Judicial candidate George Heym calls on Gov. Wolf and PA Legislature to improve election safety during COVID-19 Pandemic

PITTSBURGH, PA (PittsburghNewsWire.com) — George Heym, Esq., candidate for Judge, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas fears there may be a spike in Covid-19 cases after candidates seek signatures to be placed on ballot for the May primary.

 

As of this release, the PA State Legislature and the Governor’s Office appear to have taken no appropriate measures to protect the public during the critical, if oft overshadowed step of petitioning the government for placement on the ballot. Between February 16, 2021 and March 9, 2021 each judicial candidate must gather a bare minimum of 500 signatures, in-person, to be placed on the ballot in the primary election on May 18, 2021.

 

“This leads to a scenario where, frankly, the numbers are frightening. If the about 40 candidates running for 9 judicial openings are to successfully get on the May 18th ballot, they and their campaigns’ volunteers must generate tens of thousands of potential new points of contact.”

 

“I just can’t understand how Gov. Wolf and the Pennsylvania Legislature have failed to address this dangerous situation. Gov. Wolf has asked us to wear masks, socially distance and try to avoid contact as much as possible to flatten the curve. Candidates for any public office should not be asked to place an archaic signature process above the health and safety of the public.”

 

“Our government needs to act. It is not as if there are no alternatives. Pennsylvania’s gov’t could move from a physical signature to a digital one; or waive it entirely in favor of a filing fee. I am calling on Gov. Wolf to address this serious safety issue. While we go through a period where vaccines are in short supply, we must do everything that we can to protect the citizens of Pennsylvania.”

 

“However, if this issue is not addressed and candidates are forced to seek signatures, I pledge that I, and everyone working with my campaign, will do everything in our power to do so in a safe and socially-distant manner and am calling on my fellow candidates to do the same.”

 

George Heym has been a lawyer in private practice for fifteen years. Prior to that he spent 7 years as an Assistant District Attorney in Allegheny County prosecuting homicide and child abuse cases. He is running for nomination to the ballot on May 18th, with the aims of filling a vacant seat on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas this coming November.