Relatively few citizens will vote in this primary election. The over-under on participation by registered voters approximates 25 percent. The Republican and Democratic parties have exercised no quality control with respect to endorsements; party leaders have barely maintained appearances with respect to promoting endorsed candidates.Is the region's decline -- and InsolvenCity's deterioration in particular -- a cause of these circumstances, or an effect? Or both? We do not know. But we know who should get your votes:
Allegheny County Executive (Democratic): In a race of flawed candidates, Rich Fitzgerald is king, primarily because Mark Flaherty is the List-Makers' lady-in-waiting.
Allegheny County Executive (Republican): Chuck McCullough is the only Republican with a chance to be elected; his prospects depend upon acquittal.
Allegheny County Council (at-large Republican): Ed Kress seems focused on (and could be effective with respect to) local issues. His opponent is running for overheated teapot whistle.
Allegheny County Controller: Valerie McDonald-Roberts and Chelsa Wagner are strong candidates with good records. Vote for one of them.
Allegheny County Court Of Common Pleas: Cast a single vote, for Daniel Konieczka. If you cast a second vote -- which you should not do; it is important to plunk for Konieczka -- choose Alex Bicket or Mike Marmo.
Pittsburgh City Council (District 1): Darlene Harris has earned your vote.
Pittsburgh City Council (District 3): Bruce Kraus deserves re-election.
Pittsburgh City Council (District 5): Corey O'Connor will win. Chris Zurawsky should move to District 9.
Pittsburgh City Council (District 7): Everything about Patrick Dowd is complicated, except his clear superiority in this election.
Pittsburgh City Council (District 9): Chris Zurawsky should move to District 9.
Infytune: The Punk And The Godfather, The Who
39 comments:
Would you endorse Chris Zurawsky in District 9?
Tough call.
We do not endorse either current challenger because, although both seem preferable to the stopped clock (Ricky Burgess), they are naively advancing List-Maker interests by splitting the non-incumbent vote. An effective black representative from District 9 would be desirable, however.
Chris Zurawsky could be a more effective representative of District 9 than any of the three current contenders.
Mostly, it was a joke addressing the point that District 5 has two good candidates while District 9 is pitching a shutout.
I was actually hoping that O'Connor would move out and perhaps get some education and experience before trying to win an election just by virtue of his last name!
You must be new to Pittsburgh. Welcome!
Anon 12:36PM
So Duquesne University isn't an education?
Working for a Congresman isn't experience?
You might want to re-think the education line. Let's go back to 2007, when not a single member of council had a bachelor's degree before we throw someone out with Corey's background.
I'm guessing Zurawsky has at least a BA.
I think if you compare multiple advanced degrees and YEARS of experience to a kid straight out of college who has worked as in intern there is no contest!
Yep. Plus he has two Masters degrees.
MH:
I wasn't saying Zurawsky doesn't have a B.A.
I'm simply insulted that a B.A. isn't 'an education.'
And also pointing out that city council has never been very scholarly.
Not that you need a B.A. to be a good elected official or 'smart.'
Details about education aside, Corey O'Connor is inexperienced.
(That didn't stop the Post-Gazette recommended him on the basis of "experience." You could look it up.)
Wow -- with this many comments, maybe we should post more often.
and what's up with Corey accepting a contribution from a pro-life PAC?
I don't like the fact that we really don't know what he stands for at all.
He hasn't bothered to answer any questionnaires, including the League of Women's Voters!
The Post-Gazette also endorsed Corbet saying, that he "has an enlightened and progressive side." Could the PG be dipping a toe into ironic endorsements, that is endorsing using the most absurd reasons?
I'm simply insulted that a B.A. isn't 'an education.'
A B.A. isn't an education. A B.A. is proof that you can be educated. Or at least that it is more likely you can be educated then somebody who doesn't have one.
Unlike Doug Shields who doesn't even have a B.A. and wants to be a judge!
Not that I want to enter this education debate, but it should be noted that all BA's are not equal. Corey has a BA in elementary education, meaning that most of his classes likely involved learning how to teach K-5 children. This is certainly an education, but I'm not sure it has any relevance to serving on City Council (unless you think the current Council or the citizenry is equivalent to K-5 children).
Zurawsky, on the other hand, has a BA and MA in journalism and covered the federal courts for a major paper. He also has an MA in Public Policy. These are highly relevant to serving on council.
If someone wants to vote for Corey over Chris, that's her prerogative. But don't do it behind the cloak of education or experience. In that match-up, Zurawsky is the clear winner.
I'd agree that most of the current Council is equivalent to K-5 children...
Anon 1:31
HAHAHA
So an elementary education is the best education to deal with City Council.
Everyone is endorsing O'Connor because he's going to win and don't want to get left out in the cold on his and the rest of Pittsburgh's bad side. Infinonymous and the Post-Gazette included.
Exactly!
So much for voting on principle. It's all about who has the name/money.
I think we had a similar situation with a kid that ran for mayor...
I was going to comment, but you know what, no good can come of it! I'll just reserve my comments to agreeing that yes, you should post more often.
Everyone is endorsing O'Connor because he's going to win and don't want to get left out in the cold on his and the rest of Pittsburgh's bad side. Infinonymous and the Post-Gazette included.
The reasoning underlying the District 5 Infindorsement can be found here.
We like Chris Zurawsky. We have found Joshua Wander to be more reasonable than his extremist record suggested, although not worthy of a vote. If Zurawsky wins, we will be pleased. If Wander wins, we will plan to devote two months to the investigation.
Jennifer:
Please comment.
Is it too late for you to reconsider your endorsement of Fitzgerald for County Exec in light of the new anti-drilling write-in candidate? See here: http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A95205
Not to beat a dead horse, but both Zurawsky and Wander have far more education and experience than O'Connor. We need to break this habit of voting for candidates because they have a catchy last name!
In general, I think people should continue to favor whoever has the most Irish name. That's obviously fair, for most purposes. I just think we need to make an exception for Zurawksy.
Eeks, I was with you for awhile, Infinonymous, until you wrote that both VMR and Chelsa have good records.
Chelsa has no record, except missing votes. She worked for a couple years after graduating law school, ran for rep, has been doing a lousy job representing us there, and now wants another job that's probably a stepping stone elsewhere. Oh, and busy stealing endorsements and accusing people of bashing her on Mother's Day. No wonder she doesn't have time to actually work for her region in Harrisburg!
Also, I'd still vote for Raja. McCullough is probably Scots Irish or something.
You mean, "O'Raja".
Wait, D'Raja isn't Italian? Time for more research....
I'm for Flaherty. I have no idea how Fitz stays on council for 10 years knowing about the assessment issue and the best he can offer is "I will go to jail." Thanks but no thanks. (Plus his campaign is just so negative!) But I do notice that he likes to list his endorsements- so question- what/who are the "list makers" that you chastise Flaherty for and how do they differ from Fitzs?
The List-Makers are a network of cream-skimmers and leeches who misappropriate public affairs for private profit in these parts; Rich Lord mistakenly referred to this group of embedded parasites as "the Network" (in an excellent, multi-part accounting of their identities and activities), but the proper term is the List-Makers.
A handy list identifying the Listed (the List-Makers' enemies) is published at the rightmost column of Infinonymous. To learn details about the List-Makers, conduct a search for "inscribed" using Infisearch, or follow the links associated with names on the List-Makers' List.
Additional reading with respect to the List-Makers: here, here, and here.
Oh ok thanks for clarifying. I do see many of the names on there that are supposedly on Fitz's endorsement list but fair enough! I guess we all need a reason to differentiate between the two! Still, I hope Flaherty can upset Fitz's own list of endorsements tomorrow! And I think D. Raja will win on the R side.
are those indictments coming down any time soon?
That's Dave Hickton's department . . . at the moment.
All I gotta say is welcome back Infi
McCullough is probably Scots Irish or something.
Pittsburgh (and its Libraries) exists thanks to an *evil* Scotsman.....or something.
Corey O'Conner has nice hair.
Infy:
Normally I enjoy reading you, even when your invective targets the community I call home.
Normally I would also send this missive anonymously, but what the hell, the election is over.
You certainly have a funny interpretation of "effective."
Your "joke" about some white guy carpetbagging in and taking over the place is in very large part precisely what the outcome would be of all of your friends' so-called "progressive" policies.
So you should be careful about what jokes you tell, because some of them are not only not funny, but also very true.
As for Mr. Zurawsky's effectiveness, what would that look like? I've met him and he is a very bright, very nice guy, but what side of the East Busway would you envision him being most effective for? Because if your answer is "North" or "In Its Entirety" as opposed to "South", then I feel bad for you and My Dear Homewood.
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