Primary 2013 - Pine-Richland

No contested races in the Primary in Pine Township, Richland Township, or the Pine-Richland School District. There will be a race in November for one of the Richland Township Supervisor seats. I was told that the current School Board members were having a hard time getting four people to run for office.

Pine Township

Supervisor (2)
Republicans -- Michael Dennehy Jr., Edward Holdcroft

 

Richland Township

Supervisor, District 2 (1)
Republican -- John Marshall
Democrat -- Robert Pavlecic

Supervisor, District 4 (1)
Republican -- Barton Miller

Pine-Richland School Board (4)
 

Region 1 (1)
Republican and Democrat -- M. Katie Shogan
Republican -- Gregory DiTullio

Region 2, 4-year term (2)
Republican and Democrat -- Dennis Sundo

Region 2, 2-year term (1)
Republican -- Marc Casciani

Pine and Richland park fees

Do you think Pine Township and Richland Township should consider raising the fees to use their parks? Or is providing parks for youth sports socialism as the tea party likes to call it? Is that how the Repulican Elected Officials that promised to cut government came up with these plans to raise park fees because they couldn't cut elsewhere?

From the Post Gazette:

Some park fees to increase in Pine
Thursday, January 19, 2012
By Sandy Trozzo

Pine supervisors Tuesday increased fees for some park facilities and discussed whether to regulate the locations for gas and oil wells.

The superivsors voted 5-0 to raise some park fees to recoup some of the maintenance costs and on the recommendation of the parks and recreation commission.

The cost of renting a pavilion will remain the same, but a permit to serve alcohol will rise from $10 to $25.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12019/1204387-54.stm#ixzz1jxe1appK

From the Pine Creek Journal:

Fees for playing fields causing issues in Richland Township
by Deborah Deasy Staff Writer
January 5, 2012

Richland-area athletic organizations want township officials to reduce proposed 2012 fees for use of playing fields at Richland Community Park.

"Nobody is going to be able to afford to go there and play," John Hall of Richland Church Softball League told Richland supervisors last month.

Township administrators want to raise the field use fees, however, to offset reportedly increasing bills from contractors who mow the grass, remove garbage and perform other chores to help maintain the park's fields.

Under the newly proposed fee structure, Richland Church Softball League, for example, faces a $5,080 bill in 2012 April-to-August for one-night-per week use of a field at Richland Community Park. The league paid $390 for use of the same field in 2011....
Read more:
http://www.yournorthhills.com/northhillsnews/article/fees-playing-fields-causing-issues-richland-township

State House Elections - 30th District

Here is the new map of the 30th State House Distinct. The green parts are the old district and the aqua blue line is the outline of the new district.



This is another incumbent protection redistricting of a Republican member of the State House. State Rep. Randy Vulakovich won this seat in 2006 defeating a 6 month incumbent that won a special election after Jeff Habay resigned the day before he was going to be sentenced for corruption charges.

The only real changes is adding Richland Township and getting rid of some of Ross Township and some river towns from the old district. I think this is a very solid Republican seat.

Incumbent: Randy Vulakovich (Republican)

Possible challengers: Haven't heard a peep about this race.

State House Elections - 28th District

Here is the new map of the 28th State House Distinct. The green parts are the old district and the aqua blue line is the outline of the new district.

Very little changes to the district. This is one of the few districts in Allegheny County that gained population so they had to eliminate some population from the old district. Richland Township has been moved out of the 28th and all of Franklin Park has been added to the 28th. This keeps the political make up of the district extremely similar if not a little better for a Republican candidate.

Incumbent: Mike Turzai (Republican, Majority Leader of the State House, possible candidate for Congress)
Possible challengers: Sharon Brown (Democrat ran in 2010)

I don't believe there is anyone that could beat Mike Turzai this year, no matter how much money or time they spent on this race.

North Hills muncipality elections

Council Member; Borough of Bradford Woods (3 Elected)
• Gary F. Price, Republican
• Robert S. Stryker, Republican
• Linda J. Philpott, Democratic
• Paul E. Pongrace, III, Republican

Council Member; Borough of Etna; Ward 1 (2 Elected)
• Karen Tomaszewski, Democratic
• Terry A. Huston, Democratic

Council Member; Borough of Etna; Ward 2; 2 Year Term (1 Elected)
• Edward V. Burke, III, Republican

Council Member; Borough of Etna; Ward 2; 4 Year Term (1 Elected)
• Carol Kristoff, Democratic

Council Member; Borough of Etna; Ward 3 (1 Elected)
• David Vinski, Democratic

Council Member; Borough of Fox Chapel (3 Elected)
• James M. Royston, Republican
• Jay S. Troutman, Republican
• Ann R. Meyer, Republican

Council Member; Borough of Franklin Park; Ward 1 (1 Elected)
• Laura A. Coombs, Republican, Democratic

Council Member; Borough of Franklin Park; Ward 2 (1 Elected)
• Richard H. Hartman, Republican, Democratic

Council Member; Borough of Franklin Park; Ward 3 (1 Elected)
• James W. Lawrence, Republican
• Ash Marwah, Democratic

Council Member; Borough of West View (3 Elected)
• Donald E. Mikec, Democratic
• Barry G. Schell, Democratic
• M. Kimberly Steele, Democratic
• Alison Kilmartin, Republican

Controller; Township of Hampton (1 Elected)
• Jerry Speakman, Republican

Council Member; Township of Hampton (2 Elected)
• Joanne C.F. Hart, Democratic
• Sherry Neugebauer, Republican
• Gloria Newman, Democratic
• M. Richard Dunlap, Republican

Auditor; Township of Indiana (1 Elected)
• David M. Laux, Republican

Supervisor; Township of Indiana; District 1 (1 Elected)
• Paul Jorgensen, Republican

Supervisor; Township of Indiana; District 2 (1 Elected)
• Jeffrey D. Peck, Republican

Supervisor; Township of Indiana; District 3 (1 Elected)
• Darrin J. Krally, Republican

Supervisor; Township of Indiana; District 4 (1 Elected)
• Daniel Taylor, Republican

Auditor; Township of Marshall (1 Elected)
• Patricia L. Bolster, Democratic

Supervisor; Township of Marshall (1 Elected)
• Jason Bragunier, Republican, Democratic

Council Member; Township of McCandless; Ward 1 (1 Elected)
• Cynthia Potter, Republican

Council Member; Township of McCandless; Ward 3 (1 Elected)
• Roger Krey, Republican

Council Member; Township of McCandless; Ward 5 (1 Elected)
• D. Lamar Oliver, III, Republican, Democratic

Council Member; Township of McCandless; Ward 7 (1 Elected)
• William J. McKim, Republican, Democratic

Supervisor; Township of Pine (3 Elected)
• Ted Owen, Republican
• Frank J. Spagnolo, Republican
• Philip D. Henry, Republican

Supervisor At-Large; Township of Richland (1 Elected)
• Herbert C. Dankmyer, Republican
• Jeffrey Thomas Sarabok, Democratic

Supervisor; Township of Richland; District 1 (1 Elected)
• Raymond P. Kendrick, Republican

Supervisor; Township of Richland; District 3 (1 Elected)
• George Allen, Republican

Commissioner; Township of Ross; Ward 1 (1 Elected)
• Daniel L. DeMarco, Democratic
• Ann C. Harrold, Republican

Commissioner; Township of Ross; Ward 3 (1 Elected)
• John Sponcer, Republican
• Daniel P. Kinross, Democratic

Commissioner; Township of Ross; Ward 5 (1 Elected)
• William A. McKellar, Democratic
• Grace Stanko, Republican

Commissioner; Township of Ross; Ward 7 (1 Elected)
• Gerald R. O'Brien, Democratic

Commissioner; Township of Ross; Ward 9 (1 Elected)
• Grant Montgomery, Republican

Commissioner; Township of Shaler; Ward 1 (1 Elected)
• Edward Duss, Republican, Democratic

Commissioner; Township of Shaler; Ward 3 (1 Elected)
• David W. Shutter, Republican, Democratic

Commissioner; Township of Shaler; Ward 5 (1 Elected)
• Susan H. Fisher, Republican, Democratic

Commissioner; Township of Shaler; Ward 7(1 Elected)
• Bill Cross, Republican, Democratic

Auditor; Township of West Deer (1 Elected)
• Mary J. Vaerewyck, Republican

Auditor; Township of West Deer; 2 Year Term (1 Elected)
• Sarah Violet Bossart, Republican

Supervisor; Township of West Deer (4 Elected)
• Michael A. Sutter, Democratic
• Gerry Vaerewyck, Republican
• Richard W. DiSanti, Jr., Democratic
• Larewnce K. McManus, Republican
• James Smullin, Democratic
• Tracy Alan Adamik, Democratic
• Bronco Brnardic, Republican
• Richard W. Bossart, Jr., Republican

Jane Orie needs to resign

As the drama that is the Jane Orie case continues to be dragged out, we are left with a completely ineffective State Senator. She completely avoids all media and the only information we get from her is directly from her office with her spin added to it. I came across this petition a few weeks ago and thought I would share it with my readers. I thought it would gain some traction, but this is further proof as to how ineffective the Democratic Party is in most of the North Hills.

Sen. Orie, please do the right thing and resign from the State Senate.

This petition was created by the Richland Township Democratic Committee (Facebook - Twitter) and only has 3 signatures after 3 weeks. No wonder the Democrats never have any good candidates in the North Hills if this is all they can muster.

Richland Township Democrats Mailing

Readers of my blog know I have complained about the lack of organized Democratic organizations in the North Hills. I was surprised to get this mailer from the Richland Township Democratic Committee today. I also was surprised to see that the Richland Township Democrats have a Facebook page and a Twitter account. Glad to see something from the Democrats out in the North Hills.

North Hills Magistrate District on the Chopping Block

There have been a few articles about the plan to eliminate the magisterial district judge position in Hampton Township. Thought I would share them with you:

Some oppose closing of district judges' offices

District Offices Could Be Cut

Four county magisterial districts on the chopping block

Pine-Richland School Board Elections

While I haven't heard much about who might be running for Pine-Richland School Board this year, I have been outspoken about my frustration with the tax increase that the all REPUBLICAN school board voted for last year. I would like to see some sort of interest in these races, but it has been very quiet.

Here are school board seats that are up for election in 2011.

Region 1 (Pine Twp. 1, 4, 5, 7, & 8 - 2 Seats):

Therese Dawson
Kevin Nigh*

Region 2 (Pine Twp. 2, 3, 6 & Richland Twp. 1, 2, 7, 8 - 1 Seat):

Scott Stedeford*

Region 3 (Richland Twp. 3, 4, 5, &6 - 2 Seats):

Aafke Loney*
A. Robert Necciai*

*Voted for the property tax increase

The Pine-Richland School District Board of School Directors adopted a modified regional plan for the election of school directors. This plan was presented to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas and approved. The realignment is designed to more accurately reflect the changing populations in the Pine and Richland Townships and to equalize the three regions. Each of the three regions elects three school directors to the Board.

The former arrangement grouped all of the Pine Township into Region #1. Region #2 is the western portion of Richland Township, and Region #3 is the eastern portion of Richland Township. Pine has been growing rapidly since the present arrangement was put into place and the population gap between the two municipalities has narrowed.

Under the new realignment plan, the Board expanded Region #2 and added to it three electoral districts from Pine. The plan encompass portions of both townships and involves electing.

Credit where credit is due

New construction allows Pine to hold line on taxes

New construction in Pine has allowed supervisors to hold the line on taxes for the eighth year.

Supervisors Monday night unanimously approved the $11.8 million budget for 2011. The tax rate will remain at 1.2 mills.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10341/1108846-100.stm#ixzz17UVm1Hz1

Many of you know I was upset that our all Conservative Republican School District in Pine-Richland raised taxes, but the municipal officials in our area have generally done a good job of keeping the tax rate down. We'll see if Richland Township can hold their tax rate this year with their now very conservative Board of Supervisors.

Mike Turzai Mailer

Let's be honest, I don't think it is possible for Mike Turzai to lose. I might be okay with him being my State Rep, if he didn't take the time to go after the only local elected Democrat in his legislative district just because of party politics during the 2009 elections. Mr. O'Malley was a young fresh voice on the entirely senior citizen Richland Township Board of Supervisors. Mr. O'Malley voted 99% with the Republicans on the Board of Supervisors.

So why did Mr. Turzai waste his important time to send out a mailer against someone who never raised taxes, consolidated the police force, saved taxpayers a million dollars in building costs, and eliminated a 1/3 of the Richland Township employees? Sounds to me like Mr. O'Malley was doing everything that Mr. Turzai says he is fighting for in Harrisburg. I guess policy will always be trumped by party politics in Mike Turzai's world.

FYI, Mr. Turzai's opponent is Dr. Sharon Brown. I don't know much about her other then some bad literature I saw during the Primary Election and that Mr. Turzai challenged her petitions in the spring. The Post Gazette has endorsed Mr. Turzai.

Pine-Richland School Board wants to build more?

I was shocked when I saw a few weeks ago an article about the Pine-Richland School District looking to raise taxes. I was mostly shocked because the make up of the Board is 100% Republican. As I read through the article I knew there has to be a catch as to why Republicans might have to raise taxes. It is the Democrats fault!!

"This is the cause of mismanagement by the state government," Rich Herko, board vice president, said. "And this is not a surprise to the legislatures, even when they reduced our contribution to the PSERS, they soft-pedaled it and kicked it down the lane.

"State legislatures and our governor (Ed Rendell) have done nothing about it and don't intend to do anything about it either. They don't view it as their problem -- they see it as the school districts' problem."

I love that it couldn't possibly by the fault of the school board. It is all the fault of a lame duck governor and a Democratic State House majority of the last 3 years. I'm sure the Republican controlled Senate has nothing to do with it when blaming the State Government.

I can understand that government and schools are expensive and costs will go up as time goes on, but I couldn't help but wonder why the state's amount of support became such a small percentage of the budget. So I wanted to look at how much the local school board has raised the budget in the last 5 years. In 2004-2005 the budget was $44.9 million. This year they are proposing a budget of $66.6 million. In times when government are doing everything to cut back this fiscally conservative school board has raised their budget by 48% in just a few years.

I have no problem with cost of government going up to some degree. It is bound to happen. I do have major issues when local elected officials rail against the federal government and state government for partisan issues while at same time they can't keep their own pocketbooks in order. At a time when governments are trying to cut back, Pine-Richland school district builds a fancy upper elementary building to make parents in Suburbia feel safer because their kids will just be around kids their own age. Did anyone look at what the transportation costs are to have 3 school buildings that service the entire geographic school district before they built an "upper elementary school"?

To top off these Republican comments about property tax raises, (that aren't their fault) the school board is looking to add a $30 million dollar addition to a school. So next time one of these school board members tells you something about how much Democrats are all about taxing and spending, ask them why they feel the need to tax and spend on a special interest that they care about so deeply.