Republican candidate Pat Toomey maintains a 9 percentage point lead over incumbent Arlen Specter in the race for Specter’s U.S. Senate seat, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters.
Rasmussen’s numbers show Toomey leading Specter 49 percent to 40 percent. Five percent of respondees like some other candidate and seven percent are undecided. Last month, Toomey led Specter 47 to 38 percent.
Meanwhile, Specter holds a solid lead over his Democratic opponent, Congressman Joe Sestak. But Sestak runs more competitively with Toomey this month, trailing the Republican by just five points, 42 percent to 37 percent.
The health care vote might be the deciding factor in the November election: Specter carries 86 of those who Strongly Favor the plan. Toomey carries 84 percent of those who Strongly Oppose it.
Overall, 14 percent of Pennsylvania voters have a very favorable view of Specter, while 34 percent regard him very unfavorably. Sestak is viewed very favorably by 10 percent and very unfavorably by 11 percent. For Toomey, very favorables total 17 percent and very unfavorables 11 percent.
Masser steps down from Election Board role
As part of the normal process, Northumberland County Commissioner Kurt Masser, a Republican candidate for 107th Legislative District, has stepped down as a member of the county Board of Elections.
The vacancy will be filled by either President Judge Robert B. Sacavage or the two other board of elections members, Commissioners Frank Sawicki and Vinny Clausi.
Election board members routinely step down when they are candidates to avoid any conflict of interest.
Snyder County seeks volunteers
The Snyder County Commissioners are "looking for a few good volunteers," said recently-appointed Commissioner Peggy Chamberlain Roup.
As part of the nine-member board for the Snyder County Planning Commission, volunteers will decide to approve or deny recommendations from the county planning director, and vote to approve or deny requests for sub-divisions and land development plans. According to Snyder County Commissioner Chairman Joe Kantz, the board may also be included in the development of a county’s comprehensive plan.
Planning Commission terms are four years. The board meets monthly in the basement meeting room at the county courthouse.
The Children & Youth Advisory Board meets bimonthly to decide on items that benefit the lives of children who are under supervision in the county’s foster parent system, Kantz said. All money used by the board is from private donations.
Children & Youth board terms are three years. There are 12 members on the board.
A third, the Snyder County Higher Education Board, helps with financing bonds for Susquehanna University. Terms are for five years. The board meets annually, and additionally for any issues involving bond issues. The board consists of five members.
Those interested in joining the boards may contact the commissioners at the Snyder County Courthouse.
Sewer Authority’s Loss Will Exceed Insurance
Northumberland Sewer Authority Chairman Jack Fasold said the authority’s monetary loss due to apparent payroll check forgeries will likely well exceed its $250,000 theft insurance.
A forensic audit is not finalized.
Meanwhile, more than 60 people applied for the Authority’s office manager position formerly held by accused forgerer Cynthia Lark, Fasold said.
The field has been narrowed to less than 10, he said Tuesday.
Lark was dismissed from her position, according to Authority Solicitor Gene Brosius, when fake payroll checks were discovered in her recent illness-related absence.
On March 5, police charged her with multiple forgery and theft charges dating back to 2005 and involving nearly $300,000. Lark, however, began work at the authority in 2001and, Fasold said, the authority’s loss will be considerably greater than $300,000.
The job may be filled at the authority’s next meeting – 4:30 p.m. Monday in the Kiwanis Building near Liberty Splashland. The meeting is open to the public
