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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	December 19, 2014 02:01 PM
From:	Senator Kim L. Ward
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	County Commissioner Vacancy

I plan to re-introduce legislation amending the County Code to direct the court of common pleas to appoint the recommendation of the county political party committee to fill a county commissioner vacancy. Current law requires the court of common pleas to appoint an individual to fill the county commissioner vacancy. That individual only has to be a registered elector of the county and be a member of the same political party as the outgoing commissioner. The individual appointed serves until the end of the unexpired term. The drawback to this approach is it politicizes the court of common pleas to fill the vacancy. My legislation would direct the outgoing commissioner’s county political party committee to select an appointee. The committee would do this through a conferee process or any other process provided for in the committee’s bylaws. The court of common pleas will then appoint the recommendation of the county political party committee to fill the vacant position. The legislation was Senate Bill 146 of last session and co-sponsors included Senators Argall, Mensch, White and Leach. If you have any questions regarding this legislation, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 717-787-6063.

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