Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

No Special Election For Pippy's Old Seat

The seat in the Pennsylvania's 37th Senate district will remain vacant for the next six months.

Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Jim Cawley has decided against a special election to serve out the term of Republican John Pippy, who resigned his seat June 30. In January, Pippy announced he would not seek reelection and then ten days ago retired from the Senate to take a job in the private sector.

Cawley notified the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the Secretary of the Senate that consistent with the law, a special election would not be in the public interest since the general election for the full four-year term for that seat will take place on November 6.

The lieutenant governor said he consulted with Governor Tom Corbett and Senate President Pro Temp Joe Scarnati.

"When considering all the factors — the logistics of holding an election and certifying the results, the limited number of session days, and since the voters will be casting their ballots in just a few weeks — the cost to taxpayers does not justify holding a special election," Cawley said.

Earlier today businessman D. Raja, the Republican nominee in the 37th district, issued a release saying he asked Cawley not to order a special election. "It does not make fiscal sense," Raja said.

Last week Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) urged Cawley not to call for a special election, saying it would not be in the best interest of the commonwealth.

Estimated costs to hold a special election range from $200,000 to $400,000, a price which Costa felt is too high for only eight scheduled session days before the General Election on November 6.

Raja will face a still-to-be-named Democrat in the November election.