Larry Medaglia
Larry Medaglia was a Republican candidate for the Berks County Magisterial District in Pennsylvania. Medaglia was defeated in the general election on November 7, 2017.
Biography
Medaglia's professional experience includes serving as the Berks County Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphans' Court. After graduating from Wyomissing Area High School, Medaglia went on to earn his B.A. in political science from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and his M.B.A. from Alvernia College. Prior to becoming register of wills, he worked as a legislative aide to State Rep. Paul J. Angstadt and as minority owner of a local contracting business. Medaglia has also served as an adjunct professor of state and local government and economics at Reading Area Community College.[1]
Elections
2017
Pennsylvania held local judicial elections on November 7, 2017. A primary election occurred on May 16, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was March 7, 2017. Candidates and recently appointed judges of the Courts of Common Pleas must initially run in partisan elections. Subsequent terms are won through retention elections. Elections for the Magisterial District Courts are always partisan. Pennsylvania allows cross-filing for candidates running in partisan elections. Most candidates run in both the Democratic and Republican primaries.[2]
Eric J. Taylor (D) defeated Larry Medaglia (R) in the general election for the Berks County Magisterial District 23-2-2.[3]
| Berks County Magisterial District 23-2-2, General Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | 50.62% | 1,798 | ||
| Republican | Larry Medaglia | 49.35% | 1,753 | |
| Write-in votes | 0.03% | 1 | ||
| Total Votes | 3,552 | |||
| Source: Berks County, Pennsylvania, "Election Results," accessed November 7, 2017 | ||||
Eric J. Taylor defeated Larry Medaglia in the Democratic primary for the Berks County Magisterial District 23-2-2.[4]
| Berks County Magisterial District 23-2-2, Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| 65.61% | 725 | |
| Larry Medaglia | 34.21% | 378 |
| Write-in votes | 0.18% | 2 |
| Total Votes | 1,105 | |
| Source: Berks County, Pennsylvania, "2017 Official Primary Election Results," May 16, 2017 | ||
Larry Medaglia defeated Eric J. Taylor in the Republican primary for the Berks County Magisterial District 23-2-2.[5]
| Berks County Magisterial District 23-2-2, Republican Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| 66.41% | 769 | |
| Eric J. Taylor | 33.59% | 389 |
| Total Votes | 1,158 | |
| Source: Berks County, Pennsylvania, "2017 Official Primary Election Results," May 16, 2017 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Partisan election of judges
Judges of the Pennsylvania Magisterial Districts are selected in partisan elections. They serve six-year terms. After their initial term, magistrates must run for new terms in contested races.[6][7]
Qualifications
A judge must be:
- a local resident for at least one year;[7]
- a state bar member;*
- no younger than 21; and
- no older than 75.
*Magisterial district judges may alternatively pass a training course to sidestep the bar member requirement.[7]
2011
Medaglia was a Republican candidate in the special election for District 11 of the Pennsylvania State Senate. The special election took place on March 15, 2011. Medaglia was running to fill the vacancy created when Michael O'Pake (D) passed away due to complications from a heart bypass operation.[8] Medaglia was defeated by Judy Schwank (R) in the March 15, 2011, special election.[9][10]
Campaign themes
2011
Medaglia's 2011 special election campaign site emphasized several policy positions and campaign themes:
- Property Tax Elimination: "My highest priority, if elected to office, will be to eliminate property taxes. While local officials must hold the line on spending, an alternative revenue source must be identified to generate local tax revenue... The expanded sales tax would be much easier to administer. For example, we could save taxpayers millions of dollars if we eliminated the need for countywide property assessments. We already have a system in place to collect sales tax. In addition, this system improves cash flow as the revenue is collected at the point of sale. That means better cash management and more bang for your (the taxpayer's) buck. The expanded sales tax would help make local government and school districts more efficient. Under our current property tax system, local governments and school districts receive tax revenue infrequently, but in large amounts. With an expanded sales tax, these entities would receive a more consistent and frequent revenue stream..."
- Economic Growth and Job Creation: "I support the phase-out of the capital stock and foreign franchise tax over the next several years...Because many other states no longer levy the capital stock and foreign franchise tax, we often cannot compete for business...I support the reduction of the corporate net income tax. Pennsylvania currently has the second highest corporate net income tax (CNI) in the United States at 9.99%. In a state with such a rich history of innovation and entrepreneurship, we must facilitate, not alienate the growing businesses...I will introduce and support common sense proposals to reduce costly and unnecessary business regulations and to streamline the process for businesses to obtain permits and government approvals necessary to begin work."
- State Government Reform: "The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the most costly state legislature in America. I support the reduction in size of the Legislature. I believe the House of Representatives should be reduced to 103 members (half of its current number) and the Senate should also be reduced in size. I will not take advantage of many of the outrageous perks legally taken by legislators including a per diem or a taxpayer-funded car...I will work to regain the public's confidence in state government. Reform is necessary in each branch of government to fix a broken system. I will support measures to make government more transparent and to eliminate legislative perks that we, as individuals, do not receive."
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Campaign site, Candidate Bio
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Election Calendar," accessed February 23, 2017
- ↑ Berks County, Pennsylvania, "Election Results," accessed November 7, 2017
- ↑ Berks County, Pennsylvania, "2017 Primary Candidate List," accessed April 11, 2017
- ↑ Berks County, Pennsylvania, "2017 Primary Candidate List," accessed April 11, 2017
- ↑ Pennsylvania Courts, "How Judges Are Elected," accessed July 22, 2015
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Pennsylvania; Limited Jurisdiction Courts," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ WFMZ, "Voters To Choose Sen. O'Pake Successor March 15," January 5, 2011
- ↑ BCTV, "Judy Schwank wins state senate seat," March 15, 2011
- ↑ BCTV, "Judy Schwank wins state senate seat," March 15, 2011
Federal courts:
Third Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania
State courts:
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania Superior Court • Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court • Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas • Pennsylvania Magisterial Districts
State resources:
Courts in Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania judicial elections • Judicial selection in Pennsylvania
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