If you attended the 42nd Pennsylvania House District candidates forum at the Bethel Municipal Building, or listened to the podcast on Lebo Citizens, who do you think made the best overall presentation?
George Brown - Libertarian
Dan Miller - Democrat
Dan Remely - Republican
If you want to sign your name, great. If you choose to remain anonymous, that is your right.
Who are you supporting in the Special Election? Just say why you are supporting your candidate without trashing any of the others. No negative comments. Who should win the Special Election?
Who are you supporting in the Special Election? Just say why you are supporting your candidate without trashing any of the others. No negative comments. Who should win the Special Election?
Care to comment about the County Council race between Krista Harris and Sue Means? I would like to hear some good, solid facts. No fluff. Who deserves our vote?
Finally, not much of a choice, but if you have something positive to say about the school board candidates, now is your chance.
Don't forget to vote on Tuesday.
65 comments:
Regarding the county council race, I'd also like to hear some facts. Harris wont share who is funding her campaign, has no platform and has somehow tacked "conservative" to her campaign with substantiating it. Facts? Yes please.
Go Mr. Brown and Mr. Hill.
Thats my votes.
Hill is the only candidate who will admit that State funding is up almost 10%, according to the final budget.
Hill was quoted as saying, "The district's funding from the state was not cut for the current school year nor is it projected to be cut next year."
Elaine
11:55 try this website to find out funding for your candidate http://documents.alleghenycounty.us/elections/DatasourceTemplate.aspx
Since the question asks "..who do you think made the best overall presentation?", I give the nod to George Brown. He addressed the questions well, challenged the premise of a couple of them, and stayed on track. His summary at the end was a bit weak - not surprising for someone who is not a professional politician; but overall his was the strongest presentation.
7:38 AM, I am having trouble trying to use that website. I keep getting "No Documents Found." for Krista Harris. I put in "Means" and found all sorts of documents for her. Tried "Harris" and got Franco and a few others. I then entered "Harris Krista" with no luck. Then Krista Harris. Nothing.
There is nothing listed for Remely for school board except from 2009. There won't be anything listed for the State House race because this is county.
Elaine
RG, I just changed it up a bit. I also added the question, Who are you supporting in the Special Election?"
Elaine
Brown, Means, Hill. Period.
Last election, we had quite a discussion about plunking. Are you doing that, 8:28 AM? Would that have any effect on the Primary for school board candidates? We can vote for UP TO four candidates.
My choice for County Council is Sue Means. She is experienced and transparent.
Elaine
Means has my vote for County Council. Means is experienced and Harris is inexperienced. Since Harris keeps sending out pictures of her cute baby, Means has even had a lot more babies. Means is a lifelong resident of Allegheny County and held her own running against Raja. Harris is from another county so what does she know about Allegheny County? The best voice to represent me is Means. We need more than a political fundraiser in elected office.
I am plunking for school board except I will be voting for Hill. He is the only rational choice to anyone who wants better management of the school district. The others just spend spend spend and then blame their predicament on other people. It needs to stop.
The house seat is also an easy choice. George Brown gets my vote. The two party system of R's and D's dominating is bad for this country. They control too much, even what goes out in the way of campaign literature without the candidate's input. It's disgusting, really. Then they control who wins the office. Brown won't have that problem.
R's do not seem to be supporting Remely with donations. His campaign fund raising for State Rep. has netted less than $16,000 of which $4,500 is his personal loan and an underwhelming $1,000 is from the RCML. Raja is notably MIA on the list of individual contributors.
The state R party has just sent out it's second negative mailer on Dan Miller. Sad !
Another negative mailer? Why are we only seeing negative mailers from the Republicans? Stop it, guys. Don't you see what you have done to us? Miller was an excellent commissioner. Though I didn't agree with everything he did, I respect him and know that he would do an excellent job representing us. Remember this? http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-heart-dan-miller.html
I have never voted for a Democrat or a Libertarian before, but as the one letter to the editor said, the party left me. That makes me sad. To think that I have been removed from their mailing list infuriates me. They don't want me either. Like the man without a country, I am a woman without a party.
I am still trying to get the County Council podcast. I should be able to get it this weekend.
Elaine
8:28, that is a complete sentence.
I like the sound of it.
Brown, Means, Hill.
Let's make it happen on Tuesday!
I am registered as an independent and I am a housewife. I am voting for George Brown
I have changed my mind and I'm voting for Mr. Hill for school board.
To borrow a phrase from Pete Townsend:
"LETS SEE ACTION, LETS SEE PEOPLE, LET'S SEE WHO CARES!
Get out and vote!
If you like the status quo... Vote Remely or Miller.
Want to shake things up a bit, then the obvious choice is George Brown. As Mr. Gideon said: he did good, he makes sense. Besides, one man isn't going to turn Harrisburg around by himself and that includes Remely or Miller. But if you want to get the major parties to sit up and notice, sending Brown to the capital will do it.
So Brown, Means & Hill! The rest, why bother.
Wake up people. How many politicians have we seen convicted of crimes from both parties... think one if them sent out campaign literature pledging to pick the public's pockets for their own self-interest?
Meanwhile,, we have no property tax reform, mountains of public pension debt, deteriorating bridges, roads and infrastructure and escalating college tuition that far outpaces inflation.
If Remely and Miller are going to waste money, not on telling you how they're going to make the system better, but rather on trying to make their opponent look bad... how do you think they'll operate when they get to Harrisburg?
Go for Brown!
Well, I know who I will vote for in the 42nd district race.
Mr. Gideon (7:46 AM) is very perceptive. I did fumble the closing at the forum and here’s why. In fact, I had a powerful closing ready that I had rehearsed. I planned to go after both of my opponents with lines like “Not a ‘Dan’ bit of difference between them.” I even had the original League of Women Voters announcement in my pocket. You know, the one that had Dan Remely under Dan Miller’s picture and vice-versa. I planned to use it to reinforce the notion that there is no difference between them.
But something strange happened along the way. After spending some time chatting with Dan & Dan, I realized they are both good guys. Before the forum, Dan Miller and I had a great time talking about the experience each of us had in Shanghai, China. Both of these guys are running because each has ideas and each wants to change things for the better. I felt it just wouldn’t be right to take shots at them, and decided at the very end I wouldn’t do it and so I had to improvise.
I also realized that both Dans have no problem talking to me because, I believe, I am not threatening to them. They can entertain my ideas without prejudice because my ideas are not stamped with an R or a D. Should I get to Harrisburg, I think this dynamic will serve me well. I believe my fellow legislators will be willing to sit down and listen to me and feel free to discuss ideas. I then realized how powerful this could be. After all, getting someone to listen openly is 90% of the battle. I’ll gladly accept the other 10% of the fight, i.e. convincing them libertarian ideas and principles are reasonable and worth supporting. After all, these ideas are founded in personal liberty and freedom, and who in the Commonwealth doesn’t believe in liberty. I’m willing to bet the number is very few.
Folks, I grew up a Democrat. My first vote was for Jimmy Carter. My 87 year old father, a navy veteran of WWII, is still a Democrat. I’ve also been a Republican, but I never quite felt at home in either party. I’ve finally found my home.
Of course, I want you to vote for me. But even if you don’t, take some time to study the principles we Libertarians try to advance. If you do that, then I will have made a difference in this election, regardless of the outcome.
Thanks.
Funny... Elaine and her fellow bloggers are accuses of being wing nuts, hateful, and mean-spirited, but what tactics do the two House candidates employ.
Mean spirited name calling and negative comments about their opponents!
These officials' constituents can't be critical, can't make negative comments about their leadership, can't question their agendas, IQ or affiliations. Oh to question our representatives ... how gauche, how improper!
BUT... It's perfectly acceptable that the republican candidate can go after the democrat and the democrat after the republican using just those tactics!
- Giffen Good
You chose the high road George... refreshing!
Go George!
George Brown is a principled man and a class act!
No brainer.
Dan Miller for State Rep.
For school director,
Riemer
Birks
Remely
Moorhead
Yes, I am a PTA dad. And proud of it!
Wouldn't it be something if both Remely's and Miller's teams slammed George Brown in their mailers. They won't though because he's not perceived as a threat.
Let's surprise them!
Miller
Riemer
Birks
Moorhead.....can't vote for Remely
7:54. No vote for the fourth member of the Birks, Moorhead , Riemer... And Hill Team?
Tells us something I suspect.
5:42, stop going to PTA meetings and start attending school board meetings.
You child's education and your ability to stay in your own house may depend on it.
PTA dad and proud of it? Then please stay home on primary day. It's people like you that drink the koolaid and keep electing people like Birks.
PTA dad, can I ask why you're Remely over Hill.
I like what limited things I've heard and read about him, but since you're a proud PTAer maybe you know something I don't.
So please share your reasons for exposing the 4th member of the Birks team. You might sway my vote.
PTA dad, your choices baffle me. Birks, Hill, Moorhead and Riemer are running as a team so one would think Mary, Moorhead and Riemer are supporting their fourth partner Mr. Hill.
Didn't they think through there team? Has there been a falling out? Shouldn't voters be in on the break up of the team?
Then the other issue, is Remely more in line with Birks, Moorhead and Riemer?
PTA dad may have just exposed the reason the PTA sponsored SB candidates forum was cancelled!
Apparently, the Birks team isn't the team they want the public to think it is. Going through with the forum would make differing opinions public. Which might, and this is pure speculation, expose issues Mary and the PTA don't want to talk about.
Corrections to 2:18 for clarification.
"PTA dad, can I ask why you're voting for Remely over Hill?
I like what limited things I've heard and read about him [Hill], but since you're a proud PTAer maybe you know something I don't.
So please, share your reasons for [excluding] the 4th member of the Birks team. You might sway my vote."
From the School Board Candidates Q & A on the district web site.
Mary responds to two of the questions:
"4. What are your primary objectives if elected? If any of them require additional funding, how will they be paid for?
Continue collaborative efforts on the Board; work diligently to bring the high school project in on time and within the budget; encourage and engage in constructive dialogue with all community stakeholders, as well as lawmakers. None of these ideas require additional funding.
9. What possible revenue-generating measures for the district would you support and why?
... "We continue to look at anything and everything in order to raise money for the district."
If her answer to #4 is none of her ideas require additional funding, why will she look at "anything and everything in order to raise money for the district"?
Sounds to me like higher taxes and higher student fees are possibly on the way according to Mary.
But... she said her ideas don't need additional funding didn't she?!!! So what's her plan, her agenda?
The Board knew the arbitrator's decision on the grievance by very early February. The cost is way, way over $900,000 in salary and benefit costs for teachers and will greatly increase the 4.15% average five-year average increased cost of the teachers contract.
These costs are not budgeted and the district will have to make significant cuts in programs that will impact the education of our children to stay within the Act 1 limits plus exceptions.
The impact will have a negative impact on the employment of teachers and support staff and result in the students getting only an adequate education.
The incumbents, and past board members, set up this problem. If you have children in our schools be very careful with your vote.
A past PTA dad
Past PTA dad, any guess on how much more than $900,000? Didn't Larry say that the fund balance could be used for the grievance? Don't worry. I am not voting for Remely or Birks.
Elaine
Isn't it ironic that the politicians that pledge to increase transparency often turn out to operate behind closed doors the most!
Elaine,
Ask a high school algebra ll teacher about the cost.
A past PTA dad
I am not sure what you mean. Are you referring to the union president?
Elaine
@1:29 why don't you tell us ?
Why won't our eyes, ears and mouths on the school board tell us, our incumbent directors seeking reelection?
Their first obligation is not to the administration, not to the teachers, but to their constituents.
So what is so top secret about the grievance? Everybody knows there is one! Everyone knows what it is about and who filed it. Why the secrecy? Are there some state secrets that will blow the doors off? The teachers are either entitled to the back pay or not.
So why are the people that will pay for the grievance settlement cut out from knowing what is going on before they can vote on new directors?
5:20 PM, I asked the school board nine questions at the special budget meeting, one of the questions was about the grievance. When I asked if the school board directors could each take a question, incumbent director seeking reelection, Mary Birks said, "No way!"
Sadly, their first obligation is to the administration, then the teachers, and lastly, their constituents.
At least one of those incumbent directors will make the cut on Tuesday. In the words of Josephine Posti, "Ugh."
Elaine
Our school board's lack of transparency does not surprise me in the least.
"Leviathan," the Thomas Hobbes version, has been emboldened over the past several years to the point that "he" no longer cares for the opinions of his subjects.
Steven Greenhut of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity writes in Reason Magazine that the recent scandals in Washington are not confined to one political party or the federal government. "This is not a Democratic problem per se, but a government problem. And local governments are arguably even more dangerous to our liberties."
He is correct; especially when one considers that money and liberty are directly related. The people who comprise local governments - and our school board qualifies as a local government because of its ability to tax - live just minutes away from our homes. Being transparent might ruin their grand plans, or subject them to criticism and many difficult questions from local taxpayers.
By the way, if you don't know who Thomas Hobbes is then your public school has failed you. Look him up.
I'd disagree and say the union comes first, then the administration, then students, then the taxpayer.
But, regardless of the order... why the secrecy? There is nothing in the negotiation of the grievance that should be hidden. It is not like this is a personal personnel issue that can't be public, It is a union contract issue which will eventually be available to RTKs.
What in the world could they be talking about that the stakeholders shouldn't be privy to from the start?
Another question, why the delay by the union in filing the grievance? Shouldn't this issue have been resolved with the first long term sub that got hired full time?
Here we have a $900,000 budget issue facing a school board and administration that only weeks ago claimed they've cut all the fat in the budget. They claim anything more in cuts will cut into the meat of their core obligations.
So this grievance is really one he'll of a big deal, to the curriculum, to our pocketbooks and our home values.
Where are we just two days before the primary whern we'll pick the very people that will deal with a $900,000 annual budget increase or a group of teachers po'd that they got cheated if a decision doesn't go their way.
Nobody's talking! We're not allowed to know! We can't ask the incumbents or the new candidates-- how will you deal with this $900,000 issue.
Hey folks, it's not your school district any more, get used to it. They'll decided what you can or cannot know-- and if you don't like it, get the helll out of Mt. Lebanon.
7:25 PM this issue is already over $900,000 and climbing. Thank the PSEA for that. The total so far is available on the district website.
9:41 PM, where and what is the total?
Elaine
The number is available on this website. Learn to read and you will know how poorly you are being treated by the R's and the D's on the school board.The MLEA agreed not to pursue this grievance four times until an high school algebra 11 teacher and the PSEA stirred it up. Many of the best-education-possible alternatives will no longer be available here if you elect the wrong candidates.Larger class size and fewer options are on the way. Union influence is infecting our schools.
6:14 AM, it has been established that I can't do math. OK, I'll admit I can't read either. It is a wonder that I can make it through the day. So for all of us idiots out here, what is the number and specifically, where can we find the information? A link would be helpful. This reminds me of my exchange with Elaine Cappucci during the special budget forum. She said everything is on the website, when it isn't. Getting information in this town is like pulling teeth!
Elaine
6:14, Elaine knows how to read.
The documentation is not available.
What you wrote makes no sense. The MLEA agreed not to pursue the grievance? Why would they do that? It would give away any strategic advantage. They simply filed the grievance when the time was right.
The PSEA stirred it up? The MLEA is part of the PSEA. You wrote, "if you elect the wrong candidates"? How are we supposed to know which ones unless you tell us?
When will you figure out R and D doesn't matter if the directors can cross-file?
Residents are treated poorly because we have 5 people running for 4 seats in this election, and we had 6 people running for 5 seats in the previous election.
You should run for election so the other directors can get you liqored up and text others to call the cops as you walk home.
6:14 if the info is readily available on the district website can you direct us to it please?
Remely and Birks aren't going to tell us anything, you can be damn sure Capucci, Cooper and Lebowitz aren't talking.
So there are less than 24 hours before the polls open tomorrow. Those voters that care, are energetic enough to get out and vote need your info if it truly exist.
We have two of three candidates pledging to send the district more from Harrisburg... Uh,, more taxes anybody!
Four SB candidates pledging more spending. One, Hill appears to understand, Hill, that state funding hasn't been cut as claimed, so some pure, hard facts would be good right now. So please give us the link.
The Cool Springs Driving Range is now in foreclosure by the bank. Be very careful with your vote.
Wonder how long it'll take before the union drives the school district into foreclosure?
Oh yeah, that can't happen, the district can always raise taxes.
7:02 AM WOW!! That is some statement about school directors setting up another director for arrest. If it's true it's scandalous if it's not true it's slanderous; in either case it's a horrible comment on the state of our community. Why would anyone want to subject themselves to this kind of torment in the name of public service? It's no wonder we have so little choice in these elections. Let me say it again...WOW!!!
I agree 1:11 somewhat.
But, what is really scandalous is how some notable people seem to fly under the radar while others are nailed.
How many teachers benefit from the grievance? Be very careful with your vote.
The grievance is a reflection of the teachers' attitudes. A teacher with a 4 year degree and a little experience starts in the school district today at $46,500 a year (the teacher contract is on the district's website, just do a Google search). If you normalize that to reflect a full-year (since they work 9 1/2 months) they start out earning about $60,000 a year. They work in a district where most kids show up ready to learn and are without many of the challenges found in less affluent areas. The teachers have above average benefits. The teachers have above average security. In other words, the teachers work in a good environment with good benefits, as it should be. Rather than being grateful for the opportunity, the teachers appear to feel they have been taken advantage of (by working on a temporary basis and getting paid well for it but not getting credit for it when they are permanently employed,many of them may have been largely unemployed during that temporary employment period). The fact that they file a grievance in this situation speaks volumes regarding the attitudes of the teachers (yes I say teachers because the union is simply a reflection of the teachers' attitudes, if it's not then the teachers need to take back their union). I have an opinion about what the grievance says, but rather than me putting a name on it, I'll let you decide based on the facts.
The facts are they want higher step placement and sick day credit for being a permanent substitute after they were given special consideration for a contract position and passed over possibly better qualified teaching candidates.
Those better qualified candidates would come through the screening process Mr. Allison ignited but the board eliminated that screening process last year to cut the budget. Good for the teachers union, bad for our kids education. The "pizza boy can get a job here but a cum laude graduate of a better school will not be employed because the union wants the flunkies. Be very careful who you vote for tomorrow.
6:08 I am with you on the facts...like I said "working on a temporary basis and getting paid well for it but not getting credit for it" and "many of them may have been largely unemployed during that temporary employment period". Where we might differ is I am not sure we can ever count on the school board to stand up to the union unless standing up to the parents and taxpayers becomes more painful for them. At some point the change needs to come from the community and it will likely not come from an election.
The union agreed to not getting salary or sick pay credit in a Memorandum of Understanding in the year 2000. They agreed to no-credit language in the 2000 Contract, the 2004 Contract Extension had the same language, the 2010 contract has the same language. So you agreed to that deal four times - a Memo of Understanding and three contracts. Now you think you can break your word of 13 years and hike the egregious contract price. Go to Hell 6:08.
The budgeted amounts for salary and benefit increases in the 2010-2015 teachers contract are,
3.57% for 2010-2011
3.81% for 2011-2012
4.25% for 2012-2013
4.54% for 2013-2014 – coming year
4.59% for 2014-2015
177 Mount Lebanon teachers are grieving for more pay and costly sick leave credits.More cuts are coming to our kids’ education if we elect the wrong candidates.
Those teachers that filed the grievance should thank their lucky stars that they were hired to full time positions in the first place.
Ungrateful SOBs! If they had a problem with the way they were being paid it should have been resolved in the first few months of their full time employment. If they didn't get it resolved to their satisfaction by then they should have looked elsewhere for a better deal.
Bet they wouldn't have found one.
Who in their right mind works for an employer for 13 years that they think is cheating them?
What union sits by for 13 years and let's one union member get stiffed?
Hey 8:40, who got stiffed at these pay increases?
4.54% for 2013-2014 – coming year
4.59% for 2014-2015
Yikes! in a 2% growth economy the taxpayers got the shaft.
Just the taxpayer 4:05.
I'd be happy if the board took a firm stand and said this is what we hired you at, if it's a problem there are other districts to go too. Teacher you're not indispensable, there are plenty of highly qualified teachers looking for full time positions.
For the record Dr. Glenn S. and Mark M. signed the Memorandum of Understanding that was in included in the 2002/04/10 teachers contracts. Perhaps that is why Mark didn't say much to the high school algebra ll teacher who was the treasurer of the union for seven years while the existing step-placement deal (now a grievance) was in place over three contracts.
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