BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Elections typically put well-known public service seats in the spotlight.
Not that judicial campaigns aren't well known, but campaigning for these positions are more complicated than a seat on borough council or county commissioners.
This week on Political Pulse, host Tom Shortell talks about races for judicial offices with Celeste Dee, owner of Lehigh Valley-based Advantage Political Strategies. Shortell says Dee has managed races for statewide judicial offices.
"... Judges rarely campaign on an issue," Shortell said. "They say they need to remain neutral if they're called to make a ruling on that topic."
Dee said judicial candidates instead focus on experience and credentials. Voters can also look at prior rulings for those who have already been a judge, she said.
"... Judges are normally not someone that the average person comes in contact with, and they're kind of this mystery thing in a robe on a bench," Dee said. "And so I work very hard with the judges and the judicial candidates to humanize them with the voters..."
What else makes campaigning as a judge difficult? Dee said they're "not allowed to promise you anything."
There's other restrictions, too. Learn more by clicking the play button on the module below or by watching the video above.
