In Chester County Court- challenges to the petitions of several Magistrate Judge Candidates for Coatesville District Court 15-1-03.

Those candidates were Gabe Milanese, James Clark and Linda Lavender.

It was accepted by both sides that Gabe Milanese lost on the Democratic side and he may also lose on the Republican side. Only one disputed vote will disqualify Gabe on the Republican side. Gabe's attorney, Eric Brown is the Chair of Republican Area 14.

Mr. Brown put voters on the stand as witnesses. It may not be uncommon to do so, but I felt extremely uncomfortable at seeing voters on the witness stand. The voters signed both Greg Hines and Gabe Milanese’s petitions. The voters all signed Greg Hines’ petition first. They were questioned by Eric Brown as to whose petition they were signing. They all said that they did not know whose petition it was. That went well until someone replied that they did not know whose petition they were signing and their signature was one of the first names on the petition with Greg Hines name right there at the top. They were all asked by Eric Brown which one of the petitions that they really wanted their vote to go to. Not to be on the ballot, but their vote. They all said Gabe Milanese. It seemed to me that it was almost like the voters were on trial. I don’t think that voters should be asked to do things like this except in extreme circumstances.

Democratic Attorney John S Carnes presented the challenges to the petitions and the majority of those challenges held up. Eric Brown was not sorrowful, so will see what Wednesday brings.

I thought that Democratic Attorney John Carnes presented overwhelming evidence including several court documents and Clark’s drivers license that Magistrate Judge candidate James Clark lives in Thorndale. Clark had two relatives that claimed he lived at the address in Coatesville’s Second Ward that he listed on his petition. Clark said that even though a court document from October has Thorndale as his residence and driver’s license residence as Thorndale, he lives in Coatesville.

I understood Clark to have said that his driver’s license and his court documents residence is really his business address and his real residence is in Coatesville. Hmmm.

Even at the place he said he lives in Coatesville, he was only there a few months. State Law says that candidates for Magistrate Judge need to reside at least a year at the residence on the ballot. The proceedings concerning James Clark were a little confusing to me but I believe that one of Clark’s relatives who is a Republican collected most of his signatures on both Republican and Democratic sides. Clark might not be not be on the ticket for multiple reasons.

I wondered why Andrew Lehr was sitting right in front of me in the first spectator row. I found out when Lehr conferred with Clark and a woman named as his daughter, Shaina London in the hallway. Is Clark a spoiler to Greg Hines? If so why would Lehr support Greg Milanese? Lehr left when Clarks hearing was over.

Linda Lavender is a special case. Lavender says that she does not work for Tim Hennessey but works for the Republican Caucus of the Legislature. When Lavender was asked by Judge Ott what she does at Representative Tim Hennessey’s office in Coatesville, she told Judge Ott that Hennessey’s constituents come to Tim Hennessey’s office in Coatesville with their problems and she tries to help them. She said that her paycheck says “Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” on it. It’s my guess that since she is still working as Tim Hennessey's legislative assistant Lavender is by Commonwealth Law ineligible to run.

But that's not all: Lavender as a Republican collected most of the signatures for both parties. All the Democratic signatures she collected could be disqualified. She also did not have enough good signatures on the Democratic side, regardless of the other issues. So I think that we can assume that she didn't make the Democratic ballot. Linda disputes the State Law that Republican candidates cannot collect Democratic Signatures. Judge Ott suggested that Lavender can appeal the law if she wishes to.

On the Republican side Lavender has 96 good ones and 5 that are still disputed and will be checked at Voter Services on Monday. Linda had a little over 150 Republican and 150 Democratic signatures so reading off all the disputed signatures (well over 100) took a while.

Linda brought her about 6 foot 6 inch 300 lb. Uncle, Ronald London for support. London was wearing a black leather jacket and leather trousers

Linda said that she would ask Tim Hennessey to write a letter to Judge Ott saying that it's OK for Commonwealth employees to run for Magistrate Judge. Got to see this letter.

The results of all this could be that Democrat Greg Hines will be the only candidate on both the Democratic and Republican Ballots this spring.

We will know the almost final results by Wednesday.

Like I said before; some people will appreciate a Magistrate Judge in Coatesville who knows and follows the Law. I believe that Gregory Hines will be that Magistrate Judge.