A former Traffic Court judge who served time in jail is challenging Rep. Bob Brady in the primary.
Former Traffic Court Judge Willie Singletary, who served time in jail for lying to the FBI in a ticket-fixing investigation, will seek the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District.
Singletary, who resigned as a judge amid allegations of sexual harassment, is challenging Rep. Bob Brady in the primary. Also running is Nina Ahmad, former deputy mayor for public engagement.
The investigation into rampant corruption among multiple judges led statewide voters to abolish Traffic Court, moving operations to Municipal Court.
In a video announcing his candidacy, Singletary said he wants to end the “school-to-prison pipeline,” raise the minimum wage, expand affordable housing, increase school funding, improve living conditions for senior citizens and focus on small businesses, veterans and jobs.
“Let us work together to give this congressional district a fresh start that is so deeply deserved,” he said.
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Otto Voit, the 2016 Republican candidate for state treasurer, will seek the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor.
Voit, 60, of Berks County, took 44 percent of the vote in that 2016 race. Democrat Joe Torsella prevailed with 51 percent.
Voit wrote on his “Voit for PA” Facebook page, “I’m in! I am running for Lt. Governor for one simple reason: Pennsylvania is losing right now. Our working families are working harder and earning less, our small businesses are struggling, and our students are buried in debt. It doesn’t have to be this way. By focusing on our essential services, growing our economy, and remembering that we are elected to serve the taxpayers, we can turn Harrisburg around.”
A Penn State graduate, he has more than 30 years of experience in the fields of finance, accounting and operations. He is a U.S. Army veteran, serving with the 101st Airborne Division and during the Persian Gulf War. He also served 16 years on the Muhlenberg Area School Board.
Other Republican candidates for lieutenant governor are businessman Jeff Bartos and former state Rep. Gordon Denlinger.
State Sen. Scott Wagner, a candidate for governor, has endorsed Bartos. ••
