22—The Daily Collegian Monday, May 18, 1981 • Consumer Party: By TODD LIGHTY and STEVE GRAHAM Daily Collegian Staff Writers The political campaign was in full swing by late September 1980. As the /autumn leaves turned rusty brown, the campaign for U.S. House of Representa tives was running smoothly for young Doug Mason. Everything indicated that his party would do well in the district. Yet something went wrong. It happened in early October in the quaint office of a small-town newspaper in Venago County, where Mason, the Consumer Party candidate for the 23rd District seat, thought the newspaper was sincere in granting him an interview. This was Mason's big chance to express his political beliefs. After an hour in the editor's office, Mason believed the inter view was successful. He was mistaken. It was never published. That was just the beginning of his :.roubles. Election 1980 As Mason traveled throughout the 11- •ounty area of the 23rd district, he expe lenced many negative reactions from he people. After all, he does represent a hird-party interest the Consumer Party. "They're a bunch of radicals and so cialists," some people shouted along the campaign route. Perhaps Mason summed up many of the people's feelings toward the Consum- Party sues er Party when he said, "I think we're Because the commissioners failed to kind of an outcast. The people think we clarify their interpretation and refused go around yelling 'bullshit' all the time." to grant the Consumer Party ballot sta- Even though he was easily defeated by tus for the November municipal elec- Republican incumbent William F. Cling- tions, the party was forced to file suit er, R-central Pa., in the November elec- against the commissioners, Ortenberg tion, Mason represented a ray of hope for said. Ortenberg is not pleased with the com the party in the State College area. "I think the commissioners were just missioners' decision. Clinger received 123,274 votes to Ma- wrong and are afraid to admit it," he "I believe they (commissioners) son's 3,138 in the congressional race. said. turned us down because of politics," However, Mason got 2,079 votes in Centre The party has filed a writ of In Manda- Ortenberg said. "The decision was a County 5.08 percent of the total votes. mus in the Centre County Court of Corn- deliberate attempt to snuff out the Con- This, or so Mason was told, would give mon Pleas, Rayman said. The writ asks sumer Party, to keep us off the ballot." the Consumer Party automatic ballot public officials to perform their duties; "There is nothing political about the status in any election -held in Centre something the commissioners have not decision," Bower said. "We have the County. But again, the Consumer Party done, he said. By filing suit, the party responsibility to the electorate to see the was delivered a setback. hopes to get automatic ballot status for laws are applied. It was a legal decision. • Primary setback . the fall elections. However, the next Step Ours is a role of interpretation and we is a hearing before a judge, Rayman don't think the Consumer Party can beat On March 17, the party learned that the said. -it." Centre County Board of. Elections had The party has a "50-50 chance" of Noting that the Consumer Party has ruled that the nominating petitions it winning a favorable ruling by taking the only 74 members in the county, County circulated for the May primary were commissioners to court, Rayman said. Commissioner John Saylor said he would invalid. And the Centre County Commis- The act is ambiguously written, he said. not call the party a threat. He said that sioners had unanimously decreed that "My belief is they (Consumer Party figure seems insignificant compared to the Consumer Party is not an "official" members) should get a clear interpreta- the 54,470 people registered with all par third party in the county. - tion from the commissioners,Y he said. ties for the November election. .In a letter to Tom Ortenberg, Consum "If they get 5 percent in an office in the. -perso'nallsk .ddnv.ti' think there are , er Party chairman, the commissioners .county, I don't see how the commission- grounds for appeal," Saylor said. "I gave their interpretation of 'Article Bof ers could deny them status." - . think there was a big effort at the time the county's party organization code. However, Bower said that if the party (November) to establish a third party. The code specifies what conditions a had received 5 percent of the vote dis- The strength of our democracy is a party must meet in order to get ballot trict-wide, it would have been granted' strong two-party system." status. ballot status. Robert O'Connor, University associate • Do your summer rambling in our comfortable all-cotton and cotton twill shorts and pants for women and men. WOOLRICH • PATAGONIA • DUXBAK • FILSON appaiachi ou td oor h ouse 324 W. College Ave. Open Thurs. and Fri. 234-4284 Nights until 9 "This is to advise that today the Board of Elections took action to reject the petition, which you (Ortenberg) filed for office of State College mayor," the letter states. "The Consumer Party does not qualify as a political party within the county of the Commonwealth." Denial of ballot status dashed the par ty's hopes of participating in tomorrow's primary. The dispute over the Consumer Party's status centers on Article 8. The commissioners' interpretation of the ar ticle states that the Consumer Party is a "political body," not a party. The code defines a political body as an organization that can't participate in primaries and must petition to get its candidates on the ballot in general and municipal elections, Jeffrey Bower, county commissioner chairman, said. "The county solicitor recommended our decision be based on the congressio nal district," he said. In the district, Mason received only 1.8 percent of the votes cast and not the arbitrary 5 percent the code requires. Robert Rayman, attorney for the Con sumer Party, said the fact that Mason received 5.08 percent of the vote in Centre County shows a significant inter est in the party. "I see the section of the electoral vote," he said. "I think that (the commis sioner's decision) is an erroneous inter pretation." Third party struggles to overcome obstacles Tom Ortenberg, left, chairman of the State College Consumer Party, appears at a press conference with Barry Commoner, former presidential candidate for the Citizen's Party, who discusses the future for the party nationally. Christopher Hall and Ray Boyle are its they're surprised to see us as r will sPettij choices for the council positions, and for itself. The , party is against hulloing.; Ortenberg had said he would run for more parking lots in State College:lt als#: mayor. proposes full funding of the Centre Ares; But Ortenberg withdrew from the race Transportation Authority, building az Wednesday. He said he could not remain South Allen Street pedestrian mall bei a full-time University student, chairman tween College and Beaver Avenues, ease of the party and run for the mayor. With ing landlord-tenant disputes and his campaign for the mayorship elimi- widening the sidewalks on lege. nated, he said he can now concentrate on "The trick the Consumer Party has to the election campaigns of Hall and do isn't proposing policies, but imple- Boyle. menting them," Addison said. To get their names on the ballot, the "Whenever you get a third party," he Con ‘ sumer Party candidates must circu- said, "historically, it plays a role. The late a petition and 10-people registered in role it plays is in regard to the type of the Consumer Party must sign it. conflict it raises. I know the community. Mason expects the party to be success- He (Ortenberg) dion laws are stacked ful in the elections. against the third party," he said. "If it's "The way I see it, the people want a not on a ballot every place, it 'risks Consumer Party," he said. "We're try- becoming" a regional party. The third ing to introduce a voice of reason into the party is a voice of concern. It's difficult system. Economic democracy is proba- to start a third patty because they have bly our basic theme and we believe the' to spend a lot of money on court battles." economy ought to have democratic re-. straints. There should be social input. We Reformist party represent an interest group, but we're a The Consumer Party is a fairly typical, series of interest groups." reformist party, King said. Such parties But since - the Consumer Party candi- have never succeeded because people dates are not as well known as some of are frightened by ideologies, he said. the other candidates vying for office, the However, state Representatives Gregg party must begin at grass roots level, L. Cunningham, R-Centre of the Consum- Hall said. The party's first goal is to er Party tends to encourage people to receive 5 percent of the vote in the become involved politically who might municipal election, which would give the otherwise sit on the bench. I think it party automatic ballot status. This can appeals primarily to people on the pail.' only be achieved through a vigorous cal left. Only time will tell what lies effort to increase the party's mem- ahead for the ConsUmer Party." bership, he said. 0 Some of the pitfalls and shortcomings "People are reluctant to join a third- facing the party, Cunningham said, are party movement," Hall said. "We'll ap- the difficulty it has recruiting members, ' peal to the people who are somewhat left its politically left position and its appeal out of the system. I think we can win in mostly to young voters. State College." "There's no doubt that the campus professor of political science, said the Third parties (Penn State) and the borough are proba- Consumer Party should get ballot status. bly oriented to the left of the rest of the "My suspicion is that the Democrats Third parties such as the Consumer congressional' district," Cunningham and Republicans don't like third par- Party always have a rough time. As said. ties," he said. "The county commission- O'Connor and Hall put it, the two-party Ray Boyle, a 22-year-old University ers are political people. Political and system, is too rigid to accommodate senior and one of the council candidates, legal motives may be the same thing:" third-party influence.. • said his party is hampered by limited Lakshman Yapa, Consumer Party sec- "No third parties will arise; the rules finances. If the party receives adequate retary, said the commissioners' decision are stacked against them," O'Connor * financial backing, he said, it could prove seems unjust and indefensible. ' said. to be productive. "That decision escapes elementary "It's difficult to start a third party," "They ( the Consumer Party mem logic because we are not asking for ballot Michael King, University associate pro- bers) do not have a future because they status in the district," he said. "The fessor of political science, said. "All the don't have the capabilities and energies spirit of the law is to give ballot status to electapters in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, to really form a third party," said Joyce those whd get 5 percent of the vote. Their Harrisburg and State College. The State Kerr, vice chairwoman of the Centre decision isn't compatible with the way I College chapter was founded in May 1980. County Republican . Committee. "Any-, read the law. It's certainly a non-sympa- Ortenberg is taking the State College time something like that springs up, it thetic decision." municipal elections very seriously. goes for two or three years, acks. "We see the State College municipal "The Consumer Party would be better Local elections • elections as the turning point for the off getting its ideas adopted by one of the, Despite the setback over the party's part," Ortenberg said2-t4We plarkoa doing , major partie," . hq paid. "These types of ballot status, menibers• tiaidAhey• Amen. We want to establish credibility to • parties tend t6L•abine and go. The Con approach-this fall's elections vigorously. the community at large." sumer Party is a dismal failure at win- With three vacancies on the State College Ortenberg said the electorate has in- ning public office, but they are successful Municipal Council and Mayor Arnold grained biases against the Consumer at raising issues." Addison's four-year term ending, the Party, so the party must , definitely prove Then there are those people who don't party is planning to run candidates in the itself: "I don't think people see us as really know what lies ahead for the municipal election. tosers. I think when people meet us, Consumer Party. f 4 \t/ 'm • .a: . , i ' i t r( • .L,L„„ .3 4 j IMMIMIT 1 ;Katthi * , r),,Z,..o(inohLfe . .- ~; :.) Editor's Note: This is a wrap-up story on the State College Municipal Council elec tions and the candidates running in to morrow's primary for the three open seats. The Daily Collegian has printed separate profiles with 15 of the candi dates, the last running today, in which the candidates discussed their opinions on topics affecting the municipality. Re publican candidate Ralph W. Way did not wish to be interviewed. 4 - By KAREN KONSKI IDaily Collegian Staff Writer Maintaining the safety of the commu nity and additional fiscal responsibility are the'major concerns of the 16 midi ' dates for State College Municipal Coun t'll;',ell . Most of the candidates agree that the council has provided a high level of service for the taxpayer's money and that the council has approved a relative ly. tight budget. They have different ideas of what kind of 'services they would like to see incorpo- rated into future budgets. Even these ideas, though, generally can be grouped wider the heading of services to ensure the safety of the community. Candidate priorities Quality police service, better street lighting and pedestrian and bicycle safe ty: are among the priorities of many candidates. 'Democratic incumbent James Deeslie said he thinks many of these services are already provided efficiently by the coun cil. r'"We're providing services like ad- I equate police protection," Deeslie said. "That's the greatest asset of a commu nkty. You can go out into the streets and feel safe. We're also making im • pmvements like lighting that's badly needed in the downtown area and the tree plhnning program and trash collection." I ' Consumer Party candidate Chris Hall Gary A. Wiser Richard Hudock ".. Grove Spearly Jr } V ~ . ''r ~~,~ ~., :~ ototrJet, Holmes =MI Photo by Steve Shaw said one of the main reasons he ran for the council was his concern over pedes trian and bicycle safety. He said he would like to see South Allen Street blocked off, making it a mall, because he thinks the traffic in that area is a menace to pedestrians and bicy clists. He also said he thought the mall con cept would encourage rather than dis courage business because the mall concept has appeal. . Another Consumer Party candidate, Ray Boyle (12th-individual and family studies), said energy concerns, including promotion of bicycles and discourage ment of car use, are high on his list of important issues. "A lot of the energy concerns have to be dealt with on the local level," Boyle said. "(The municipality has been) pro moting the use of cars, not promoting bicycles - and not standing behind their public transportation system. That's ir responsible in my eyes." Inflation concerns Some of the candidates have said they were concerned, though, that inflation will hinder the amount of services the council can provide, and more long range planning is now needed. Republican candidate John A. Dom broski said, "We need to take a look at what we're spending money for. We need to get maximum benefits from the mon ey we spend. We need a long-range planner. We have to take a long look at things before we spend money or raise taxes." • Democratic incumbent candidate Fe licia Lewis said, "It may be difficult to maintain the level of. quality State Col lege has come to take for granted (with inflation). We must be concerned for public safety in terms of lighting and police services. The use of pedestrian ways should also be encouraged." ;72%,714ii r:47 , 40; ' L's4h. • t . 44.1:4-2,;.;-..4 6.John A.;,,Dombroski Democratic candidate Richard Hu dock (3rd -political science and foreign service) said he does not think this kind of ordinance is the proper approach to the drug problem. If money is to be spent fighting drug abuse, he said he would rather see the money which was spent for the defense of the ordinance be given to On Drugs Inc. But Joe Intorre, another Democratic candidate, said he ':could support a drug paraphernalia ordinance because he wants to reduce drug abuse however possible. Deeslie said he would like to see if an ordinance banning the sale of drugs could be upheld in State College. Some candidates said they think alco hol abuse is a more serious problem than drug abuse. Republican Dan Winand said, "The community is not looking at the whole problem by fighting drug abuse and not alcohol abuse." He also said attacking the problem of drug abuse at. the paraphernalia level was to treat a symptom and not the problem. Another Republican, Mary Jane Hova nec, also said alcohol abuse was at least as serious as drug abuse. She also said the drug paraphernalia ordinance was not the solution to the drug problem. "At least at the college level, people laugh at it," Hovanec said. "It's easy to get a hold of paraphernalia; you can make it yourself." Greg Petrick Municipal Council: the crowded field ~? fi; :.. Chris Hall Drug abuse An issue that does not have a clear-cut answer among the candidates is whether the municipality should work on another drug paraphernalia ordinance to replace the one ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. District Court in Scranton. Recently, an ordinance in Doylestown that banned the sale of paraphernalia was upheld in a Bucks County court. Photo by Barb Parkyn Some candidates including Lewis and Democrat Greg Petrick said they think the ordinance could be better handled on the state level. Republican candidate Gary Wiser said the ordinance should be handled on the local level if possible. "That's the level that has its ear to the ground," Wiser said. "That's the level that can respond best." The candidates also disagree about what to do with the municipally owned taxi cab company. The municipality bought the Centre Cab Co. from private owners in 1979 and turned its operation over to the Centre Area Transportation Authority for man agement. Because the cabs were operat ing at a deficit, CATA asked to be relieved of responsibility for the system. The municipality then voted to retain the company for at least another year on a trial basis. Some candidates said they think the cab company is a waste of the taxpayer's money and that it should be sold. Republican candidate Rosemarie Pen kala called the taxi system a losing proposition and said she would like to see the municipality get rid of the service. Dombroski said he thinks the cab corn pany was an example of inefficient man agement by the municipality and would like to see it sold. Republican Lassie Martsolf said that if the municipality has to make a choice between running the cabs or losing the system, she would rather that the munic ipality retain the system, though she would prefer to see the cab company operated by private owners. Democratic candidate Grove Spearly Jr. said he does not think the municipali ty should be in a business that can be handled by private enterprise and it should get out of the operation as soon as possible. Felicia Lewis Photo by Bill Storey .”M.E.tryt,Jane•HovEinece.,l; Ray Boyle Taxi service Photo by Carlo Goodall Petrick said he thinks the takeover was necessary because the municipality was in danger of losing all service, but he does not see the municipally owned sys tem as a permanent situation. Both incumbents said they would like to see the municipality keep the cabs. Lewis and Deeslie both said that par atransit rights, defined as any ridership not regularly scheduled including hand icapped and elderly, are an important factor in retaining the cabs. Student involvement Most of the candidates also agreed that University students can have an active role in local government. A prime proponent of the belief that students can be active in government is Hudock, himself a student. "There are a lot of intelligent students here," Hudock said. "Some of the most hard-working people are the ones that are here four years. I hope by my run ning, we're sparking some interest." Petrick also said he advocates More student involvement in local govern ment. "The students make up a good deal of the population; the decisions affect them, too," Petrick said. "We need to get student population involved in borough government."' Republican candidate Kathleen Dono hue, however, said she does not think students should be elected to the council because they may have trouble fulfilling a full four-year council term. "A lot of people's entire business and future is tied up here," Donohue said. "Most of the students are here for four years and then get out. Unless you are elected as soon as you get here, I don't see how you can serve a full term." Crowded field Sixteen people are running for the three open seats on council, but only 14 names will appear on the primary bal- The Daily Collegian Monday, May 18, 1981-2 .~i""" ~^B`~ ~t: Lassie M. Martsolf The two Consumer Party candidates, Chris Hall and Ray Boyle, are ineligible to run in the primaries because the Consumer Party is not an official party in the municipality or county. The Consumer Party was denied party status by the Centre County Commission ers. To be a registered third party, a candidate of the party must have re ceived 5 percent of the largest entire vote cast for any elected candidate in the county. The Consumer Party says its cant', date Douglas M. Mason received more. than 5 percent of Rep. William F. Cling er's (R-central Pa.) county-wide vote ii the race for the 23rd District congressio nal seat last November. The commissioners said, however, tha' Mason has to receive 5 percent of talc: districtwide vote to qualify. Hall said he thinks the party ea. treated unfairly by the commissioner: and the party has filed a writ of manda. mus against the commissioners. Hall has filed the necessary petitions to have his name on the ballot in the November election. Boyle said, he thinks the commission ers' decision has hurt the Consumer Party candidates because they have not received as much publicity as the Repub lican and Democratic candidates. Among the 16 candidates, none seem to think there are any single-issue candi dates running. "The people are aware of what's going on and they want some changes," Mart solf said. "They want to have a say. As far as I know, there are no single-issue candidates." Dombroski said, "I'm delighted with the number of people interested in coun cil and other community service jobs. I think it's one of the nicest things to happen. With so many different candi dates, there's a good mixture of philoso phies." James Deeslie Joseph Intorre Dan Winand Photo by Dan Vogely
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