On November 3, ten Libertarian Party nominees (who were not simultaneously the nominees of any other parties) were elected to local office in Pennsylvania partisan elections. They were: Michael Robertson, Licking Township Supervisor; Bertie Etzel, Ashland Township Constable; Tim Russell, Emlenton Borough Mayor; Larry Boyle, Polk Borough Mayor; James Fryman, Victory Township Auditor; Paul Meddings and Chad Roberts, both elected to the Houston Borough council; Susan Haythornthwaite, Abbott Township Auditor; Cathy Beeman, Waterford Township Auditor; Randall Schwabenbauer, School Director, Oil City.

The full list of Libertarian candidates in this week’s election, with a note as to how each did, is here.

On November 6, a U.S. District Court ruled orally that Port Chester, New York, should use Cumulative Voting for its elections for Village Trustee. In 2006, the U.S. Justice Department, Voting Rights Section, had sued to force Port Chester to stop using at-large elections for Village Trustee. Almost half the population is Hispanic, but no Hispanic had ever been able to win an election for that office.

The case is USA v Village of Port Chester, 06cv-15173. The judge’s explanation will be issued soon. Cumulative voting, used in some multi-winner elections, gives each voter multiple votes. The voter can give all his or her votes to one candidate, or spread them around to several candidates. It enables groups that are less than a majority to put all their strength behind a single candidate, and give that candidate a fair chance at winning.

On November 6, “The Hill” , on its blog, posed this question to various members of Congress and political commentators: “Is there a real opening for independent/third party candidates?” See the responses at this link. Thanks to Nancy Hankster for the link. One of the responses is from Congressman Ron Paul.