Timothy McNulty | November 3, 2009
Jack Panella -- whose state Supreme Court race against Joan Orie Melvin tops the card statewide tonight -- raised more $$$ than any judicial candidate in state history, the Philly Inquirer reports today:
The ballots haven't even been tallied and the state Supreme Court
race has broken the campaign fundraising record for judicial races.
Democrat Jack Panella has raised more than $2.35 million, breaking
the record set by Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery in 2007,
according to the group Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts.
The group - which advocates judicial appointment rather than
election - tallied campaign contributions reported to the Department
of State as of the end of the most recent reporting cycle on Oct. 19.
In a press release the group said that "the results are of concern
to court watchers, especially in light of public opinion polls that
show the public is concerned that justice is for sale to the biggest
campaign contributor."
By contrast, Republican Jane Orie Melvin has raised just $733,948.
A one-day transit strike hit Philly today and Mayor Nutter along with Philly black leaders asked the election court for a one-hour extension of poll hours (which would have also probably helped Panella). The court rejected the request.
Posted
Nov 03 2009, 07:31 PM
by
Timothy McNulty