Republicans for Riemer, Strotmeyer, and Diamond

Statement from Riemer, Strotmeyer, and Diamond concerning the Candidates Forum

From Facebook:

Friends of Mt. Lebanon Education

19 hrs · 

It is unfortunate, but Mike Riemer, Stephen Strotmeyer and Aviva Diamond will not be able to attend the candidate forum scheduled for October 26th. Earlier this month, when initially contacted through email by the PTA Council Secretary to schedule this event, we were told that there were three possible dates on which it may be held. When we received the emailed invitation from the League of Women Voters a few days later, we were only given one date and was told no alternate date was available.

As many of you know, Mr. Riemer serves in a leadership role with the Salvation Army. With the recovery efforts still taking place in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, their resources are stretched incredibly thin and, after serving in Texas for two weeks in September and October, Mr. Riemer is once again scheduled to be sent to other locations in the weeks to come. Unfortunately, on the date of this event, Mr. Riemer will be in New York working on distribution efforts related to the recovery in Puerto Rico. Drs. Strotmeyer and Diamond are similarly limited in that Dr. Strotmeyer has evening teaching commitments and Dr. Diamond a family commitment that both conflict with this event.

We believe that these events, when planned with care and input from all sides, play an important role and represent a wonderful opportunity for the community to engage with all of the candidates. However, in this instance, the short notice and the lack of alternatives provided prevents such a forum from going forward. We do not feel a forum consisting solely of members of one slate will serve the public good.

If you have questions about the Friends of Mt. Lebanon Education slate, we urge you to visit friendsofmtlebanoneducation.com, Facebook page or reach out to us directly via Facebook.

Most importantly, no matter which candidates you support, remember to vote on Tuesday, November 7th. If you do choose to support our slate of candidates, please vote for Mr. Riemer, Dr. Strotmeyer and Dr. Diamond for the four year terms and Mr. Riemer for the two year term.

An email from School Board Director Strotmeyer

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response, Dr. Strotmeyer. As the Board is now high on transparency, I know that your colleagues would have no issue with me sharing your email with Lebo Citizens readers.
Elaine

Ms. Gillen,

Thank you for your inquiry. I will request that the Director of Advancement (Sloane Astorino) provide Dr. Steinhaurer with the documents as required for review and posting to the website (http://www.mtlsd.org/uploaded/District/images/2017-2018/COE_YTD_8_17.pdf). This would include the Fiscal Year summary from 6.30.2013 to the current date. The second page would include Revenues, Expenditures, etc. Additionally, I will be requesting an itemized list of the use of the capital funds. Generic categories such as Fine Arts, Tech Ed, Makerspace, etc. should be broken out into what was purchased with itemized costs listed for residents and the board to see.

One thing I should make clear is that my liaison role in the past was to report on "Revenue Generation/MLFE". I was assigned to the Mt. Lebanon Foundation for Education as Ms. Cappucci's replacement by then President Lebowitz. I was not directed to serve in any capacity on the Capital Campaign, as she and other board members sit on the Cabinet and Advisory committee. Occasionally, I did provide a few bulleted updates on the Capital Campaign, such as "cultivation events are planned; continue to make community outreach." Mr. Riemer began to ask for board updates in the early spring on the financial status of the campaign, but, it wasn't until May 6th when I emailed a specific request for the revenue/expenditure summary that newer board members, including myself, became aware that the campaign costs were exceeding revenues. That action ultimately led to a public discussion and the resulting transparency and accountability we have moving forward. 

Thank you for your time,

Stephen

On Sun, Sep 24, 2017, 08:50 'egillen476@aol.com' via SchoolBoard <schoolboardemaillist@mtlsd.net> wrote:

Dr. Strotmeyer,

Since you are on this committee, would you be able to request the two page document for August and future reports using the two page template?

Thank you.

Elaine Gillen

www.lebocitizens.blogspot.com

-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: schoolboard <schoolboard@mtlsd.net>
Cc: TSteinhauer <TSteinhauer@mtlsd.net>
Sent: Tue, Sep 19, 2017 9:04 am
Subject: Page 2?

School board directors,

Thank you for additional information that has been posted on the District website concerning the Century of Excellence Capital Campaign.

I would like some consistency in your reporting, however. Please include the second page in the monthly reports as was shown in a recent RTK document.

Capital Campaign Financial Report for 7-17 

Capital Campaign Financial Report for 8-17 

Elaine Gillen

www.lebocitizens.blogspot.com

saved in Google Docs

Add it up

The yard signs for November's election are starting to pop up. In my opinion, the school board race is the most critical.

 

Consider who is asking for more transparency in the Post-Gazette's Debate continues over Mt. Lebanon schools' capital campaign. Mike Riemer and Stephen Strotmeyer

Who have been to known to make personal attacks, roll their eyes, and be disrespectful toward their colleagues and inquiring residents? Birks, Cappucci, and Remely

Who is under investigation with the PA Ethics Commission? Birks

Who had to resign because of the nepotism policy and for the hiring of her son, a Mt. Lebanon School District teacher? Cappucci

Who is running to replace herself on the school board? Cappucci

Who hired Timmy? Cappucci and Remely

Who was part of the team that negotiated the current Act 93 agreement for our District administrators (Jan Klein)?  Cappucci

Who is a Century of Excellence Capital Campaign chair who originally claimed that $1.5 million were raised, but then back peddled when we learned that the campaign had more expenditures than revenue and pledges combined. Her bio now claims that "the Campaign has raised nearly $1 million." Caste

Which candidates are endorsed by their political committees? Riemer, Strotmeyer, Diamond

Which incumbents were excluded from the Timmy Ticket? Mike Riemer and Stephen Strotmeyer

Whose yard sign is going in my yard?

Aaugh!!! UPDATED

I can't get on any sites for election results. I received a text that Bob Lee lost, but I haven't been able to confirm that.

I understand that Mary Birks is completely out. Mike Riemer finished first. So far, that's all I know.

Sorry that this post is in piecemeal.

Try this site for County results:
http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/PA/Allegheny/68994/Web02/#/

It looks like Cappucci won the 2 year term on the R ballot, and Riemer won the 2 year term on the D ballot.

Total votes (adding both R & D)

Cappucci 2194

Riemer 2642

Diamond 2270

Strotmeyer 2423

Caste 2038

Remely 1588

DePlato was only on the R ballot with 328 votes.

On the Dem ballot for 4 years: 

Riemer 

Diamond

Strotmeyer

Cappucci

On the Rep ballot for 4 years:

Caste

Cappucci

Remely

Riemer

Here are the updated unofficial results. The County has to certify the absentee ballots in the next week or so.

I do know that Mt. Lebanon voted yes for the commissioners to raise taxes. Shaking my head.

Update May 17, 2017 5:04 PM The Pennsylvania Ethics Commission received additional information concerning my complaint against Elaine Cappucci this morning at 10:41.

Here is what you will see on Tuesday's ballot for school board

There are four open positions for a four year term and one open position for a two year term. Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, you will see Mike Riemer, Stephen Strotmeyer, Aviva Diamond, and the Timmy ticket on the ballot. They all cross filed. Justin DePlato is only on the Republican ballot. Democrats will have to write in his name, if they wish to vote for him.

For the two year term, pick only one of those candidates. You will, most likely, be voting for one candidate twice for the Primary.

I hear the weather is going to be nice on Tuesday. Get out there and vote. Choose wisely. Please.

A first for me

Since the time we moved here in 1985, there has never been a political sign in my yard, except mine. I have never felt this strongly about a school board election E V E R.

For the first time, I placed a sign in my yard for Riemer, Strotmeyer, and Diamond.

It is going to be close. Every vote will count. If you need a yard sign for Riemer, Strotmeyer, and Diamond, and don't know where to get one, email me at EGillen476@aol.com. It would be especially fun for those who live on Sunset to display this yard sign.

This speaks volumes, Elaine and Mary.

Original publication date: 3/15/17 2:09 PM

Mt. Lebanon Democrats endorse School Board Directors

Last Wednesday, March 8, the Mt. Lebanon Democratic Committee endorsed the slate of Mike Riemer, Stephen Strotmeyer and Aviva Diamond for Mt. Lebanon School Directors.

We believe our candidates to be well educated, successful volunteers with a strong history of service to Mt. Lebanon, as well as, a desire to serve our District's students. This slate is composed of fresh thinkers who respect tradition, embrace accountability and innovation.

You can learn more about our endorsed candidates at

www.friendsofmtlebanoneducation.com

And the new school board director is... UPDATED 2X

Mr. Stephen Strotmeyer.

Update August 16, 2016 8:40 AM I hesitated about publishing the first comment since it was anonymous. It sounded like a personal attack. After doing some research, I find that "Kru Stephen" is well known for his Muay Thai skills. [Did I say that correctly?]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biZ_QLxJzGk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdL8sW5-4gU

Update August 17, 2016 2:16 PM The District website announced the appointment of Mr. Stephen Strotmeyer. I have changed the original post and included the most recent photo of the new school board director.

Mr. Strotmeyer has plans to run for school board during next year's election. When interviews were taking place for Kristen Linfante's replacement, the commission ruled out the two candidates running for Ward 3, citing that it would give one of them an unfair advantage. Obviously, this is not the case since the election is not in the immediate future.