LAWRENCE COUNTY Interim election board asks for amendments

The county commissioners usually serve as the election board.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A temporary Lawrence County Election Board has asked for two amendments to ballot language on whether to adopt a council-manager type of county government. Voters will decide the question Nov. 5.
The temporary election board was named by President Common Pleas Court Judge Ralph Pratt to oversee the November election. Members, who were announced and also held their first meeting Tuesday, are District Court Administrator Philip Boudewyns, Atty. Robert DiBuono and retired businessman Carl Rashid.
Stepping aside
Lawrence County commissioners usually serve as the election board. But because of the nature of the ballot question, they were required to step aside until after the election.
The board unanimously agreed to ask for two changes. First, they asked the Lawrence County Government Study Commission, which prepared the ballot, to change language that the election board felt was confusing. They want it made clear that the five members to be elected by districts would not be eligible for the president post. Only those running for at-large seats could be elected president.
They also recommended that an "interpretive statement" at the end of the ballot which explains what a "yes" and a "no" vote would accomplish, should not be included on the actual ballot, only on the proclamation published before the election. Both the changes were suggested by election board Solicitor John Hodge.
President
Boudewyns was unanimously elected president of the temporary board. He said he has decided not to seek payment for his service on the board, though by law he is entitled to federal minimum wage. The other two members said they haven't yet decided whether they will accept payment.