19th Ward Chair Pete Wagner Survives A Challenge: One of His Allies, However, Might Not

The City Paper (and only the City Paper, apparently) covered Tuesday's 19th Ward organizational meeting (conducted, fittingly, in a room customarily occupied by second-graders), at which Democratic Committee veteran Pete Wagner confounded (some) expectations by cruising to a 44-30 victory in voting for municipal ward chair.

Chris Potter's account lacks any mention of comically attired imposters but recounts a near-fistfight in the parking lot over the honor (to the extent it could be detected) of one elected committee member, Kimberly Cagni. Ms. Cagni filed a Division of Elections petition claiming a residence in the 19th Ward, apparently unmindful of the Intertubes, which indicate that Ms. Cagni is a Mt. Lebanon homeowner (a residence purchased by a couple named William J. Young and Kimberly L. Cagni-Young in 2003, for which the couple claims the homestead exemption).

The Post-Gazette cutline for a 2004 photograph:

Former President Bill Clinton greets Kim Cagni and her daughter, Marley Young, 2, of Mt. Lebanon during his book signing at the Barnes & Noble store at The Waterfront.

Ms. Cagni has declined to answer questions from a reporter concerning her residency, indicating she would address the issue with county Democratic Committee chair Jim Burn in the context of a filed challenge to her eligibility.

That Ms. Cagni was able to vote without explaining the apparent discrepancies in her committee membership reflects poorly on the county Democratic Committee's rules and leadership, and on Pete Wagner, who lauded her, by name, as "the greatest" in his pre-ballot speech. The Lincoln Elementary (Mt. Lebanon) PTA, for which a Kim Cagni has been a standout volunteer (page 5), shares that sentiment.

Some might argue that Ms. Cagni's entitlement to vote in a committee election, or serve as a committee member, is nothing more than an internal matter for the Democratic Committee to address. That perspective ignores the Allegheny County Division of Elections file drawer that contains a sworn petition, a false declaration on which might be construed as election fraud.

UPDATE: Hold the e-mails complaining about character assassination and judge-jury-executioner violations. Substantial evidence points toward Kimberly Cagni's ineligibility to pursue or occupy a 19th Ward committee position, but that evidence is not conclusive and she is entitled to an opportunity to explain. (That chance is overdue.) Perhaps she is separated and no longer welcome on Clokey Avenue; perhaps the county real estate records are incorrect; perhaps her child has attended a Pittsburgh public school since September; perhaps she can establish that her sworn declaration was accurate because she has overnighted in the 19th Ward for more than a year (and maybe an affidavit from Bill Clinton will establish that he has put her up in a 19th Ward apartment since the moment their eyes met in August 2004). Unless such an explanation can overcome strong evidence, however, she seems destined to be determined to be ineligible -- in which case her vote reflected serious character flaws in several people and systemic faults in Democratic Committee procedures.

Infinonytune: Our House, Crosby, Stills & Nash
Infinonytune: House Party, J. Geils Band (feat. Magic Dick)