Do you believe in miracles?

I do.

Twenty-five years ago, I was coaching swimming as an assistant with the Ohio University men's team. We were at a swim meet at Bowling Green State Univ. BG had a player or two on the USA Squad, so the place was really buzzing.

Today, just hours after plugging in the PayPal account, we're able to report that the donation pipeline is "open and flowing."

Perhaps that's another miracle to some. To me, its not.

To mark a milestone, the Elect.Rauterkus.com campaign has already exceeded the total amount of contributions in cash from my past camapign four years ago. I ran for Mayor, City of Pittsburgh, in 2001. I was in a contested Republican Primary. Back then, I and others knew the city was in serious trouble. We needed to do something about our town before we drained the public treasury. Well, I ran for Mayor. I got 46% of the GOP vote, a percentage that was higher than my age. In that quest, I got votes city-wide for $.30 each when looking at the $ spent and #s of votes earned.

Mayor Tom Murphy and then City Council President Bob O'Connor got votes for $30 each. Do the math.

My efforts in 2001 was a "paper campaign" so I've come to discover. That's political jargon. As a rookie, I raised $600, then. Today, within a day of opening the new PayPal account -- this campaign has exceeded the amount raised from the entire duration of the last campaign.

The Elect.Rauterkus.com campaign is my second ever. It is the first that I'll be on the ballot in the "general election." To date, no Democrat has ever had the opportunity to vote for me. It is safe to say, I'm NOT running a "paper campaign" in 2005.

No online donations have yet been deposited within the Politics Online process / utility. That just got approval some hours ago. If you'd like to be the first -- please be my guest. The links follow below on this blog.

I'm here to join with others who want to shape the future. We want to make history -- not be a slave of it.

Thanks for your support and consideration.

New candidate jumps into race in Dem's field for PA Senate

Tonight I got to meet and greet in the 4th Ward (Oakland) and heard an interesting point among the presentations of judge candidates.

Seems that a candidate from the western suburbs, a state rep, jumped into the race against County Councilman Wayne Fontana for the Dem's endorsement. That is a new wrinkle -- if not shock. Seems that the cages rattled a bit with the news of a possible run by Eileen Wagner, but, that was just noise. This isn't.

More news later.

Politics Online Donor Button for Elect.Rauterkus.com

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Green Building Awards, call to nominate.

See the comments for details on the awards and lunch events. Seems to be a first ever. Four are to be honored in different categories.

Nine city recreation centers reopening -- Ten staying closed.

Nine city recreation centers reopening Monday, February 21, 2005, PG

The City of Pittsburgh today is reopening nine community recreation centers that had been closed because of budget problems. Private donations had been sought in late 2003 and last year to reopen pools and recreation centers. The centers will be open from 3 to 10 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. They will offer sports, fitness and after-school programs. The centers are Arlington, 2201 Salisbury St.; Brookline, 1400 Oakridge St.; Jefferson, 605 Rednap St., North Side; Magee, 745 Greenfield Ave., Greenfield; Ormsby, 79 S. 22nd St., South Side; Paulson, 1300 Paulson St., Lincoln-Lemington; Phillips, 201 Parkfiled St., Carrick; Warrington, 329 E. Warrington Ave., Beltzhoover; and West Penn, 450 30th St., Polish Hill.

The rec centers makes a classic half-full or half-empty question. Nine open while ten stay closed. Furthermore, the centers closed in August 2003. That's a long time for a kid, say the age of 10, like my oldest and his classmates.

Another glimmer of hope comes in the fact that the South Side Market House, a city rec center, is now a place for activities too. The volunteers and parents of the area pulled together to offer programs for the kids throughout the fall of 2004. We conducted a 10-week indoor soccer program on three nights a week for three age groups. This was without city workers, without city insurance, without city toilet paper. Yep, we supplied our own T.P.

The fix to this numbness is the creation of a Pittsburgh Park District. Pull the parks and recreation elements out of the city, county, school, RAD (Regaional Asset District Tax) Board and make a citizen driven, democratic, accountable entity.

In other news, the Market House Childrens' Athletic Assn begins its hockey programming tonight. Should have started in early January. But the city delayed operations for a few reasons including gym floor refurbishing.

Playing well with others

In the wee hours of the morning I sent out an email blast to 8,705 contacts. I have not sent out a message since mid-October, 2004. So, I'm sure I'll get a few bounces. Funny to me, the first of 26 bounces some 12 hours later is this:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Jack Wagner"
To: <412-public-campaign-bounces@rauterkus.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 03:17:56 -0500
Subject: automated response
Thank you for your note!

We read all of the mail that we receive and try to send personal responses to each message. We just wanted you to know in the meantime that we have received your note and will be in touch soon.

FRIENDS OF JACK WAGNER

I'm running for Jack Wagner's old seat. They are keeping the email on for me -- like keeping the seat warm -- or "....We'll keep the light on for ya." Tom Bodet of Motel 6 fame. Thanks for such a quick response to my email.

Is it so strange and newsworthy that people get along? In the real world, outreach and communication generally builds respect.

When old rivals get along is one thing. Wait until Deleno gets a sense of our Elect.Rauterkus.com political action committee's make up. A Green Party campaign manager, a yellow-dog Democrat as Social Policy Director, lots of Republicans and a few other Libertarians, Indies too! The big tent and playing well with others is part of who I am.

Jon Delano mentioned in his email blast to PSF:

New Found Friends:

Hey, what's with all these reports that former President Bush and former President Clinton have become good chums? I hope it's true, and certainly their trip to tsunami-ravaged lands can only deepen whatever friendship is emerging. Both men, of course, belong to a very exclusive club wherein they can call each other "George" and "Bill" (and "Jimmy" and "Jerry"), but it's probably more than that. The shared experience of being president is so unique that it ought to give the one-time occupant plenty of grist to talk about. Then, let's not forget that Bill Clinton is the world's number one charmer. Now that his son "W" has won a second term, George I has nothing to fear from the Clintons . . . unless it's Jeb v. Hillary in '08!

On a local level, I have been struck by how two one-time adversaries, former U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford (D/PA) and the man who beat him, U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R/PA), have become friends. I know both well, and both have told me how they have found common ground on faith-based initiatives and AmeriCorps. Santorum once ridiculed the latter [remember his Kumbayah comment?], but -- thanks to Wofford -- has now become a leading advocate for the program in the Senate. I think their friendship is genuine, even though both would admit they have lots of other policy differences.

I come from the school of politics that says lots of things are more important than political ideology. When I was chief of staff to a Pennsylvania congressman, a Democrat, back in the 1980s, some of my closest friends were top aides to Republicans like my friend Dave Gribbin, Cong. Dick Cheney's chief aide. That was considered normal back then. It's a sad comment on today's politics that it becomes a big news story when two former presidents share a friendship!

Eminent domain case to Supreme Court

High court to weigh eminent domain The question before the Supreme Court is whether the redevelopment of Fort Trumbull, which the city believes will invigorate the economy of New London, is a 'public use' that overrides the owners' right to hold on to their land if they choose.

Pittsburgh has used eminent domain as a hammer too. Let's see what the top court decides.

I strongly oppose the use of eminent domain. Too many properties are owned by the government now. There is no need to take more. The justification of taking property and from one and give it to another is lost to me.

Remember Pittsburgh Wool and the rip off the past?

Think about the other funny dealings -- such as National Indoor Tennis along the busway. PAT was to expand, but didn't.

Pittsburgh Independent Media Center blogs on the FBI

Pittsburgh Independent Media Center On Wednesday, January 26, Bill Parks, an agent with the Pittsburgh Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) visited the home of an intern and a staff member of the Thomas Merton Center.

An anoymous contributor notes that the FBI has also been interviewing local Muslim activists recently and asking questions related to potential divisions in the activist community, particularly on race lines.

If you are contacted by the FBI: you are advised to refuse to speak with them and ask them to contact your lawyer. In general there is no requirement that you answer their questions, but saying anything false, even if it is unrelated to an investigation, could be a federal crime.

Some of us are anxious to get extra help and interns. Then the TMC and the Pgh Indie Media Center are turning them away. At least they are not beating down their doors.

Elect.Rauterkus.com campaign crew -- our brain trust of sorts.

Race coverage -- Fontana is to resign any hour now, it seems. Who takes his place?

Fontana seeks nomination - PittsburghLIVE.com Mark Rauterkus, of the South Side, is running as a Libertarian.

With the rules of the county charter looming large, Wayne Fontana is going to resign from County Council. When that happens, any hour now, I fully expect, then a series of events is to unfold.

First, the county council gets to appoint a new member to the County Council to fill the rest of the term of Fontana. That has to happen within 30 days and that person must be of the same party of the outgoing council memeber.

So the second question is -- who gets the short term appointment.

Furthermore, who is going to announce as candidates for open county council seat? This will be a special election to occur May 17, 2005.

This is why Fontana needs to vacate his seat as soon as possible.

I'd love to have a running mate to campaign with in a shared quest.

Experts are a few bricks shy of a full load

Of course the experts in Pittsburgh, given the trends of the current administration for the past 11 years, are mostly focused on the building and the location.

Gambling in the future - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Experts say the casino's design and location largely will determine whether residents derive enough economic benefit from the business to tolerate its traffic, parking congestion and effects on the city's leisure activities.

Bricks and mortar matter greatly to those in power now. Frankly, I'm hard pressed to find much more that matters at all with them.

The location and the building of the casino have little to do with the casino's eventual success or failure.

In Las Vegas, the buildings are of all shapes and sizes. Moreover, the services are of all types too -- from upscale lavishness to gutter grit. I'd say that the success or failure of the casino hinges upon managers. The city is failing, and the managers are at fault.

Harshness on His Honor and the hell-hole harshness of negativity from the Trib editors.

Peduto lines up support for mayoral campaign - PittsburghLIVE.com Don't believe a word this man says. Anyone happen to notice Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy's shameless attempt last week to deflect blame for exorbitant city firefighter overtime costs?

So what. The Trib is known for being harsh on Tom Murphy. But, is the Trib ready to be less harsh on anyone else? We won't hold our breath. The same article, if it is one, pokes hard at Lamb.

LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER? Word on Grant Street is that a recent Lamb fund-raiser at the Omni William Penn Hotel, Downtown, didn't exactly result in a campaign windfall.

Someone who was there said there couldn't have been more than 90 people at the $250-per-person event, with many of those attending having received complimentary tickets.

Lamb is going to need to bring a lot more money to the dance if he hopes to have a chance against front-runner O'Connor.

It is always easy to name call and discount. John Thompson couldn't raise the money, or Mark Brentley didn't win at dog catcher, or Clinton's audio book is reselling at $9 used.

The management of decline is well illustrated in print there.

Feeling generous?

The PayPal account for Elect.Rauterkus.com is open. Click the button and make a donation to the campaign for the special election for PA Senate in the 42nd District. The election is on May 17, 2005. After clicking the button, you can choose the donation amount.

Some of the other guys

Edico - Political Announcements

The Diven for Senate campaign gets a big boost with the arrival of future Swann-ite and GOP consultant Ray Zaborney to oversee this potentially passionate race. Zaborney's presence shows that the State GOP and Senate Republicans are dead serious about winning this seat. A quick glimpse at the win column that Zaborney has had a hand in; Congressman Bill Shuster, Attorney General Tom Corbett, Allegheny County Judge Jill Rangos to name a few along with countless other state and local races. The big guys choice as commander in chief in this race speaks volumes. Curb talk has him playing a major role in the potential Lynn Swann campaign for Governor.

This just in on the nine’s… Allegheny County Councilman Wayne Fontana has just paid his filing fee to seek the endorsement to run for the state Senate seat vacated by Chancellor er I mean Auditor General Jack Wagner…curb talk had Chancellor sister-in-law Eileen Wagner as the heiress apparent and Allegheny County Treasurer John Weinstein as the man courted by Rendell…but at the end of the day, even with weak internal polling, Fontana becomes the candidate…which of course begs the question…When does Wayne resign his County council seat?

I dare predict that Fontana won't resign next week. Lots of the members on County Council don't like the law within the County Charter that applies to them. They might feel above the law. A change to the county charter was put before the voters twice. Both times the voters said that the law stays.

Weak internal polling means potential for strong outreach throughout the campaign. That's welcomed. Both Diven and Fontana have a struggle on their hands. Let the exercise begin. May the voters and citizens win in the end.

Steelers drop nightclub plan, look to reduce amphitheater

Steelers drop nightclub plan, look to reduce amphitheater
The amphitheater grant was criticized by some who did not believe Rendell should be awarding money to a successful private sports franchise.

The sweet smell of victory, again. The victory is not in the fact that little is happening. Rather, the victory is in the fact that the Murphy vision is more of a memory than a "done deal." The corporate welfare stinks. The real solutions to the North Side have to include a re-look at the promises offered to the ball teams. They had to put up or else. They had a timeline too. Extensions were already offered on a few instances. They can't deliver on their own.

The baseball team and the football team needs to stick to the games of their own leagues. They teams are sure to make horrid developers. They've proven that already. The teams are sure to be horrid neighbors too, for working people. But I'm sure that the teams would never see it as such.

The thought-controlled robotic arm

Engadget - www.engadget.com

Now if we had any thought control in the robotic hugs of Bob O'Connor we'd really have something to crow about.

The link goes to a Pitt connection.

I'll say nothing about lever pullers when it comes to election day and those robotic motions. Woops. Just did.

Open Senate seats here and there

AP -- open Senate seats The outcomes of the elections won't change the balance of power in the Senate, currently controlled by the Republicans, 28-19...

... The parties expect a closely contested and expensive race in a district where voter registration is evenly split.

Democrat strategists expect Democratic Rep. Jennifer Mann and Republican Rep. Patrick Browne to spend around $2 million campaigning for the April 5 special election.

'If that's what its going to take to win, then obviously we're committed to doing it,' Mann said.

So, the outcome matters little. But, the spending is big. If you need to be committed -- wonder when and if the insanity is not so distant in the future.

With local news, I had the chance to talk with City Councilman James Motznik, Dem. Jim worked in the office of Michael Diven when Diven was in City Council. Then Jim won the special election and has since defended his seat -- and is running again for another term as well.

Some think and feel that Motznik is a potential candidate for Diven's present state house seat should Diven depart the house. But Jim made it clear to me on the phone that he would NOT run for the seat as a Republican. He is staying a Democrat.

City Paper Article, page 12, GOP Honchos Back Newcomer Over Old Soldier

Nice coverage of the news in the City Paper, http://www.PghCityPaper.com. I'm not sure who is going to win the GOP nomination. I have my opinions, but you'll have to see them at the bottom of the article. Read and scroll.

Writer: RICH LORD
A father of five, owner of a swimming pool-maintenance business, Bellevue Council member and Air National Guard reservist, Joe Scioscia didn't need to add to his to-do list. As a lifelong Republican, though, he couldn't sit still when he heard that Michael Diven -- a Democrat until last month -- was likely to represent the GOP in a state Senate race. "I'm not convinced he has a Republican bone in his body," says Scioscia.

Now Scioscia is in the race, and his entrance has sparked a Republican insurgency, pitting party faithful against county and state leaders.

After former Sen. Jack Wagner ascended to the auditor general’s post in January, Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll scheduled a May 17 special election to fill out his term. In special elections, party committee members from the district choose nominees. Five Democrats hope to win their party's nod on Feb. 27, and Libertarian Mark Rauterkus is running. Republican committee members will choose their candidate Feb. 22.

Initially, local Republicans coalesced around Scott Township Commissioner David Jayson. Then state Rep. Diven, of Brookline, switched parties and announced his intention to run. Senate Republican leadership embraced him. "It's a very difficult seat [for a Republican to win], but with Michael Diven, it's a winnable seat," says Senate Republican spokesman Michael Long, claiming Diven beats likely Democratic candidates in polls.

Diven has long been at odds with his old party's leadership, calling House Democratic leaders "cowards and thugs" in a 2001 e-mail blast, suing the county Democratic Committee over voting procedures, and twice voting against Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell’s budgets. "There's been a lot of differences I've had with the ultra-liberal side of the Democratic Party," says Diven, who describes himself as a pro-life, pro-gun "moderate Republican."

"He just changed dance partners. That doesn't make you a Republican," says Scioscia, who carried his party’s banner in a 2003 bid for county controller. When Jayson dropped out of the race, Scioscia figured the fix was in. But the self-described "fiscally and morally conservative" Scioscia didn't want to see the local party "add another RINO [Republican In Name Only] to the Harrisburg herd." He boasts significant support among committee members -- a claim other party insiders echo.

Scioscia has had a tough time, though, figuring out exactly who the district’s 102 committee members are. He says that when he asked for a list, GOP leaders gave him the runaround, then insisted on sending it by snail mail.

"Mr. Scioscia has absolutely no problem at all getting committee lists," says county Republican Committee Chairman Bob Glancy. "He needs to do things in a civil and procedural way." Glancy calls Diven "an interesting young man who has a great deal of support" in the district.

Scioscia knows he’s monkeying with Senate Republican leadership's plan to ensure a 10-seat majority in their chamber. He says those plans were made "assuming that Republican Committee people are patsies" -- an assumption he hopes to disprove.

If Diven wins out over Scioscia, then I'll be psyched to deal with a giant. He'll be in fits and be understood for what he's been. The hand-holding with Tom Murphy is a sure reason that the voters will have for voting against Diven in the general election. Diven won't win the state senate seat in the general election. And, he could get third in the race.

If Scioscia wins, the sizzle in the race is sure to be softer -- but the steak is sure to arrive. Scioscia and myself, and Scioscia's people and my people, are willing, capable, and eager to debate each other, in the city and out of the city, on 30, 40 or perhaps 50 opportunities. We'll debate in the bakery section of Giant Eagle. We'll hit every PTO and scout meeting and church group from Avalon to the Zambonie in Castle Shannon and Island Sports. The candidate that advances from the Democratic party is sure to be invited -- and sure to be idle. That candidate is the expected the heir apparent.

Can't wait. Time to make a difference! Time to prove our distinctions as well.

Open Source Model: Release those new assessment numbers, now

My call in to Jerry Bowyer show about Dan O's position with the new county property assessments included these thoughts.

The tax bills were snatched away from the jaws of defeat before the bills went to the postmaster for mailing. So presently, the talk of any solution is about the devil we don't know against the devil we still don't know.

Let's release the numbers on the web site. Generate some data now. Put out the spreadsheets. The county has the numbers. Don't ponder them in private. Ponder them after they've been released.

With an open-source model, one would release the numbers. That's the raw source code. Then allow the brain power of the people to enter the discussions with keen awareness.

Assessment cap plan seen as 'regressive,' 'pandering'

Assessment cap plan seen as 'regressive,' 'pandering'State and former county officials yesterday sharply criticized county Chief Executive Dan Onorato's proposal to cap Allegheny County's 2006 property assessment increases at 4 percent, calling it 'regressive' and 'pandering.'

Onorato wants to cap increases at 4 percent.

I have many opinions on this matter. But, one of the worst things that have been done is that the people are being left in the dark, again. The reason to put out an order to NOT mail the new tax statements that show the homeowners new assessed value is to prevent outrage. Confusion stinks. But, worse, is in-action and a dense, dark fog.

At the last minute, Dan Onorato choose to go with the FUD option. FUD is Feat, uncertainty, doubt.

If I'm in charge, we would have done this in a different way. I would have released the new assessments on the web. We'd use technology. Don't pay the printers and postmaster and have to re-send these bills. The bills are going to be in dispute. But if we knew what the county executive knew as he knew it, we'd be able to see what's what.

Upload some new tables. Put some new fields on the county database. Release the insights now. Then lets all ponder what to do next.

I don't want to hear that the average home incrase is 22% in some area and another percentage -- on average -- elsewhere. Give the numbers on the web and then we'll all see for ourselves.