WPSU.ORG: When U.S. Rep. John
Peterson announced a couple months ago he was retiring, it set off
groans throughout newsrooms across his sprawling 5th Congressional
District – including ours.

Not only is this district large but the retirement of Peterson,
a well-known veteran of local politics, meant the field was wide
open for potential successors. Worse, none of the region’s “heir
apparents” in Pennsylvania government appeared interested in the
seat.

What that meant was a field of 12 candidates, all virtually
unknown outside of their home area.

Talk about a nightmare for the media, not to mention voters!

But, as they say, help is on the way. Help is here!

WPSU, our public television station in State College, has
launched a website that gives voters a virtual introduction to all
the candidates vying to replace Peterson in the April 22 primary
election. You may enter through the Era’s website
(www.bradfordera.com) or directly through WPSU’s site
(www.wpsu.org/vote08)

The station’s interactive experience allows voters from one end
of this huge Congressional district to the other to “meet” each of
the 12 candidates in a real way through audio and video. Not only
is there a virtual introduction to the candidates but they spell
out their views on nine issues important to the region and the
country.

The Era has tried to tell voters about each of these candidates
but it’s a challenge. We feel we’ve done a good job and will
continue to write about this election as the April 22 primary
approaches but cold hard type can sometimes be limiting.

Knowing that, we have partnered with WPSU to make this website
more available to our readers.

We ask you to give it a try. The site made us a believer in the
full potential of the Internet. This is where the Internet can and
does complement not just newspaper coverage but radio and
television which is limited and extremely fragmented in this
overwhelmingly rural district that runs from State College to
Bradford to Williamsport.

If the introduction you get to each of the candidates isn’t
enough, try taking the quiz on the site. It will match up your
views to one of the candidates.

We think you’ll agree that this offering is a valuable part of
the election process. Not only that, but it’s fun.