In just two short weeks, hopeful ballot candidates will be out in droves, seeking signatures from registered Centre County voters to secure a spot in the April 2016 primary election.
Just where these hopefuls can petition was discussed during the Centre County commissioners’ regular weekly meeting Jan. 12.
Chairman commissioner Michael Pipe said in previous years these petitions have been passed around during working hours in public office buildings and on public property. He said he would like the commissioners and county solicitor Elizabeth A. Dupuis to further look into the matter this week and make recommendations at next week’s meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m. in the Willowbanks Building.
‘I think we should include language banning it from all public buildings,’ said Pipe. ‘We don’t want to make people uncomfortable in their work environment by having people circle these petitions. Of course, we want to protect everyone’s First Amendment rights; however, I feel when its happening on county time, and in county buildings, there has to be something done about it.’
Fellow commissioner Steven Dershem agreed there is a correct time for circulating these types of petitions; however, he noted the board may run into legal issues if language is included banning the actions from all public property, as Pipe suggested.
‘I think it’s going to be hard to tell people what they can and can’t do in a public building,’ said Dershem. ‘I understand if we want our own employees to stop circulating these petitions while they are on the clock, but if they aren’t, I don’t think there’s anything we can legally do to stop it.’
First-term commissioner Mark Higgins agreed with Pipe.
‘Like (Pipe) said, we don’t want to interfere with anyone’s First Amendment rights, but we do need to look further into this and see exactly what we can do,’ Higgins said.
The commissioners, along with Dupuis, will investigate and review their findings and present them at the next regular meeting.
