The members of the Cumberland County Democratic Committee would like to commend the Pennsylvania General Assembly for its final passage of HB 1644, which will empower County Commissioners to eliminate the position of Jury Commissioner, a much needed reform to reduce government waste. Governor Corbett signed the bill into law on Thursday, December 15th, and its provisions are effective immediately.
Earlier this month, the Cumberland County Democratic Committee unanimously voted not to send a name to the County Court of Common Pleas to fill the Jury Commissioner vacancy left by Rick Rovegno. The Committee also called upon our elected representatives in the General Assembly to empower our County Commissioners to eliminate this wasteful expense. Due to the computer automated selection of jury members and the talented workforce that oversees that process, the position of Jury Commissioner is no longer necessary and eliminating it is the just and responsible action to the taxpayers of Cumberland County.
It is for these reasons that we also call on Republican Jury Commissioner Lowell Gates to
uphold his 2009 campaign pledge to return his salary to the County treasury, a promise he has thus far failed to keep.
