Tuesday: Cleared for contact

Early Returns is back in the house, putting on the foil and getting ready for game time tonight. Let's clear away some cobwebs first:

Doug Shields has been nominated to Pittsburgh's police review board, and fellow ex-councilperson Tonya Payne got a city sewer authority job (that wasn't posted).

Attorney Chuck Pascal got another Democrat -- George Schroeck -- thrown off the ballot in congressional District 3 by Commwealth Court Judge Bernard McGinley, leaving only preferred DCCC candidate Missa Eaton of Sharon to face incumbent Mike Kelly.

As we know, with the Democrats winning their battle for special elections in six vacant state House seats held up for redistricting, party officials will get to nominate their preferred candidates to fill out the remaining months on the terms. District 22 candidate Erin Molchany in the South Hills has sent a letter to the state committee asking for a full description of how that will be done -- while local committee people will vote tomorrow night in Castle Shannon, the state's executive committee has to ratify the choice, and Molchany is clearly hoping that Marty Schmotzer of Whitehall won't get the party nod again, as he did for the full term. (Schmotzer was accused of taking $50,000 from the county clerk's office while a deputy in 1997, though he paid it back and avoided prosecution. He has since served on the Baldwin-Whitehall school board.)

Her full letter to state Democratic chairman Jim Burn is after the jump:

Mr. Jim Burn,

This letter is to reaffirm my request to seek the recommendation of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee members in the 22nd legislative district for the nomination for the special election.

Further, I am requesting that all candidates who seek the support of the ACDC be forwarded to the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee for consideration by State Committee's Executive Board, along with ACDC's recommendation.

Because Rule 9, Section 2 of the State Committee bylaws charge the Executive Committee with the responsibility of formally nominating the Party's candidate, the Executive Committee's authority should be respected, and not diminished or undercut by forwarding them only one name.

Rule 6, Section 8 of the State Committee Bylaws state that the members of the Executive Committee should "take into account the recommendation" of the county committee; this would further indicate that this is but one of many factors which Executive Committee members should consider.

Regardless of which candidate receives the recommendation of the ACDC, the authority of the Executive Committee should be respected, and its members should have a full opportunity to consider the backgrounds and qualifications of each candidate before casting their votes.

I would call on all of the candidates to join me in this request.

As chairs of the ACDC and the State Party, please advise me on your respective positions on this matter. My campaign office can be reached at 412.385.3156.

Sincerely,

Erin C. Molchany

CC'd: Nancy Patton Mills, Allegheny County Democratic Committee Chair