Bar to Office

President Dan Miller posted an update concerning criminal records and running for elected office in Mt. Lebanon.  This is probably old news to those who follow Dan's blog since it was posted September 15, 2011.  Sorry I didn't see this sooner, Dan.  Bar to Office

Doing our homework

Last night’s Commission Discussion Session was a revelation. I learned that there is nothing in the Home Rule Charter to protect us from electing commissioners with a criminal record. 

Home Rule Charter

Section 305. Qualifications of Commissioners

At the time of election or appointment, a Commissioner shall be a citizen of the United States, shall be at least twenty-five (25) years of age, shall have been a registered voter in the Municipality for at least two (2) years immediately prior to election, and shall be a bona fide resident of the ward from which elected.

The Commissioners recommended that we do our homework before we cast our votes. The disturbing part of this statement is that voters in Wards 2, 3, 4, and 5 are counting on the voters in Ward 1, for example, to do their research.  Once elected, the Home Rule Charter states:

Section 306. Authority

All Commission authority shall be asserted by the Commissioners as a body only.

In simpler terms, what happens in Ward 1 doesn’t stay in Ward 1.  Whew!  Talk about pressure!!!

So, how do we do our homework?  Google?  Criminal records don’t show up using Google. For magisterial dockets, one must search here: http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/MDJ.aspx

For Criminal Courts of Common Pleas dockets: http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/CP.aspx

Appellate Courts:

http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/Appellate.aspx

But we are advised that, “Docket sheet information should not be used in place of a criminal history background check.” 

Now what?  Who is responsible for running a criminal history background check?  The parties?  Clearly, that didn’t happen.  Should there be something in the Home Rule Charter that the individual must be able to pass a criminal history background check?  If so, how long? Five years? Ten years?  What convictions are acceptable?

The bottom line is that we must be mindful of all candidates running.  Once elected, they govern all of us, regardless of ward.

An open letter to our leaders

This was sent to the Commission and school board directors.

Dear Commissioners and School Board Directors,

I have emailed you at various times about situations that were embarrassing moments for the community.  We have a commissioner who lied about paying his taxes and yet voted on issues that affected all of us. We have a school board president who apologized for not citing all of her sources and the school board does nothing about it, yet all vote on policies that affect our students.  We have a candidate for Ward 1 who thinks nothing of running for commissioner and has a criminal record.  And now we have a swimming coach who is charged with leaving his five and seven year old children alone in a car.  Yet, when I bring up these situations, I become the issue.  Why is that? 

Must you create new policies or update our comprehensive plan Home Rule Charter for our leaders, or at some point, should our leaders take responsibility for their actions?

Elaine Gillen

Update September 13, 2011 4:20 p.m. Mt. Lebanon suspends coach accused of leaving kids in car