The executive committee of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party voted this week to nominate Maryanne Cole to fill the vacancy on the ballot for the general election for Pennsylvania House District 67.
The vote was taken after receiving a recommendation from the Democratic committees of Cameron, McKean and Potter counties, the state Democratic Party explained in a statement Friday.
“It’s official now,” Cole, of Bradford, confirmed. “I am on the ballot in November.”
She is running for the seat against incumbent Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint.
Whether Cole would continue her campaign came into question early in August when there was a mixup with her candidate paperwork. Cole reported that she had certified letters saying she met the deadlines for paperwork to be filed with the Department of State, but she learned the paperwork did not reach the proper officials within the deadline.
Her campaign was temporarily suspended.
“It was frustrating for a while,” Cole said. “I really appreciate all the help that I got from the party and my supporters here in District 67.”
Cole, raised in Bradford, is an educator who has taught at colleges and universities all over the country. Having spent so many years preparing students for success in their chosen fields, she now would like to represent constituents in rural Pennsylvania.
Her education includes a bachelor’s degree from UCLA, a master’s from Kent State University and a doctorate from Case Western Reserve University, all in English language and literature.
“Maryanne Cole is running to be a champion for her constituents,” said state Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Patton Mills. “Her priorities are working Pennsylvanians’ priorities — access to health care, workers rights and well-funded education for all Pennsylvanians. We are going to work to get Maryanne elected in November.”
Nathan Davidson, executive director of the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee, was also pleased with the nomination.
“Democrats are running in 180 out of the 203 districts in the State House in 2018, the highest number in a generation,” said Davidson. “We are thrilled to see Maryanne join our class this year because not only does she showcase the diversity of our state, but because she is running to represent the people of Pennsylvania not the special interests who call the shots in Harrisburg.”
