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Stephen R. Levine
Wednesday, January 26, 2000 Page: 1A
The state House seat vacated by convicted perjurer Frank Serafini, R-Old
Forge, may be filled in as soon as 2 1/2 months, but officials say the more
likely time frame for a special election is May or June.
To fill the seat, the Speaker of the House would order a special election that
must be held at least 60 days from the date the order is made.
Serafini, convicted in federal court in August of lying about campaign
contributions to former presidential candidate Bob Dole, announced plans
Monday to leave his 114th District seat after 21 years in office. His
resignation becomes effective Feb. 7.
Serafini had tried to retain the seat while he appeals the conviction but
resigned under heavy pressure to leave office. Under the state constitution, a
felon may not hold public office.
According to state statute, a special election may be ordered by the Speaker
of the House to fill a vacant seat in between elections. A special election
could have been held during the April 4 primary but, because Serafini made his
resignation effective Feb. 7, he eliminated the possibility that a special
election could be held then.
When a state legislator vacates office mid-term, the speaker has 10 days to
order a special election. However, at least 60 days must pass from that date
to the election. Legislative officials who did not want to be named said the
election likely will be held in late May or early to mid June.
Roger Nick, chief of staff for House Speaker Matthew J. Ryan, R-Delaware
County, said Ryan will call for a special election to fill Serafini’s former
seat, but a date has not been set.
“The special election would be for the remainder of this term,” Nick said.
He said Serafini’s term runs through the end of 2000 and that Serafini was not
on the ballot for the April primary.
There is no primary for the special election, Nick said. District party
leaders will choose the candidates for the election, and they will likely be
the winners of the April primary, he said. That means a candidate who wins the
special election might not necessarily be either of the primary election
victors.
Clancy Myer, another Ryan adviser, said Serafini’s seat will be unfilled until
an interim successor is elected.
“As to when, I don’t know, but (voters) won’t be totally unrepresented for the
remainder of the term,” Myer said.
State Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Kingston, chastised Serafini for making his
resignation date effective two weeks after announcing it. She said had he made
it effective Monday, a special election could have been held April 4 and
residents of his district would be represented in Harrisburg sooner.
“It’s unfortunate for the citizens of that district for it to go even one day
beyond what’s necessary,” she said.
She also said taxpayers will be forced to foot a more expensive special
election on another day than if it was held April 4, when all the voting
machinery will be in place.