|
We are Getting the Job Done Successfully
Posted 1-6-2007
I've announced that I am seeking another term in
office as County Commissioner, so it is time to share some
thoughts about the upcoming election. It is early, and though
there are a handful of announced candidates on the Republican
side, there is only one in addition to Tom Ceraso and me on the
Democratic side. Certainly other candidates may emerge from both
parties because nothing is official until candidates circulate
petitions, get the proper number of signatures, and file their
petitions.
Every election is different, and what happened
four years ago, or eight years ago, or even twelve years ago
really isn't that relevant now. The dynamics change not only
because of the circumstances of what is happening with the
county itself, but because of the candidates themselves, and the
ever-changing political landscape. So I am not predicting this
year's election based on what happened in the past, but I am
confident when the voters of this county take a look at the
state of their county government, they'll recognize the job that
has been done. And if they had the chance to look at it in
comparison to other counties, they'd be proud of our county
government. That doesn't mean we are perfect, or that the job is
ever done, but that we are making progress. Also, when I look at
the cast of characters that have thrown their hats in the ring,
no one jumps out that has ever come close to successfully facing
the challenges we have.
There isn't too much to write about so far on
the Democratic side. My colleague Tom Ceraso announced he is
seeking re-election and will go into the race with nearly
$100,000 in his campaign fund. Though we are not an official
team, we do share a small joint Political Action Committee to
pay for things that we are jointly supporting. The bulk of our
political advertising will be done by our individual committees
in an effort to inform voters of the issues we believe to be
important.
It is hard to figure out our only opponent on
the Democratic side. I thought this guy was a friend. Four years
ago he hosted a house party for us to meet his friends and
supporters, he took signs from us to supposedly put up and gave
every outward indication that he was a supporter. A few years
back we appointed him as the local elected official on the
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission and the relationship
between county government and his township has always been
amiable. I guess the old adage is true that there is nothing
like an election to find out who your friends are.
Now Perry Christopher (Chairman of the local
Republican Party) take a chill pill. I am writing about the
Republicans, not because I fear them, but because this is a
political web site and even though there will only be two of you
that we face in the General Election, I am enjoying watching the
jockeying between your candidates. Here is my very brief
critique of the Republican candidates (in no particular order).
* The Councilman from Delmont… we always had a
friendly relationship when you were mayor and attended our
Mayors' Forums. It isn't my fault Rolling Rock left; I tried to
do my share of consuming their product. But when a company isn't
locally owned, there is no loyalty to the community. But many
people have worked hard to make the best of the situation, and
the new company will keep the facility alive.
* The former District attorney….I can't say
anything good or bad simply because I really don't know him.
* The Penn Township Commissioner…. I only met
once when he came to the courthouse to lobby for our support for
the possible turnpike slip ramps where Route 130 intersects the
turnpike in Penn Township. The meeting went fine, and we are in
support of the project.
* The Chief of Staff for Commissioner
Light….he's a right wing ideologue who can't find the forks in a
buffet line.
* The Hempfield Township Supervisor….are you
sure you want this job? It isn't part time, and there's no
manager to do your work.
While running county government is a very
serious, challenging job, the election process is like a
yearlong competition, and though it is a tremendous amount of
work, it should be fun too. We watched one of the most
mean-spirited races for the State Senate in our county a few
years ago, and I hope this election doesn't end up in the gutter
like that one did. The issues in this race are really about who
can best manage a $334 million non-profit -- people that have
done it for years or some people who say they can.
|
