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.

 

 

 

UNPACKING THE ELECTION FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY

At the beginning of each episode of the long-running TV show, Law & Order, we are told: “In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: The police, who investigate crime, and the District Attorneys, who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories.”

Unless a voter closely follows local criminal prosecutions or attends campaign events in Washington County, there is little opportunity to discover information about the two candidates in the upcoming election for District Attorney. From my perspective, here are their stories.

In Pennsylvania, a District Attorney has jurisdiction over all felony, misdemeanor, and summary offenses. The office works with other county agencies, including Juvenile and Adult Probation, Drug and Alcohol, and many state agencies to provide criminal justice services. There is an important administrative component to the position in organizing the work of a number of Assistant District Attorneys, office staff, and detectives.

The local candidates are incumbent Republican DA Jason M. Walsh, Esq., and his Democratic opponent; Christina DeMarco-Breeden, Esq. I asked both candidates to respond to written questions to help explain why each is running and why voters should consider supporting them. In my view, following the commissioner’s contest, it is the most important election that voters will decide this November.

Jason Walsh joined the DA’s office in 2016 as a Deputy District Attorney. He gained the trust of then-District Attorney Eugene Vittone and was promoted to First Assistant. When the very popular Mr. Vittone unexpectedly passed away in August 2021, Mr. Welsh was elevated to District Attorney for the remainder of the term.

Mr. Walsh points out that over the last two years, he has continued the work of his predecessor and “set benchmarks in the prosecution of violent/gun-related crimes and drug deliveries resulting in death.” He continues personally to prosecute homicide cases while performing all of his administrative responsibilities.  He is proud of the detective unit he has assembled and the fact he has been “endorsed by all of Washington County’s law enforcement organizations.” If elected into his position, Mr. Walsh does not foresee any major changes to the office and will “continue to make Washington County a safe place to live, work, and raise children.”

Christina DeMarco-Breeden's goal as an attorney was to “become a prosecutor.” She has served in this function in a part-time capacity since 2015. She believes that “the thousands of cases she has been assigned, from traffic offenses to homicide, have prepared her to assume the next step as Washington County’s first female District Attorney.”

Ms. DeMarco-Breeden is campaigning to bring administrative changes to the office. She would “re-establish the County Special Victims Unit, with trained prosecutors who specialized in domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.” She would place more emphasis on “specialty criminal courts in the areas of drug addiction, mental health, and cases involving veterans. This would provide needed support services to reduce re-offending.” Like her opponent, if elected, she is committed to carrying a caseload in addition to performing administrative responsibilities.

A significant difference of opinion concerns the filing of death penalty cases. Mr. Walsh’s opponent points out that as of May 2023, “Washington County had 12 death penalty cases while the much larger Allegheny County had half this number. The entire Commonwealth had only 52.” Ms. DeMarco-Breeden is not opposed to the death penalty. However, she believes it “should be reserved for the most heinous first-degree murder cases involving premeditation and a specific intent to kill.” She believes that Mr. Walsh has politicized homicide cases in seeking the death penalty in many situations. Mr. Walsh’s response on this issue is that his “difficult and solemn decision” to pursue the death penalty was “based on the horrific facts and circumstances of each case.”

The filing of death penalty cases has become a hot issue of national importance in criminal justice circles. Such cases are prohibitively expensive and time-consuming for any District Attorney’s office. Research has shown that the death penalty does not reduce violent crime and may result in innocent and mentally ill people being executed. Moreover, the death penalty is brought more often against minority defendants. Because of the importance and sensitivity of this issue, I hope that the candidates will have the opportunity to explain their positions to the voters in an upcoming debate.

Ms. DeMarco-Breeden’s candidacy is being challenged for the scattered locations of her work as a prosecutor. She resides in Washington County and is an active member of the local Bar Association. However, her past employment as an assistant DA has been part-time in the Greene and Fayette County DA’s offices. She is now employed part-time in the Somerset County office. She has never worked in Washington County’s District Attorney Office.

DeMarco-Breeden believes her experience in neighboring counties gives her a broader perspective on the duties of District Attorney.  She points out that she has served in many cases as a court-appointed attorney for abused and neglected children in Washington County.  

There is a clear difference in the respective philosophies of the candidates. Mr. Walsh has more of a conservative law-and-order orientation. Ms. DeMarco-Breeden comes across as a criminal law reformist. 

The “best story” for the office should follow the blueprint established by former DA, Eugene Vittone.  His approach was to support a well-trained and equipped police force while showing compassion whenever warranted in the courtroom.

 

 

 

 

 

THE HUMAN CONDITION HAS NO NORMAL

 

With the advantage of all-knowing artificial intelligence at our fingertips, and with life so full of uncertainty, it is common to ask the internet gods, “Am I normal?” We want to Google whether our behavior, our bodies, and our deepest emotions are acceptable for our age, circumstances, and station in life.

Thankfully, studies in cognitive science have concluded that the world is not neatly divided into the healthy and unhealthy. Both physical and psychological characteristics exist along a noticeable continuum. We are all weird in some respect, and that is normal. A person with anxiety may be better prepared for unforeseen circumstances and may demonstrate improved memory. A risk-taker is subject to physical mishaps but is more likely to take his/her profession in new and exciting directions. Some individuals with ADHD and autism have used these conditions to great advantage.

The difficult task is identifying the difference between being uniquely human and becoming unhealthy. Physical illness deals with the structural or functional integrity of the body. It is easier for a trained professional to diagnose and treat physical as opposed to mental illness.

Mental health is complicated by the many forms it takes. There is an entire industry that focuses on self-improvement. Examples include improving communication skills, sleep routines, and drinking habits. A second category centers on more serious signs of deteriorating mental health such as anger management, chronic insomnia, and heavy drinking. Lastly, there is clinical mental illness that requires comprehensive treatment with therapy, medication, and in its worst manifestations, hospitalization.

Mental health has come into focus in recent years, augmented by the stress of the pandemic. The subject is no longer avoided in polite conversation. Screening for symptoms of mental disease has skyrocketed in both schools and physician offices. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal, The Booming Industry of American Anxiety, highlights how far we have come. The author points out that in a recent National Center for Health survey, 27% of respondents reported symptoms of an anxiety disorder compared with just 8% in 2019.

One paragraph from the WSJ write-up illustrates the phenomena. “A search for ‘anxiety relief’ on Google pulls up links for supplements in the form of pills, patches, gummies, and mouth sprays. There are vibrating devices that hang around your neck and weighted stuffed animals, bead-filled stress balls, and coloring books that claim to bring calm. Ads for online talk therapy apps pop up on social media sites.”

This explosion in mental health remedies is very different from where we were at the beginning of the twentieth century. Open discussions on self-improvement and anxiety then were rare. More serious cases of mental illness were associated with punishment for moral shortcomings and lack of willpower. Patients received little empathy. Inhumane confinement was still common. The first outpatient mental health clinic in the United States was not opened until 1908.

Women’s mental health was often associated with one diagnosis, hysteria. It was a catchall medical judgment for anxiety, fainting, nervousness, insomnia, and inappropriate behavior.  It was often treated with the opiate derivative, laudanum, which came with its own set of problems. The American Psychiatric Association did not drop the term, hysteria, until the 1950s.

Bringing mental health out of the shadows and into the mainstream has been accelerated by events in both professional sports and politics. Until recently, actors in these categories considered discussions on their mental health off-limits. Both professions required a persona of emotional toughness to remain relevant. To do otherwise left them open to attack from the media, the public, and their peers.

Recent instances of high-profile athletes prioritizing their mental health have triggered an essential shift in the narrative of mental health in sports. In May 2021, tennis star, Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open, citing concerns for her mental health. At first, there were detractors, but in short order, other major sports figures with similar stories rushed to her defense. When gymnast Simone Biles sat out several events at the Tokyo Olympics, she sparked a global discussion on sports and mental health. In 2023, almost all professional sports openly encourage mental health treatment and support networks.

The “blood sport” of national politics has also undergone a sea change concerning mental health. In 1972, Thomas Eagleton was briefly the Democratic vice presidential nominee under George McGovern.  He suffered from bouts of depression in the 1960s, which were kept secret from the public. When they were revealed, Eagleton was forced to quit the race. The stigma of mental illness was impossible to overcome.

Contrast the Eagleton fiasco with the recent saga of John Fetterman, Pennsylvania’s junior Senator. Senator Fetterman suffered a stroke during his campaign and experienced severe depression following his election to the Senate, which required a lengthy hospitalization.

This August, Fetterman sat down with Time magazine and gave a blow-by-blow account of his illness and recovery. He has received enthusiastic support from the public and from his fellow Senators. Fetterman believes the transparency is good for him and that his voice “will help pull others out of the darkness.”

Our journey through life is complicated by conditions both physical and mental. These unexpected developments often send us down a challenging and more rewarding path. In the words of Maya Angelou, “If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”