Letters: Local residents endorse candidates ahead of May 16 primary election

Support for Sapia

I am supporting Tony Sapia for State College Borough Council. I have had occasion to work with Tony on a variety of business matters that affect downtown State College over the last several years. I have found him to be thoughtful and fair in his approach to these issues. Having grown up in State College and having his had his own businesses in this area, I believe he will bring an experienced voice to the State College Borough Council. State College Borough residents would do well to offer him their support on Tuesday.

Susan S. Benedict, State College

Best fit for judge

I am supporting Julia Rater for Centre County Judge because she knows the law and Centre County. Julia has an abundance of practical experience in family and civil law. Additionally, she has handled criminal matters through her work as a family law attorney. She is a leader both in the legal profession and in the community in which she has worked for 27 years. Rarely do we have a candidate who has the perfect background for the position. This time we do, Julia Rater.

One flyer of Mr Balachandran’s, Julia’s opponent in this election, reads “no current member of the bench has a background in criminal law.” This statement and others bother me not only because they are inaccurate but also because they imply that all Centre County judges are lacking in experience/knowledge. Both Judge Grine and Judge Marshall practiced criminal law before becoming judge.

I think Mr. Balachandran is emphasizing that he has a criminal law background. The data in the Centre County Legal Journal (2022) that tracks the judges’ daily schedules reflects that 72% of the judges’ court time is on family law and civil cases and only 28% is on criminal cases. Family and civil law expertise matters in Centre County. Julia Rater appeared in a Centre County courtroom over 1,100 times through 2022. Her opponent did not represent any clients in the Centre County courtroom. Please join me in voting for Julia Rater for Centre County Judge on Tuesday.

Wendy Moran, State College

Important perspective on school board

It is my pleasure to support Laurel Zydney for another term on the State College Board of School Directors.

In the 10 years that I served with Laurel on the board, I always found her to be well-prepared, well-informed and highly dedicated to her role. As a result, I had a deep appreciation for her perspective — even those times when I disagreed with it.

In turn, I appreciated her openness, and her willingness to listen to a diversity of voices from throughout the community.

School boards operate most effectively — and the community is better served — when a diversity of perspective is incorporated into the decision-making process, especially when it is as well-informed as Laurel’s.

I encourage the community to avail itself of Laurel’s willingness to share her experience, knowledge and dedication with us for another four years.

David Hutchinson, State College. The author is a former SCASD director.

Background of judges

I have been a Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer since 2001, and I have been a solo practitioner in Centre County since 2006. I support Julia Rater for Common Pleas Court judge because she has the right combination of temperament, personality and local practice experience needed to be a successful judge.

Ms. Rater’s opponent has made some statements, which the long-time members of the local legal community can instantly recognize as untrue, while the general public might not realize these statements are false.

These are probably honest mistakes as opposed to intentional lies, as Gopal Balachandran has only been a member of the Centre County Bar Association since September 2022, and he has not been part of the local legal community long enough to have much local knowledge.

For example, Mr. Balachandran asserts that no current Centre County judges had criminal law experience prior to taking the bench, yet both Judges Jonathan Grine and Brian Marshall practiced criminal law when they were lawyers.

Mr. Balachandran also asserts that no other current Centre County judge ever tried a felony case before a jury, yet Judge Grine won a felony drug jury trial just two years after graduating from law school, which is no easy feat.

I just wanted to set the record straight so the general public can make an informed decision based on accurate information.

Matt M. McClenahen, State College

Resource to school board

As a SCASD school board member of almost eight years I have been fortunate to witness the ongoing development of the board during my years of service. During this time I have acquired an increasing appreciation for one board member who has always been diligent in her work with the board.

Laurel Zydney has been an incredible resource to our school board. Laurel adds value to our work by reminding us to look back, reflect, explain and justify our position on either a financial decision, a program, or a policy when we might otherwise be inclined to overlook further reflection. Laurel routinely helps us to refine our efforts to identify evidence based programs for student growth and learning while remaining attentive to the goals of efficiency and cost effectiveness.

All school boards in Pennsylvania have a mandated membership of nine. With such a large group it can become comfortable for members to hang back and coalesce with the larger group, falling into a pattern of “Groupthink.” Laurel’s readiness to question, challenge and bring our attention back to the fundamentals empowers the board to avoid Groupthink.

Laurel Zydney is an almost 12-year board member veteran who deserves another term of service on the SCASD board. Laurel has shown her commitment to the delivery of district programs that represent what is best for students and their families, while remaining mindful of the costs involved. Voters of both parties should include Laurel Zydney among their choices for SCASD school board in the Tuesday primary.

Dan Duffy, State College. The author is a SCASD board director.

Balachandran would be asset to the court

Please join me in voting for Gopal Balachandran for our next Common Pleas Court Judge.

It takes a uniquely qualified attorney to serve as a successful public defender — one possessing a certain blend of compassion, dedication and perseverance. As a former public defender for over a decade, Gopal possesses these qualities, plus significant experience and expertise in the area of criminal law. A judge in criminal court must be exceptionally learned in constitutional principles and criminal procedure, particularly because the majority of our court docket is comprised of cases that are criminal in nature, based on my 34 years of experience in the Centre County Public Defender Office.

Gopal’s experience as a public defender could have left him disillusioned. However, his experience strengthened his commitment to serve others and uphold the constitutional protections we should all as a community respect. He went on to lead the Criminal Appellate and Post-Conviction Services Clinic at Penn State Law and co-founded the Centre County Pardon Project.

Some years ago, Gopal introduced himself to the staff of the Centre County Public Defender Office, and, recognizing the heavy caseload, offered his assistance. His aid in conducting legal research, discussing case law and preparing briefs was invaluable. Gopal spent countless hours — uncompensated and unrecognized — in several homicide cases at the Common Pleas Court level and further on appeals to the Pennsylvania Superior and Supreme Courts to ensure that the clients’ cases received the extra attention they deserved. His brilliant legal mind and analytical skills provided remarkable assistance to the clients’ overall representation.

If elected, Gopal will serve us fairly and impartially without regard to race, gender, financial status, and/or any law firm affiliation.

Deborah Lux, State College

United for SCASD and parental involvement

I turned with great interest to the front-page report, “School Board Candidates on Transparency, Parental Involvement,” in the May 3 CDT. I was keen to read the views of the “United for SCASD” candidates since they have highlighted these issues as priorities.

I was surprised that two of the five original “United for SCASD” candidates couldn’t be bothered to provide any response on these issues. A third “United for SCASD” candidate offered a single sentence simply saying that parents should be very involved. A fourth offered a mere 20 words stating the obvious, that parents have a right to know what is being taught and the district-parent relationship should be 50-50. Only John Krajcovic provided a substantive answer. He argues that parents should be allowed to “opt their children out of teachings that do not align with their beliefs.” Presumably this means that children of parents who do not believe in climate change or biological evolution should not learn these basic science concept.

The “United for SCASD” wants to disrupt education at SCASD. They call themselves bipartisan, but not one of them is a registered Democrat. There are six Democrats running for SCASD board seats. They are Amy Bader, Gretchen Brandt, Anne Demo, Dan Kolbe, Aaron Miller and Laurel Zidney. Please vote any of these Democratic candidates. They are all dedicated to preserving the academic excellence of SCASD.

Paul M. Hallacher, State College

Rater as judge would be ‘gift to our community’

I am writing in the spirit of Michelle Obama who said, “when they go low, we go high.” As such, I am responding to the May 5 CDT letter that suggested that Julia Rater is part of some “good old boys” network.

The picture that was painted by that letter and others is so far from the Julia Rater I know, such that I feel compelled to write my first ever letter to the editor.

Julia is a first-generation college grad, who has worked hard as an attorney helping families and children navigate what for many is one of the most stressful times in their lives (divorce/custody).

She serves in roles that are personally meaningful to her and that help those in need.

She has learned to think about what it is like to be in the shoes of whoever is in front of her. She is compassionate and sticks to the facts of the case as she is committed to helping her client, rather than promoting a political agenda.

In her work, she is committed to being fair to all. As noted publicly, Julia is pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ and anti-racist.

Let’s not participate in misogyny and dismiss the overwhelmingly superior qualifications and experience that Julia Rater will bring as Centre County Judge. Combined with her compassion, thoughtfulness and emotional intelligence, it would be a gift to our community to have her in this role.

Jill Hranicka, State College