For endless weeks, prospective voters have been besieged by all manner of political advertising — some positive, much negative. Some of the advertising is designed to draw distinctions between candidates. Some is designed to anger and disgust voters to the point that they will stay home rather than vote.

Such tactics have worked in other campaigns. Until voters reject the concept, however, negative and nasty political commercials will rule the last days of campaigns. They can begin Tuesday.

Few elections in history have been as important as the one that looms Tuesday. It is a referendum on federal as well as state governments.

At the federal level, control of both houses of Congress hangs in the balance. Those with an eye on the larger picture, however, are watching how state houses break down, including Pennsylvania’s, where the 12-year Republican stranglehold on the state Legislature may be in jeopardy.

Should Democrats gain and maintain control at the state level for the next six years, they would be responsible for redrawing voting districts that could alter the makeup of state and federal offices into the next decade.

In this year’s election, the Intelligencer Journal has endorsed incumbent Gov. Ed Rendell for governor against Republican Lynn Swann.

In the race for the U.S. Senate seat, the Intell endorses state Treasurer Bob Casey over incumbent Republican Rick Santorum.

In the 16th Congressional District, the Intell endorses Democrat Lois Herr over Republican Joe Pitts.

At the local level, we endorse Republican Michael Brubaker for the 36th state Senate seat being vacated by retiring state Sen. Noah Wenger.

In state House races, the Intell endorses: Democrat Lee Heffner in the 37th, Republican Katie True in the 41st, Democrat Mike Sturla in the 96th and Democrat Ginny DiIlio in the 99th.

The newspaper did not endorse in the 97th state House District race between Democrat Tim Callahan and Republican John Bear. The winner will replace Roy Baldwin, who lost to Bear in the spring primary election.

• One of the most important aspects of this year’s election concerns the Government Study Commission. Voters will be asked if a commission should be established to study the current form of county government. They also will be asked to elect 11 members to the commission from a crowded field of 36.

If the referendum is approved, those 11 commission members will study county government and make recommendations to the voters.

We know not what form county government should take, but believe the current form — which dates to Revolutionary times — is long overdue for study.

Since the three-commissioner, row-office form of county government was established, this nation has granted blacks, women and 18-year-olds the right to vote; allowed U.S. senators to be elected by direct popular vote; approved and repealed liquor prohibitions; and eliminated the poll tax. Certainly a study to determine if the present form of government is the most efficient is worth undertaking.

In conjunction with the study, the Intell has endorsed 16 candidates for the 11 positions on the study commission. They are: Robert K. Bowman, Mary L. Clinton, Martin Dees Jr., Samuel Mecum, James A. Miller Jr., Joyce A. Moyer, Carol Y. Phillips, Timothy Roschel, John E. Smucker II, Richard Watson Jr., William E. Whitesell, James F. Bednar, James N. Clymer, Arthur K. Mann Sr., Tom O’Brien and Bill Saylor.

We offer this list of recommended candidates and urge voters to make the effort to go to the polls Tuesday. blog comments powered by Disqus