Jon Delano had an article in Pittsburgh Business Times last week titled, "Allegheny County executive race unlikely to draw large amount of voters." Jon wrote:
The only independent poll to date, conducted by Civic Science using online methodology that old-time pollsters still question, gives Fitzgerald a 10-point lead over Raja, 41 percent to 31 percent. That leaves a whopping 28 percent undecided, more than enough to change the balance.
Does Raja have Mt. Lebanon's support?
The election for Allegheny County Executive demonstrates the vacuousness of the two major political parties. As far as I'm concerned a choice between Raja and Fitzgerald is no choice at all – rather like voting for candidates for the Mt. Lebanon School Board. In Nevada the ballot includes the option, “None of These Candidates”; although even if the majority of voters choose this option the candidate with the most votes still wins (a pity). Still, it would be nice to see that as an option here, with the proviso that if “none of the above” wins it would force another election at the next opportunity.
ReplyDeleteBetter still, what is needed are strong independent candidates. The time is ripe for them. Over the past few years the number of people labeling themselves as Republicans or Democrats has dropped, and the largest increase in voter "identification" has been amongst independents. In 1970 a Harris Poll revealed that 49% of voters identified themselves as Democrats and 31% as Republicans. In 2009 Harris found those figures to be 36% for Democrats, 26% for Republicans, and 38% for Independents. (source: Reason Foundation, quoting Harris Poll figures)
Richard Gideon
Richard, I feel the same way. What is being spent on Raja's campaign is close to what he was hoping to raise with his storm water fee idea. I wish I had a "None of These Candidates" option for the commissioner race in Ward 3. I can't vote for either one of them. And for school board? Well, that is a joke too. I never miss an election, but this year, there is not much incentive for me. I think I will be writing in names this time.
ReplyDeleteElaine
We still have a subtle option that sends as strong a message as "none of these candidates."
ReplyDeleteThe write in. Put in your own name, your neighbors, Giffen Goods, Mickey Mouse's or even "None of these Candidates." Its pretty much guaranteed that your write in will not win a seat, but it still counts as a vote cast therefore sending the same message that your weren't happy with candidates offered on the ballot.
By not voting at all the message can be construed as voter apathy or laziness. By writing in candidates you at least send a message. I'm going with Giffen Good! Who knows if he and sveral other write-ins do manage to win school board seats what happens then?
Dick Saunders
Good idea, Dick. I am still writing in my name for Ward 3. Hey, I can't help myself. For school board, are there five write in spaces since there are five seats open? Giffen Good has a shot!Wouldn't that be funny?
ReplyDeleteElaine
Mr. Saunders:
ReplyDeleteWell put. In fact, I did that very thing a couple of election cycles ago by writing in the following for positions on the Mt. Lebanon School Board: Moses Harry Horwitz, Louis Feinberg, and Jerome Lester Horwitz. Unfortunately, they are all dead. For those of you who do not recognize the names, you may be more familiar with them by their more famous monikers of Moe, Larry, and Curly.
Richard Gideon
Good for you, Elaine. You obviously believe you're the best candidate and after following or trying to find the campaign rhetoric (or absence of same)from your opponents, I'm inclined to believe you're right.
ReplyDeleteLawn signs don't tell me a lot!
The point is, there is nothing in the US or state Constitutions that orders you to vote for the candidates listed on the ballot.
Rather than voting for th lesser of two or five evils... send a message... VOTE! If only to viote for "none of the above."
Dick Saunders
Oh, that is priceless, Richard!
ReplyDeleteElaine
Mr. Gideon, its quite possible they may have actually won!
ReplyDeleteDick Saunders
Statewide Performance Ranking for 2011
ReplyDeleteMt Lebanon Improved from # 7 to #6.
High Performing Competing Districts
1 Upper St Clair
5 North Allegheny
6 Mt. Lebanon
10 Peters
12 South Fayette
34 Bethel Park
Low Performing Districts
476 Pittsburgh
478 Woodland Hills
480 McKeesport
484 Philadelphia
486 Sto-Rox
491 Clairton
494 Harrisburg – City Bankrupt
495 Wilkinsburg
497 Duquesne – Closing 6/12
From Pittsburgh Business Times
http://www2.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/events/pennsylvania_schools/statewiderank.html?appSession=776136134931328&RecordID=&PageID=2&PrevPageID=&cpipage=1&CPISortType=&CPIorderBy=
I have never seen a politician with less to say than Raja.
ReplyDeleteCharles Jones