tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481330.post111306018803873405..comments2023-10-24T11:05:25.288-04:00Comments on Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events: Eyes changes for appointments -- with a wink and a lobby groupMark Rauterkushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481330.post-1113060331101861142005-04-09T11:25:00.000-04:002005-04-09T11:25:00.000-04:00Peduto eyes changes for city appointmentsThursday,...Peduto eyes changes for city appointments<BR/><BR/>Thursday, April 07, 2005<BR/>By Timothy McNulty, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette<BR/><BR/>Democratic mayoral candidate William Peduto said yesterday that he wants to "professionalize" appointments to city agencies such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority or the zoning board by choosing candidates from a list developed by a third-party panel.<BR/><BR/>The two other major mayoral candidates, Michael Lamb and Bob O'Connor, have also talked about the mayor's appointment powers on the campaign trail, saying they would use them to add more minorities and women to boards.<BR/><BR/>Pittsburgh's mayor has wide appointment powers, which can be used to push -- or block -- initiatives, largely according to the mayor's wishes. The mayor appoints all members of the URA, zoning board, planning commission, city Housing Authority, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, Stadium Authority and parking authority, and some members of Alcosan and the Sports & Exhibition Authority.<BR/><BR/>There are additional mayoral appointments to regional economic development bodies and to agencies the mayor creates on his own.<BR/><BR/>Peduto, a city councilman from Point Breeze, said if he were mayor, anyone could apply to be on the city agencies, and a third-party panel would study the candidates and issue recommendations on appointees to the mayor.<BR/><BR/>"These authorities spend hundreds of millions [of dollars] each year. We must take politics out of this process to create boards that accurately represent the interest of the citizens, not the special interests," Peduto said at a news conference yesterday.<BR/><BR/>O'Connor, the former City Council president from Point Breeze, also has said he would name professionals to city boards and try to have minorities or women fill at least 50 percent of all board seats. He also says he will name a search committee to find board members and will enforce term limits on the appointments.<BR/><BR/>Lamb, the Allegheny County prothonotary, has not made appointments a major plank of his campaign but in a related note has said he will push women-owned businesses as a part of his economic development strategy.<BR/><BR/>His campaign director said yesterday that Lamb also is committed to naming women and minorities to 50 percent of board seats.<BR/><BR/>The Democratic primary for mayor is May 17. Others seeking the party's nod include Gary Henderson of East Liberty, Hop Kendrick of Lincoln-Lemington, Les Ludwig of Squirrel Hill and Gary Repovz of Shadyside.<BR/><BR/>(Tim McNulty can be reached at tmcnulty@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1542.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com