'Fed up with government? Get 300 signatures and get on ballot for change'

Can you do a better job than your current state legislator or representative in Congress? Well, here's your chance. Starting today, you can circulate nominating petitions to get on the May primary ballot.

From an editorial in today's edition of The Pottstown Mercury:

Fed up with government?

Tired of state lawmakers failing to enact property tax reform or fix the problems ailing Pennsylvania?

Concerned that public servants are corrupted by petty politics?

Have some ideas on how to fix things?

Here's your chance.

Today begins this year's election cycle. This is the first day to begin circulating petitions to get on the primary ballot in the spring on the way to taking office next January.

It just takes some money for a filing fee and some time to collect names on a nominating petition.

Of course there's more to gaining or holding public office, but the point is that the opportunity is available to just about anyone, so there is no real excuse to spend another year as a backseat legislator.

In Pennsylvania, every one of the 203 seats in the state House of Representatives is up for grabs, as are 25 of the 50 state Senate seats.

Voters in Pennsylvania will also be electing a U.S. senator and congressmen in every district in the state.

The signature requirements and filing fees vary, depending on the office being sought. Information on the requirements are available on the Department of State Web site, www.dos.state.pa.us

Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.