Nominee

Re: "Ethics is so last year," Friday: As a councilman, despite fierce opposition, I fought to create a strong, independent city Board of Ethics. I am proud of the board's work, and remain its strongest supporter. A few weeks ago, when asked by a reporter, I gave my opinion that the Ethics Board should have called for an independent review of matters that involve its members or staff. I stand by that opinion, because even the Ethics Board must make sure that the public has confidence when a question is raised about its operations.

The township's Democratic Executive Committee last night selected three party members as potential replacements for a vacant council seat. Because the Democratic party controls the council, 6-1, the party's executive committee was legally entitled to offer three names for consideration to the Township Council. About 35 of the committee's 42 members took part in last night's vote, according to one party official. On Wednesday, after a 10-minute, closed-door interview with each of nominee, the council is expected to name one to replace Chuck Fiore, who left council Jan. 9 to become the township solicitor.

While the collection of men and women named to run Pennsylvania the next four years - "Team Ridge" - is finally taking form, many say the form looks more gaseous than solid. "Inert" gas, some say. State senators waiting to confirm Gov. Ridge's picks for his 18-member Cabinet call the group hard to get a handle on. With two exceptions, they seem generally ready to govern with little oomph. Government-watchers, advocacy organizations and do-good groups call the Cabinet so far pretty tame, evidence the new governor is looking to provide less governing.

By Timothy K. Lewis Recent attacks on judges and the courts by various candidates for office have at least raised the visibility of the role of the judiciary in American society. Unfortunately, the picture is not a promising one. The reason for the pessimism stems not from overreaching judges or out-of-control courts, but instead from a government branch caught in the middle of a political tug-of-war threatening to stymie any action at all. Judicial vacancies permeate court after court across the nation.

Whatever Harriet Miers and President Bush say publicly, the real reason Miers withdrew her nomination to the Supreme Court was that she was not acceptable to ultraconservatives. Hard-core conservatives in the Republican Party, such as Sens. Sam Brownback of Kansas and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, and hard-charging conservative interest groups such as Concerned Women for America and the Family Research Council, have made clear that they demand a nominee with established conservative bona fides, someone in the Antonin Scalia or Clarence Thomas mold.

LET THE games begin! What games, you ask? The shrieking and wailing, the tearing of hair and the gnashing of teeth, the ill-concealed sarcasm and the self-righteous posturing. In short, the Senate confirmation hearings on John Roberts. President Bush nominated Judge Roberts, a member of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, to fill the vacancy left by the retiring Sandra Day O'Connor. While the nomination surprised those anticipating a woman, Alberto Gonzalez or Attila the Hun (apparently unavailable)

Rick Santorum finally endorsed Mitt Romney for president, but he sure didn't trumpet the fact. The word came near the end of the 13th paragraph of an e-mail that hit the inboxes of Santorum supporters about 11 p.m. Monday - more than 900 words into his 1,107-word message. The former Pennsylvania senator wrote of his "clear differences" with Romney, illuminated during their bitter fight in the primaries, but said he was reassured that the presumptive Republican nominee would stand up for conservative principles after a private meeting the two men held last week in Pittsburgh.

For the third time, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge made it to the short list of potential vice presidents. For the third time, he was passed over. Republicans close to the campaign of Sen. John McCain have said the nominee seriously considered naming his good friend Ridge to the ticket, even though the former governor's stance supporting abortion rights might have brought trouble from the right. Ridge said yesterday that he was fine with being three times a bridesmaid.

SEN. CLINTON, it's time. While the Obama campaign and others in the Democratic Party are treading lightly and trying not to say flat out that it's time for you to end your quest for the presidency, I'm not going to mince words. You've run an impressive campaign over the last few weeks, especially in Pennsylvania, where you scored a decisive victory. Had you knocked Sen. Barack Obama on the ropes by performing strongly in North Carolina and winning big in Indiana, there would be every reason to further consider your argument that Obama was severely weakened by his connection with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and was unelectable.

When Robert N.C. Nix Jr. steps down from the state's top court, Gov. Ridge gets to name a replacement - and faces a number of political options. Ridge, a Republican from Erie, must decide whether to name: An African-American to replace the only African-American on the seven-member court. Someone from central, northeastern or northwestern Pennsylvania to add geographic balance to a bench that includes (without Nix) two justices from Philadelphia, three from Pittsburgh and one from Montgomery County.