Special delivery of election date
A special delivery notified the Washington County elections office there will be a special election Nov. 3 to fill the 37th District state Senate seat officially vacated Sunday by Matt Smith.
The district includes the South Hills and western Allegheny County communities, plus Peters Township in Washington County.
“Any qualified party will have the opportunity to nominate a candidate,” said Larry Spahr, Washington County elections director. The last special election in Washington County occurred in May 2010 to fill the Congressional vacancy created by the death of U.S. Rep. John Murtha. The names of a Democrat, a Republican and a Libertarian appeared on the ballot.
For the 37th state Senatorial District, Democrats would like prospective candidates to file with the party by the end of July, and the party will choose at the end of August, although no specific date has been set.
Republicans didn’t have a process in place or a date to select a candidate, but that information may be available by the end of the week.
“I’ve got to contact the county chairs, both Democratic and Republican, so they can coordinate their caucus with Allegheny County,” Spahr said.
“Any political body would also have the right to file.”
Candidates could file up to Sept. 14 in Harrisburg.
Spahr was glad the special election coincides with the general election. “It saves money by doing it that way,” he said. “It’ll be more efficient.”
Lt. Gov. Mike Stack, who is also presiding officer of the Senate, had 10 days to choose an election date to fill the seat from which Matt Smith resigned effective Sunday. His signature appears on the writ delivered Monday to the elections office by the Senate’s sergeant-at-arms.
The person who wins the election will serve until what would have been the remainder of Smith’s term. The office will also appear on the ballot in 2016.
Smith, 42, of Mt. Lebanon, is now the president of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce.
District offices remain open for constituent services as usual during the vacancy, according to Jake Pawlak, chief of staff for the 37th District. Smith defeated Republican D. Raja, also of Mt. Lebanon, to succeed John Pippy of Moon Township, who chose not to run for re-election, instead becoming chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance.