Case Title: In re: Nomination Petitions of Benninghoff, Ross & Gabig (Dissenting Statement)

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Docket Number: 

State: pennsylvania

Court: Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Date: 2004-04-21T00:00:00Z

Document:
[J-112-2004] IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA MIDDLE DISTRICT IN RE: NOMINATION PETITION OF KERRY BENNINGHOFF, (REPUBLICAN) CANDIDATE FOR REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM THE 171ST LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, Petition of Kerry Benninghoff : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : No. 41 MAP 2004 Appeal from the Order of the Commonwealth Court entered 3/23/2004 at No. 145MD2004 DISSENTING STATEMENT MR. JUSTICE CASTILLE Filed: April 1, 2004 I dissent. This Court is the ultimate arbiter of the Election Code, 25 P.S. § 2600 et seq., and the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 1101 et seq., and the matter is ripe for disposition. I would proceed to decide this matter immediately given the pendency of the primary election. Further, I would hold that the omission here is an amendable defect since the Statement of Financial Interest Form clearly identifies Benninghoff as an incumbent State Representative. As such, Benninghoff is salaried and that salary is of public record. Therefore, I would hold that the omission of the salary information is harmless, and therefore, an amendable defect, and I would reverse the Commonwealth Court and allow petitioner’s name to stay on the primary ballot. Messrs. Justice Nigro and Saylor join this dissenting statement