By AMBER SOUTH
@ShipNewsGirl
Upcoming workshops will promote democracy by giving first-time potential candidates the knowledge necessary for running for local public office.
Penn State Extension of Adams County will host several sessions of “Toss Your Hat in the Ring,” in Franklin, Cumberland, York and Adams counties with the help of the respective elections offices.
In Chambersburg, the workshop is scheduled 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 23 at Franklin County Administrative Annex, 218 N. Second St. The Cumberland County workshop is scheduled 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Cumberland County Service …

By AMBER SOUTH@ShipNewsGirl
SHIPPENSBURG — The Shippensburg Borough Council voted unanimously to make Sue Fisher the West Ward representative of council Thursday.
Fisher fills the seat left empty due to the resignation of Jon Baker. Council regretfully accepted his resignation Dec. 4 due to him moving out of the borough.
Because she was appointed to the seat and not elected, Fisher will hold the seat for one year. Should she wish to continue in the position, she will need to begin in February the process required to get on the ballot.
During her interview …

By JIM HOOK @JimHookPO
Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Chambersburg, has secured his fifth term in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Kauffman won Tuesday with an unofficial 18,034 to 11,746 votes over challenger Susan Spicka, a Democrat from Shippensburg.
Kauffman had 61 percent of the vote to Spicka’s 39 percent. Kauffman took Franklin County precincts 15,335 to 8,997 (63 percent to 37 percent.) In rural parts of the county, Kauffman won upwards of 75 percent of the vote.
Kauffman also narrowly won the six precincts in Cumberland County by 2,821 to 2,809.
Kauffman called “a successful re-election” at …

By AMBER SOUTH
@ShipNewsGirl
Many Shippensburg University students are ready to demonstrate their stances on the big issues of education and jobs by casting their first votes in a presidential election.
Conversations with a number of students hanging out in the Anthony F. Ceddia Union Building late Friday morning revealed that these are the dominating forces behind young voters’ decisions.
Freshman Matthew Kline, who identifies as a Democrat, feels that the outcome of the election will determine how easily he will be able to pay for the remainder of his college career.
“I gotta …

By AMBER SOUTH
@ShipNewsGirl
College students put their own twist on the presidential debates Thursday night in order to educate their peers on where each candidate stands on issues affecting college crowd.
Shippensburg University College Democrats President Irma Zejcirovic and College Republicans Vice President Nick Chapa went head to head in “The Slate Presents: Decision 2012 – The Choice is Yours,” hosted by SU’s student-run newspaper The Slate. About 100 students were scattered throughout the campus’s Memorial Auditorium for the event. Naomi Creason, city editor of The Sentinel in Carlisle, acted as …

The Slate, Shippensburg University’s student-run newspaper, will host a political event Thursday to educate young voters on the array of issues represented in the 2012 presidential election.
“The Slate Presents- Decision 2012: The Choice is YOURS,” will take place 7:30 to 9 p.m. in SU’s Memorial Auditorium, Dauphin Drive. Highlights include:
• Debate: Student democrat and republican groups will engage in debate on the major issues of the election. Featured debate moderator is Naomi Creason, City Editor for The Sentinel, Carlisle.
• Faculty Presentation: Several members of the SU Political Science department will …

HARRISBURG — Education Voters Action Fund of Pennsylvania, an independent public interest organization, announced today that they are endorsing Susan Spicka for State Representative of the 89th District based on her support for public education.
Spicka has been an advocate for public education since she helped host the first mock Bake Sale in the rotunda of the capitol two years ago. As a mother of two daughters and a former teacher, she understands how critical having a strong public education system is to the health of our communities, according to …

HARRISBURG –- State Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Cumberland/Franklin) this week was named a “Guardian of Small Business” by the Pennsylvania Leadership Council of the National Federation of Independent Business in recognition of his pro-business voting record for the 2011-12 legislative session.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They are our job creators and are responsible for employing 48 percent of the private-sector workforce. I am proud of my record supporting legislation to bolster the business climate as we seek to make Pennsylvania a more business-friendly environment where small businesses have …

By ANNA SEILS
Asst. Ship Life Editor/The Slate
The student club Ship Votes went door-to-door during classes at Shippensburg University on Sept. 19 to encourage students to vote and help with voter registration applications.
Ship Votes is a non-partisan, voter registration group with more than 50 volunteers who have registered more than 600 students to vote this year.
Katy Clay, a history professor, is the adviser of Ship Votes. She has given up all campaigns with the college Republicans and Democrats to be part of the non-partisan group.
“It doesn’t matter what party you are …

By AMBER SOUTH
@ShipNewsGirl
SHIPPENSBURG — An expert will discuss the details and implications of the voter identification law requiring all Pennsylvanians to show a valid form of photo ID in order to vote in November elections in a presentation next month at Shippensburg University.
Spencer Overton, faculty member at George Washington University Law School, will present, “Voter Identification Laws and Voter Suppression,” at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 in Memorial Auditorium. An internationally known expert on politics and voter rights, Overton was head of President Obama’s 2008 transition team and a member …