Open letter To residents of the Western Pennsylvania, especially the PA Senate 42nd district
From Mark Rauterkus
Libertarian Nominee
Citizen Candidate for Jack Wagner's vacated State Senate seat
in the Special Election on Primary Day, May 17, 2005
March 30, 2005
Dear voters,
As a parent, community activist, professional swim coach, and former publisher, my career life has been dedicated to performance and meaningful improvements.
I have coached state-record breakers in four states.
I've edited, published and marketed more than 100 books for athletes participating cutting-edge competitive sports.
I can write, communicate in technical terms, and interact among the broad spectrum of citizens.
I get along well with others. Anyone can discover and provide their own opinions on numerous issues at my website: Platform. For-Pgh.org.
I believe my abilities and acquired skills are important qualities suited to any legislator's responsibilities in our modern, crisis-driven times.
My candidacy for community service and elected office is a call for the emergence of a strong voice for new regional leadership. I understand that our system of local and state government is broken --and, financially "broke”, as well.
Career politicians have put the Pittsburgh region in a tailspin.
As necessary, I will buck established authorities and will demand personal and fiscal accountability, sacking the practice of "done deals," promoting fair competitiveness, and encouraging participation of a fully-informed public in the affairs of their governing.
Winning, in sports and life, entails being prepared, showing up, and scoring more points. We should aim to thrive, not merely survive.
As a citizen candidate, and not a political-machine player, I intend to represent the broad social-economic diversity of the multi-generation, multi-cultural population of the entire 42nd district, ranging from the city neighborhoods to the suburban municipality boundaries.
Mis-use and abuse of state laws in schemes such as the attempted WE-HAV tax on Southwest Pittsburgh neighborhoods, and the practice of TIFs such as Deer Creek Crossing in northern Allegheny County have no place in the prosperity of all. Public funds should be applied to maintaining existing public roads and pedestrian-ways and trails; and providing affordable efficient mass transit; not squandered on the Mon Valley Tollway which wreck havoc through our neighborhoods.
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I've actively struggled for preservation and re-use of our historic sites and valuable local resources, including St. Nicholas on the north side, the Pittsburgh Public Libraries, WQEX 16, the now-closed and lone indoor ice rink in the city (Neville), city recreation centers, and some swimming pools.
I battled against corporate give-a-ways that loomed in Fifth & Forbes (plan A, B, and C) and pushed for pedestrian accommodating design, reliable transit funding, and internet-accessible property assessment listings.
Assessment-buffering and land-taxes work for the benefit of regular taxpayers, while the unified-tax-plan, taxing freezes, and the deed-transfer-tax cripple the economy and work against the benefit of the region.
I questioned UPMC'S expansion to the South Side Works. I fought eminent domain, the loss of Pitt Stadium, and the stadium tax. I raised alarms with the redcarpet arrival of dual oversight boards.
I want self-reliance; and I say no to wrongheaded spending on an Oakland merrygo-round in place of parking-area and vendors. Yes, a real merry-go-round is in the works. Its not a figure of speech.
Wasteful spending, in my opinions include the glass-enclosed subway station re-do in Gateway Center, the one-way HOV-ish Wabash Tunnel, and the under-the-river route of T-expansion to the North Side.
I demanded rodent control, a traffic engineer, Vo-tech opportunities, citizens' police academy, Community College of Allegheny County outreach, public comment at public meetings,
In my opinion, lawful efforts of bounty hunters shouldn't be hindered when we have a police shortage and an abundance of criminals that need to be captured.
Liquidate the parking authority, then lower the tax to 15%. Create a yearly Youth Technology Summit and a Pittsburgh Park District replacing a portion of the RAD tax and forcing cooperation among volunteers with sunshine laws and democratic participation by citizens.
I'm supporting campaign finance reform that has a prayer of working as intended. Political debates should include ALL candidates.
Pittsburgh's greatest treasure is the people. I always support human investments and shy away from governmental investments to corporations. I'll struggle hard to better the environment, health care and wellness efforts for all.
With respect,
Mark Rauterkus, Candidate
vote as you see fit on May 17.
Resident of South Side, Pittsburgh http://Elect. Rauterkus.com Mark@Rauterkus.com 412 xxx-xxxx
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