GOP picks nominee on Saturday

GOP to choose nominee for state Senate election

"The GOP meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday at the Crowne Plaza South, 164 Fort Couch Road, Bethel Park.

Mr. Roddey said the deadline to file for consideration for the nomination is Thursday. So far, the GOP candidates include D. Raja, a former county executive candidate who lost the seat to Mr. Smith in 2012; Natalie Mihalek, an Upper St. Clair lawyer and former Allegheny County prosecutor; District Judge Guy Reschenthaler, of Jefferson Hills; Paul Dixon, a four-term Bethel Park council member, and Bethel Park GOP committee member John Schnatterly.

Raja, Matt, or Dudley? UPDATED

It looks like Matt Smith won the Senate race. PA Elections Information I haven't heard the final cost of Raja's campaign, but I think he could have paid for the Rec Bond. I wonder how many of the write-in votes were Dudley's.  http://www.alleghenycounty.us/elect/201211gen/el45.htm There were 163 write-in votes for the Senate race, while there were 570 write-in votes for Representative in the 42nd District. Could Dudley have gotten that many votes?

Now the fun begins. Who is going to run for Representative when Matt Smith becomes Senator?

Update November 8, 2012 8:45 AM To check the results:
 Detail District Report
 Detail Canvass Report
 Mt. Lebanon Ward and District Locator

Election Day can't come soon enough

It seems like I get something from Raja every day. Yesterday, his postcard said that "His global company has created over 100 jobs in the Pittsburgh area." Uh, that may be true, but the rest of the story is here, in an old Lebo Citizens post. Is outsourcing a good thing or a bad thing? And then there is this: CEI Reviews This link is just one of many when searching for CEI reviews.

In today's daily mailing, the Republican Party of Pennsylvania says that Matt Smith broke his promise because he signed up for, and is vested to receive, a legislative pension. I don't know anything about Matt's financial status, but if I had the millions of dollars that Raja spent on his campaigns, I wouldn't need to sign up for any pensions either. Has Raja pledged not to take any money as Senator? I wouldn't think he would need to.

In my post, Raja and Fitzgerald clash on KDKA, I see Raja's website has been changed. It no longer says: Mr. Raja's tech firm, CEI, says on its website that it "strives to be No. 1 in outsourcing." I remember posting this article from Pittsburgh Business Times.

I realize that the Post Gazette usually endorses Democrats, but I tend to agree with them on this one. For state Senate: Rep. Matt Smith is ready to take a bigger role

Sewage Bill in Your Mail Box UPDATED

If you haven't received your sewage bill from Jordan Tax Service, you should be getting it in today's mail. Prior to this, Alcosan and Mt. Lebanon charges were billed on your water bill. For me, this means I have to write a check to Jordan Tax Service monthly instead of having it electronically deducted from my bank account. I thought I could write one check a year to Jordan, but that has now changed. There is no option to pay this bill electronically.

About that stormwater fee that was mailed out to everyone, including churches and temples, let me remind you that Raja was behind that fee.  He always talks about how he cut taxes, but he never mentions how even the tax exempt folks are getting charged with the largest fee increase in the history of Mt. Lebanon.

Updated September 28, 2012 2:11 PM According to Susan Morgans' never dated release on the Municipal website,

By October, Jordan hopes to provide electronic billing options.

Pippy resigns

Last night, Senator John Pippy resigned at 11:59 PM following the budget vote. State Sen. Pippy resigns from legislative seat following budget vote This followed Democratic Nominee Greg Parks' filing papers to withdraw from the race. According to the PG, Matt Smith could run against Raja in the November election. Dems to pull switcheroo in state Senate election?  Nothing would make me happier than to see a strong candidate run against Raja.  Yes, I know that I am a Republican, but I think Matt Smith would be the better candidate. And if Matt wins, then I would love to see Dan Miller fill his seat as representative. Time will tell.  The Democratic committee has to nominate Matt Smith first.  Selfishly, I want Dan Miller as our representative since he did a fantastic job when he was a commissioner.  After his term as president was over, everything went to hell, as far as I am concerned.

Raja or Fitzgerald?

Pittsburgh Business Times started this poll on their site today.  I am curious to see how well our former commissioner would do on this Mt. Lebanon blog.
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?

Raja and Fitzgerald clash on KDKA

Fitzgerald, Raja clash (again) in radio debate

Mr. Raja was the aggressor, going after Mr. Fitzgerald's support of the county drink tax, his ties to labor and statements by the Democrat's campaign that he approved a new sewer fee while a Mt. Lebanon commissioner. (The Republican argues the fee was offset by a cut to the township's property tax rate.)

I didn't realize that the fee was offset by a cut in our property taxes.  Why bother reducing our property taxes?

Late in the debate, Mr. Fitzgerald noted Mr. Raja's tech firm, CEI, says on its website that it "strives to be No. 1 in outsourcing."

"That's a difference between my opponent and I. My opponent is big on outsourcing. ... I'm about keeping jobs in America, keeping jobs in our county," the Democrat said.

It's a fee, not a tax.

More suggested fees from Raja. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11217/1165248-455-0.stm
Another honest mistake? Remember this? http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2011/06/honest-mistake.html
and this? http://www.careerbliss.com/company-reviews/cei-america-reviews-328814/ Google for more reviews.  Pretty interesting.

An honest mistake

According to this morning's Post Gazette, Raja mistakenly had two Homestead Exclusions on his homes in Virginia Manor. 

His campaign said the error was the result of a miscommunication with his accountant and construction problems that had delayed his moving plans. His accountant filed the papers with the county to remove the homestead exclusion from one of his residences on Tuesday, said Mark Harris, Mr. Raja's campaign strategist.

Mr. Raja also paid part of the tax difference owed to the county on Tuesday and planned to pay the rest today.

The article went on to say

The program reduced school district taxes in Mt. Lebanon by $185.23 this year, Mt. Lebanon finance director Janice Klein said. The reduction varies slightly each year.

Mr. Harris said Mr. Raja planned to deliver a check to Mt. Lebanon today for the amount owed on school district taxes in 2010-11.

The remainder of the $4,806.52 Mr. Raja owed in county property taxes on the two houses he owns in Mt. Lebanon and the condominium he owns in Scott have been paid, although he paid them a month late, so the total amount included late penalties and interest.

Mr. Harris said Mr. Raja paid his county taxes late this year because he had not seen the bill before it was due. Mr. Harris said Mr. Raja paid the bill once he saw it was overdue.

Mr. Raja submitted his property taxes to the county on checks dated June 3.

Yesterday, I paid my (Mt. Lebanon) real estate taxes.  My school district taxes won't be paid until closer to the end of next month.  While I was there, I asked about my commissioner's overdue taxes.  The 2010 taxes still have not been paid and also, have not been liened.  I was assured that when the property sells, all taxes will be deducted first.  When the property sells? What if it doesn't? At least he doesn't have a Homestead Exclusion on his house.  Maybe he gave it to Raja.  And I am the one who gets criticized, running a blog as a private citizen. 
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11159/1152093-455-0.stm

Raja resigns

By now, you have probably heard that Raja resigned at the Commission meeting last night.  Unfortunately, I was unable to attend and messed up getting it recorded.  Raja always responded to my emails.  In the beginning of his term, he was one of my adopted commissioners.  As he got more involved, his replies were brief, but always responded.  Thank you, Raja.

http://postgazette.com/pg/11144/1148740-100.stm

When you can't have closed meetings, schedule conflicting meetings

This was in last week's Trib.   Mt. Lebanon officials won't agree to closed meetings

"It's a gray area, and I err on the side of caution," said Mt. Lebanon Solicitor Philip Weis, who advised the commissioners that the meetings would be better off open to the public.
"We'd rather give (the public) more than give less and be at fault," Miller said.
Posti, who took over as board president in December, said she wanted to schedule the meetings to foster more communication between the school district and the municipality.

Brumfield initially voted with commissioners DeIuliis and D. Raja for the closed meetings as long as they had some method for public review, such as published agendas. But after Weis reviewed the law, Brumfield said he changed his mind.

Are you kidding me?

Too bad Raja waited until after his vote last night to announce his plans.  Do your damage and run!

Mt. Lebanon commissioner to enter race for county exec

D. Raja, a businessman and Mt. Lebanon commissioner, is poised to enter the Republican race for Allegheny County executive.

Mr. Raja, who could not immediately be reached for comment, has called a variety of senior county Republicans to alert them to his interest.

According to an associate, he plans to make a formal announcement some time next week.

The news of Mr. Raja's plans for the race circulated as Patti Weaver, an architect of the Pittsburgh Tea Party movement, was about to formally launch her bid for the Republican nomination at a rally today at the City-County Building.

"My only comment, is, let the best person win," Ms. Weaver said of the news of Mr. Raja's prospective candidacy.

County Councilmen Matt Drozd and Chuck McCullough have also said that they are considering bids for the GOP nomination, but neither has announced a final decision.

Mr. Raja's decision sets the stage for contested races on both sides of the primary ballot for executive. County Controller Mark Flaherty and county Council President Rich Fitzgerald have announced their candidacies for the Democratic nomination to succeed Dan Onorato, who chose not to run for a third term.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11040/1124153-455.stm