resignation could leave his constituents without a senator for the next six months.
According to state law, if a senate vacancy happens less than seven months before the expiration of the term, Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley has 10 days to decide if there should be a special election or let the seat remain empty.
Pippy, R-Moon, . However, his district and capital staff members are expected to remain intact to assist constituents.
With less than six months left until the term expires, Cawley will have to decide if a special election is “in the public interest,” according to state law. Matthew Keeler, a spokesman for the state Department of State, said Cawley will issue a writ of vacancy, although it’s not yet known what the lieutenant governor will do.
But state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, wrote in a letter Monday that “(h)olding an election a month or so before a regular election at a significant cost to the taxpayer is not ‘in the public interest,’” according to PoliticsPA.
Meanwhile, there seems to be questions which Democrat will face Republican D. Raja in the general election to fill Pippy’s 37th Senate seat. Greg Parks was expected to run against Raja, but dropped out of the race last week, according to the Post-Gazette’s Early Returns blog.
That has fueled speculation that state Rep. Matt Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, could replace Parks and challenge Raja in the November election.
Smith said he is still deciding whether to run and would not rule out challenging Raja in the general election.
“People in the community, Democrats and Republicans alike, have approached me about running for state senate,” Smith said in a text message to Chartiers Valley Patch. “I am flattered and appreciative of the support. I will talk with my family and will make a decision after considering it with them.”
Like the Chartiers Valley Patch Facebook page or sign up for our Daily E-mail Newsletter!
