Statement from Peg Schaffer, Somerset County Democratic Chair, on Suzanne Maeder

Republican Suzanne Maeder, Who Serves on the 100%-Republican Manville Council, Attacks One Party Rule in Announcing Campaign for Higher Office
Campaign for County Clerk Would Consolidate Voting Under All Republican Control

Statement from Peg Schaffer, Somerset County Democratic Chair

"If Suzanne Maeder is serious about wanting to end one-party control, we encourage her to resign her seat on the all-Republican Manville Council and recommend a Democrat to take her place. If she doesn't, it is very hard to take her entire campaign as anything other than the posturing of yet another hypocritical, ambitious politician.

"Republican Maeder was happy to pose for a picture at Lost Valley Nature Park just a year ago to celebrate – and take unwarranted credit for – the $250,000 that the all-Democratic Board of County Commissioners gave to Manville last winter to save the recreational and flood-control project. Yet now she doesn't like their decisions.

"But the most ridiculous part of Republican Maeder's 'one party' attack is her claim that ‘one-party rule has taken a voting system that was mostly working and turned it completely on its head,’ when the Board of Elections is chaired by Anthony J. DeCicco and operated by Administrator Jerry Midgette -- both Republicans! If Republican Maeder were to become Clerk, then the three people running the voting system in Somerset County would be all one-party, the very thing Republican Maeder decries!

"Frankly, if all Republican Maeder has is that she doesn’t like one-party control, she should resign her seat in favor of a Democrat and give up her already ridiculous and hypocritical bid to become County Clerk."