Mercer commissioners oppose moving Pa. primary

MERCER, Pa. — Mercer County Commissioners Brian Beader and Kenneth Seamans said Tuesday they oppose an effort by the Pennsylvania Legislature to move the Pennsylvania primary election from the third Tuesday in May to the first Tuesday in March.

Commissioner Olivia Lazor did not attend the meeting due to a death in the family.

Beader said a bill has been introduced to move the primary ahead seven weeks   to give the state’s voters more of a say in nominating presidential candidates. A task force named by Gov. Ed Rendell has recommended the move.

But Beader said giving counties less time to prepare would only cause “a great deal of havoc.” He noted that California moved its primary ahead and later restored the original date because of the problems involved.