Metcalfe Prepares Motion to Postpone Secret Ballot Leadership Elections
 
HARRISBURG—Last week, State Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) made a request for postponement of the secret ballot leadership elections, which are currently scheduled for Tuesday, November 9, 2010. As of today, elections have not been postponed by current Republican leaders. Metcalfe has informed Republican members that he will attempt to make a formal motion to postpone the hastily-called, secret ballot elections during tomorrow’s scheduled meeting.
 
“Casting a secret ballot as the first vote, so quickly after being elected, opens the door for freshman members to be swayed by typical party politics,” Metcalfe said. “The motion will provide an opportunity for the rank and file members to override this decision that is out of step with the electorates’ wishes.”
 
As leadership elections are currently scheduled, new members-elect were only given one week from Election Day to make a crucial decision of who will represent themselves and their constituents as Republican leaders in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
 
“The only way to ensure maximum transparency for those who we are elected to represent is to hold leadership elections as a publicly recorded vote, like every other vote we cast as legislators,” Metcalfe said. “A voter casting a secret ballot is completely different than a legislator casting a secret ballot, who is accountable to tens of thousands of people.”
 
Metcalfe will attempt to make his motion, with a second, for postponement during the House Republican Caucus reorganization meeting on Tuesday morning. Successful passage of the motion would allow incumbent members-elect and new members-elect to have adequate time to research the voting records and personally speak with members who are running for leadership. Passage of the motion will allow more time for the public to demand an end to secret ballot leadership elections.
 
“The only way to end politics as usual is to shine light on the backroom deals and create more accountability to the people, who we as legislators are elected to represent,” Metcalfe said.
 
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