known, attorneys who practice before them are familiar with what to expect, and the wheels of justice run smoothly.

How is the non-lawyer voter to gauge the achievements and judicial conduct of this year’s judicial retention candidates, Valarie Costanzo and Michael Lucas? On this question, the WCBA provides critical information for voters. A poll was conducted among all members of the local Bar Association who voted overwhelmingly to retain them. The lawyers were asked to consider in their decision each judge’s integrity, legal ability, diligence, and judicial temperament. The members of the Bar returned a 95% retention vote for Judge Lucas and 86% vote for Judge Costanzo.

As related by the WCBA in a press release following the Bar’s election poll, “Our members have practiced before these judges, and their perspective should be valuable to the public.” Based on this poll, all voters can confidently retain both hard working and valuable judges, Costanzo and Lucas, for another term.

 

SIZING UP THE NOVEMBER COMMISSIONER’S RACE

At the national and state level, the vote this November is an “off year election.” The voter turnout is expected to be light. This is unfortunate given that in Washington County the winning local candidates will be responsible for governing for the next four years. The contest to elect three county commissioners is, in my view, the most important of these elections.

The Pennsylvania County Code stipulates that each voter may cast a ballot for two commissioner candidates and that the three having the highest number of votes will be elected. This insures that the board of commissioners consists of two members from the majority party and one from the minority party to maintain a political balance.

Commissioner board decisions occur at their monthly public meetings. Other important commissioner functions include the salary board, election board, pension board, and prison board.  

The commissioners are responsible for monitoring and guiding the fiscal management of county government. The three commissioners work with  other county and state officials to ensure that citizens receive needed services.

Whatever the outcome of the election, the composition of the new board of commissioners will be noticeably different from prior decades. For the first time since 1996, Republican Diana Irey Vaughan will not be on the ballot. The other two incumbent commissioners Democrat Larry Maggi and Republican Nick Sherman are considered favorites to remain on the board. The political party that controls the board will most likely come down to whether Democrat Cindy Fisher or Republican Electra Janis captures the most votes. What follows is a brief analysis of each of the candidates.

Larry Maggi. Larry Maggi is currently serving his fifth term as commissioner. Commissioner Maggi is committed to keeping Washington County on the forefront of economic growth, low taxes, and quality of life issues.

Commissioner Maggi has a long history of public service. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1971. He then served 24 years as a state trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police. Mr. Maggi was first elected to public office in 1997 as Washington County’s Sheriff before being elected commissioner in 2003.  He continues to serve on a long list of veterans, community and governmental organizations.

Commissioner Maggi brings a wealth of experience and few surprises to the commissioner’s office. He has always been a watchdog of the public purse. Mr. Maggi recently joined with Republican Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughn in signing a bi-partisan, cost effective contract with the county’s chamber of commerce to promote long-term economic growth. This contract will ensure that the 25-year partnership between the county and chamber will continue to build and diversify our highly successful local economy.

Nick Sherman.  Nick Sherman is completing his first term as commissioner. When the local Republican Party attacked his fellow Republican commissioner, Diana Irey Vaughn, who worked tirelessly to get him elected, Sherman abandoned her. Mr. Sherman has shown himself to be an opportunist who places political calculations before good governance. He has supported election deniers rather than his responsible Republican, fellow commissioner.

Commissioner Sherman calls himself a “fiscal conservative.” However, he was the driving force behind the county purchase of the Crossroads Building at millions over market value.  Mr. Sherman has finally exposed his hand on his post-election plans for the economy and county government. On September 21, he voted against the above-described comprehensive contract to continue the county/chamber of commerce partnership to spark additional economic development. Sherman did not offer an alternative to the arrangement that has worked well for many years. One can only guess what other unannounced government changes Sherman has in mind if a new Republican board captures the majority.

Cindy Fisher. Cindy Fisher is currently serving her second term (9th year) as a Cecil Township Supervisor.   She has been the Chairperson of Cecil Township Board of Supervisors for the past three years and served three years as Vice Chairperson.  Prior to this elective office, she was an executive member of her local school’s Parent Council.  

Ms. Fisher is fiscally conservative and a moderate Democrat who has not raised taxes during her time on the Cecil Board of Supervisors.  She helped secure more than $1 million dollars in grants for improvements to Cecil’s five parks, bridges, the Montour walking trail, and improvements to its public works facilities. 

Like her running mate, Larry Maggi, her top priority is maintaining and growing a strong local economy.  Ms. Fisher recently outlined her economic vision in the Observer Reporter. It encouraged disgruntled residents in Allegheny County to move into Washington County. She stated, “With our growing economy, we can welcome Allegheny County families to our county by showing our area is a great place to work and live. We must promote that Washington County is not Allegheny County… we must not repeat Pittsburgh’s mistakes.”

Electra Janis.  Electra Janis is a young woman in her twenties who has not run for elective office prior to this campaign. She has no decision making experience in either county or municipal government. Ms. Janis has worked in her family’s restaurant business and been employed the past three years as district manager for her local state representative, answering questions for constituents.

There is an important distinction between Fisher and Janis. Cindy Fisher has the government experience and self-assurance to bring independent thinking to the Board of Commissioners. Electra Janis will follow the lead of her Republican handlers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE ELECTIONS FOR CLERK OF COURTS & REGISTER OF WILLS

On November 7, voters will elect Washington County’s Register of Wills and Clerk of Courts to four-year terms. These two Row Office positions normally attract little attention from the public. Traditionally, in each office, an experienced incumbent is reelected to continue performing case filing responsibilities on behalf of the Court of Common Pleas. Events since the last election in 2019 have altered this routine and predictable pattern.

In the Clerk of Courts office, Republican Brenda Davis generated more headline news than did the other elected county officials combined. She consistently defied President Judge John DiSalle by refusing to perform her official responsibilities as Clerk of Courts. This led to a finding of contempt against her, a jail sentence, and fines. Ms. Davis was defeated in the primary election by Republican Ray Phillips. Democrat, Bobby Dellorso is challenging Mr. Phillips for the office.

In the Register of Wills office, the incumbent, Republican James Roman will face off against Democrat, Alex Taylor. During his first term in office, Mr. Roman generated his own list of controversies. First, in successive years, he held the distinction of not cooperating with the mandated County audits of his office, performed by both Democrat and Republican Controllers. Second, he regularly appeared at public Commissioners’ meetings to attack them for policies that had nothing to do with his office. Third, he physically threatened an employee in his office. According to Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughn, there was a separate formal employee complaint raising safety concerns filed against him. Lastly, Mr. Roman played fast and loose with administrative orders published by the court, and courthouse procedures adopted by the commissioners. These incidents included courthouse-masking policies during the pandemic and the prohibition against weapons in the courthouse.

Clerk of Courts. The Clerk of Courts is the custodian of the records for the criminal division of the Court of Common Pleas.  All criminal motions and petitions are filed with the Office. These include expungements of criminal records permitted under state law.   

The office processes bail bonds to permit criminal defendants to be released from custody. It provides the means to perform criminal record searches on adults. The office is responsible for filing summary criminal appeals from the Magisterial District Judges, including traffic code violations. The Clerk of Courts accepts and processes appeals on criminal matters from the Washington County court system to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

The Republican candidate, Ray Phillips, has campaigned on a pledge to turn the page on Brenda Davis’s term in office. During the Republican Primary, he wrote that, “We must restore integrity to the row offices of Washington County.” 

Mr. Phillips is a graduate of Washington & Jefferson College and has been employed in a variety of sales positions, including a Fortune 500 Company. He presently owns and operates Spraymasters Collision and Refinishing in Houston, Pennsylvania.

The Democrat candidate, Bobby Dellorso, who also attended W&J, is a lifelong resident of Canonsburg. At an early age he learned the trade of butcher and meat cutter. He is presently a Master Meat Cutter at Giant Eagle in McMurray. For 30 years, Mr. Dellorso managed U.S. government contracts for the Department of Defense and Transportation while employed by American Road Lines.

Like his opponent, Mr. Dellorso was encouraged to run because of the chaotic management in the Clerk of Courts office. On the campaign trail, he has promised to bring integrity to the office and to restore a spirit of cooperation.

Refreshingly, both candidates view the office as nonpolitical.

Register of Wills.  The Register of Wills is the elected official who is responsible for probating wills and maintaining records of wills, estates, and other matters under the jurisdiction of Orphans Court.   

Orphans Court is the branch of the Court of Common Pleas that adjudicates decedents’ estates, trusts, guardians of the persons and estates of minors and incapacitated persons, powers of attorney, termination of parental rights and adoptions, civil commitments, and marriage licenses. Inheritance and estate tax disputes are resolved in the Orphans’ Court.

The Register of Wills accepts and files documents necessary to complete the administration of all the above.  In addition, the Register of Wills grants letters of administration and appoints an administrator in cases where a person dies without a will. The office determines whether a document offered for probate is valid. State inheritance taxes are collected by the Register of Wills and forwarded to the Commonwealth.

Mr. Roman’s Democratic opponent, Alex Taylor, holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Pittsburgh.  He is employed as the manager of 30+ individuals in the health care industry at Voices for Independence (TRPIL).

When announcing his candidacy for Register of Wills, Mr. Taylor stated, “We need county officials who treat their staff and county employees with dignity in the workplace, and who take the office they hold seriously and who show it by the way they act.” If elected, he promises to cooperate with audits, restore respectability to the office and to follow policies mandated by the county and the courts.

In recent comments, incumbent Jim Roman appears to blame the media for his questionable performance, as follows, “I can’t wait to see what they make up about the Register of Wills office. Crazy that my office has been fine since the last election, but right before this election, I'll be on the front page.”

 

 

WHAT IS A PROTHONOTARY AND WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES?

There is a legendary Pittsburgh story from 1948 of then-President Harry S. Truman visiting the city during a campaign stop. As he was introduced to local officials in the receiving line, he commented, “What the hell is a Prothonotary?” When County voters go to the polls this November, many of whom are unfamiliar with the Pennsylvania court system, they will probably ask themselves the same question.

This commentary will explain why the Prothonotary’s office has a greater impact on our day-to-day activities than most voters realize. I will also review the qualifications of the two candidates running for the office of Prothonotary this November; Incumbent Republican Laura Hough and her opponent, Democrat Sandy Sabot. In the interest of full disclosure, my spouse is a close friend of Ms. Sabot and hosted a “meet and greet” function in support of her candidacy.

It would be unfortunate for residents to cast a vote for this important office supporting our courts based solely on party affiliation. Voters seeking good government should seek to match up a candidate's qualifications with the responsibilities of the position. In many jurisdictions, including the federal courts, the Prothonotary’s duties are considered so important that it is no longer an elective office. Instead, each court administration appoints a professional manager with specialized training to oversee increasingly complex court management systems, free from politics.

According to Wikipedia, the original meaning and function of a Prothonotary come from an ancient and rich tradition. The term is Latin for “first notary.” Under early ecclesiastical law, the Prothonotary would notify the Judge whenever a case was ready for trial. After the English court system was established, the Prothonotary acted as the chief administrator of the King's Bench and Court of Common Pleas.  

In the administration of our modern courts, the Prothonotary function has been modified to file storage and retrieval responsibilities. Accordingly, most jurisdictions have dropped the term prothonotary in favor of “civil clerk.” Wikipedia reveals that only four states, including Pennsylvania, have maintained the ancient title.

In Pennsylvania, the Prothonotary’s office collects fees for all of its services according to a schedule adopted by the legislature. The Prothonotary has administrative responsibility for keeping and maintaining all civil court documents. A copy of each document may be officially certified by the Prothonotary to demonstrate its authenticity for use outside the court system.

The list of essential Prothonotary functions is impressive. All civil complaints and related pleadings are time-stamped and stored for future reference. Divorce filings, custody cases, and Protection from Abuse actions are retained in Family Court matters. Appeals from the magistrate courts are accepted and scheduled for trial.  Cases that are appealed to higher state courts are organized and transmitted to the Appellate Courts. The Prothonotary is where an attorney or resident goes to obtain a subpoena, file name change petitions, tax assessment appeals, mechanic liens, judgments on court verdicts, and executions to enforce money judgments.

Laura Hough. The incumbent Prothonotary, Laura Hough, was swept into office in 2019, along with her fellow Republican Row Officers. She was the first registered Republican to hold the office in 40 years. Ms. Hough is proud of her office’s efforts to continue filing and retrieval operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is excited about the court’s new file management system.

Throughout her term, Ms. Hough has maintained a political alliance with the anti-establishment political views of the Clerk of Courts, Brenda Davis, and the Register of Wills, James Roman. Early in her tenure, she largely managed to avoid direct confrontation with the Washington County court system and the county commissioners.

Matters dramatically changed in April of this year. Both Republican and Democrat County officials rebuked Ms. Hough for inappropriately using a database, LexisNexis, installed in her office to track down addresses. She was cited for personally conducting background searches on two dozen individuals involved in local county politics, including the commissioners. The County revoked her search privileges after the improper searches were discovered.  According to the Observer-Reporter, a letter was sent to Hough reprimanding her for “usage clearly showing access to potentially confidential information of certain individuals.”

While Hough’s conduct did not lead to criminal charges, it was troubling. Misusing a database paid for by Washington County, for political purposes, has no place in the Prothonotary’s workplace. Ms. Hough has never explained why she conducted the unauthorized searches and has dismissed the admonishment from the commissioners as a “political hit job.”

Sandy Sabot. Sandy Sabot, the Democratic candidate for Prothonotary, has a degree in journalism and communications. She worked for nineteen years in county government as a Caseworker and Resource Specialist. Ms. Sabot has worked for a long list of public service organizations including the Washington School District, TRIPL, the Washington Symphony, United Way, Mental Health Association, Washington County Food Bank, League of Women Voters, and Faith in Action. She performed assignments in news reporting for WJPA radio and hosted talk shows discussing community services and county programs.

Ms. Sabot has been active in Democratic politics and was elected to serve as both a state and local committee member. As Prothonotary, she pledges to provide “open dialogue regardless of party affiliation.” Her goal is a well-run Prothonotary’s office free from “fights, backstabbing or lawsuits.”

For more information on this and other races, voters should attend the Candidates Forum scheduled at the LeMoyne Community Center at 7pm on October 11.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE CANDIDATES FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY TREASURER

In the November general election, voters will decide who will serve as Washington County’s Treasurer. The candidates are incumbent Republican, Thomas Flickinger, and his Democratic opponent, Joseph Manning. Before reviewing the credentials of the candidates, a brief history of the English and early American position of Treasurer is informative.

According to Wikipedia, the position of English Treasurer is believed to have come into existence around 1126 during the reign of Henry I. The Treasury was originally a section of the Royal Household, having custody of the King's money. In 1216, this role expanded, and the Treasurer was appointed to take control of the Treasury at the seat of government at Winchester, London. The Treasurer was originally an officer of the Exchequer who was responsible for the collection and management of taxes.

Wikipedia discloses that in the 16th century, the office's title developed into Lord High Treasurer. By the reign of Henry VIII, the position had achieved a place among the Great Officers of State, behind the Lord Chancellor and above the Master of the Horse. Within decades, the position became the most important in the English government with the head of finance often becoming the de facto prime minister.  

The Continental Congress created two “joint Treasurers” of the United Colonies on July 29, 1775. Wikipedia reveals that they were instructed to reside in Philadelphia, then the home of the Continental Congress. Their primary responsibility was to fund the Revolutionary War.  By 1781, the U.S. faced an unremitting financial crisis. This was underscored by the January 1781 Pennsylvania Line Mutiny in which ten poorly fed, unpaid Continental Army regiments demanded better conditions from Congress. Though the mutiny was put down, it convinced Congress to implement reforms that created the departments of war, marine, finance, and foreign affairs, each of which would be led by a departmental executive. By a unanimous vote, Congress selected Pennsylvanian Robert Morris as the Superintendent of Finance. Morris convinced Congress to establish the first bank to operate in the United States. An excellent biography by Charles Rappleye, Robert Morris, Financier of the American Revolution highlights this early American history.

Over time, each state and eventually each local government established an appointed or elected Treasurer. In Washington County, the Treasurer's Office is an independent elected office with the primary mission to receive, disburse, and safeguard the monies of the County. The Treasurer collects payments of real estate taxes and fees, state and federal grants, and other monies due the county. Licenses issued by the office include dog, fishing, hunting, fur trapping, and small games of chance.

Both candidates for the office responded to my written questions concerning their respective campaigns. What follows is a summary of their qualifications and campaign positions.

Thomas Flickinger. Mr. Flickinger is coming to the end of his first term in office. He has an MBA in finance and worked extensively in the banking and credit industries. He was part owner of a business that has been sold.

Mr. Flickinger is proud of several initiatives he has established in the Treasurer’s office. These include improving the dog license process, establishing “eNotice” which permits taxpayers to receive, pay, and get their tax receipts over the Internet, and creating the Washington Abused Animal Relief Fund. This last effort has disbursed about $6,000 to animal relief organizations.

Mr. Flickinger points out that he convinced the office of Pennsylvania Tax Revenue to reimburse the county for services the Treasurer was providing. At the request of the Commissioners, he examined county finances. The Treasurer determined that if two County bonds were refinanced, 1.75 million dollars would be saved over the life of the bonds.

If elected to another term, Mr. Flickinger plans to “continue to seek opportunities to improve the taxpayer experience, reduce costs, and improve office operations.” As employees retire, his intention is to reduce staff to further streamline the office.

The present Republican Treasurer is an avowed conservative on both social and financial issues. Since his election in 2019, he has not actively engaged in the political disagreements that the local Republican Party and other elected Row Offices have launched against the Commissioners or against the court system.

Joseph Manning. Mr. Manning was a career firefighter before dedicating his career to elective public service.  He ran as a Democrat for the Washington City Council and served for 12 years. While on Council, Mr. Manning was appointed Director of Public Safety, Director of Accounts and Finance, and led the city’s Covid-19 Response Team.

If elected, Mr. Manning has pledged to review all operations in the Treasurer's office to improve its functions and service. He believes that his “30 years of experience” qualifies him to “continue my mission to provide the best service possible.”

Mr. Manning has a refreshing view of how the candidates and voters should view all the Row Office elections, including the Treasurer's Office. He believes it is “a non-issue, non-partisan position that serves an administrative role and should serve the interests of all residents, regardless of party affiliation.” He is concerned that over the past four years “our citizens have seen too much disruption from elected officials” and that “it is time for a new beginning and a return to dignified government and public service.”

Neither candidate chose to express any negative impressions about their opponent. By all appearances, either candidate would well serve the public’s interest as the County Treasurer.