The office of U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., said in a statement that the senator has now cast more than 1,000 votes on the floor.

And he’s the only member of the 10-member class who hasn’t missed a vote since being elected to the Senate in 2006, according to Casey.

The office also said he’s the first of that class to reach 1,000.

– John Guerriero

The event begins at 5 p.m.

Huber is expected to voice opposition to the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper of Erie supports.  Huber is seeking the GOP nomination for the 3rd Congressional District seat in the 2010 election — a seat Dahlkemper currently holds.

–Kevin Flowers

The nine-person committee is chaired by Erie lawyer Leonard Ambrose and also includes Dennis Tobin of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office; former county public safety director Joseph Weindorf; Erie businessman Julio C. Reyes; federal public defender Thomas Patton; and lawyers Ronald DiNicola, Alicia Barney-Duck, Jeff Connelly and Edith Benson.

Grossman said the committee will solicit applications for the position and review those candidates.  The committee will then recommend three candidates as finalists for the job, and Grossman will choose from those three names.

Current Public Defender Tony Logue has been told that he is welcome to submit his name for consideration, Grossman said.

–Kevin Flowers

I’ve known for years that he is a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, which just endured a 17th consecutive losing season.

Now McGrath tells me he also roots for the Cleveland Browns, the NFL team that is going through another miserable season.

Ouch.

– John Guerriero

–Kevin Flowers

After the Erie County Election Office counted write-in votes this week, the results showed ties in several municipal races.

And when there is a tie, the election is decided by chance — either a flip of a coin or some other method.

In Erie County, the candidates draw numbered ping-pong balls, said Sharon Drayer, supervisor of the election office. The ball numbered 1 is the one to draw, she said.

The drawing will be held at noon. Stay tuned.

– John Guerriero

Grossman, of Fairview, garnered 26,211 votes to 25,868 for Greene Township’s Kerner, according to final vote totals.

Both men lauded each other at a news conference earlier today for running clean campaigns that stuck to the issues.  They even shared a handshake — and a hug.

“You don’t have to degrade or demonize your opponent to win,” Grossman said.

Said Kerner, who fought back tears as he talked: “I’m extremely emotional right now. I put an extreme amount of time and effort into this. I hate losing, and it’s difficult to come up short.”

–Kevin Flowers

VOTE.

You only have a few more hours until the polls close today at 8 p.m.

– John Guerriero

About 2,600 children and adults were invited to trick or treat at the White House, and President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greeted some of them, according to a pool report from USA Today.

Michelle Obama dressed as Catwoman, while other highlights included Press Secretary Robert Gibbs as Darth Vader and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice as Goofy, the report said.

In case you were wondering, President Obama didn’t get into a costume.

– John Guerriero

Sinnott, a Democrat, is one of 12 Pennsylvania mayors or mayoral candidates endorsed by the group. Sinnott faces Republican Jack Anderson in Tuesday’s municipal election, and the incumbent is widely expected to easily win a second four-year term in the city’s top job.

A recent CeaseFirePA press release stated that the group chose to endorse mayors who have “taken a leadership role, standing up for local efforts to pass common sense reforms to reduce access to illegal handguns.”

Other mayors/candidates endorsed by the group include:

• Munhall – Mayor Raymond Bodnar
• Homestead – Mayor Betty Esper
• West Homestead – Mayor John Dindak
• Lancaster – Mayor Richard Gray
• Oxford – Mayor Geoff Henry
• Allentown – Mayor Ed Pawlowski
• Pottsville – Mayor John Reiley
• Wilkinsburg – Mayor John Thompson
• Pittsburgh – Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
• Harrisburg – Council President Linda Thompson
• York – Kim Bracey
  

–Kevin Flowers