So-Called 'Off-Year' Elections Anything But Off

kdka.com - So-Called 'Off-Year' Elections Anything But Off I'm on page 4 of 6, either once or twice, depending upon where you live.

Ron Paul audio from Odeo

ODEO is a podcast service and it seems as if one of my old high school classmates is the President there. So, let's take a moment and hear from the guy I want to be president of the USA, Ron Paul.

powered by ODEO

This is an interview with Ron Paul via ABC News.

Pa. House asks MLB to retire Clemente's No. 21 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pa. House asks MLB to retire Clemente's No. 21 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pa. House asks MLB to retire Clemente's No. 21

How about if we retire a bunch of members from the PA House instead.

I love Roberto. I hate over-reaching politicians.

FAQ on new website gets put into place today.

Have you seen the new website at Elect.Rauterkus.com?

What leadership skills do you possess?

As a former NCAA Division I swimming coach, I have led many athletes to great performances. I've coached teams with more than 200 swimmers. I've been a boss with staffs of dozens, in competitive sports. I've hired and employed lifeguards and swim instructors in multiple facilities. Managing them is much like leading public employees but lifeguards and instructors have higher stakes than what the average bureaucrat faces.

Leading employees in the controller's office or with a staff will not be a problem.

When dealing with rivals on various issues, my experience in coaching competitive sports will be an asset. Building teamwork among peers within the halls of government will leverage these same team building strengths. Even with rivals I am know for my respectful demeanor.

Why do you not have a job? One of your opponents says you're just running for office because you need the money. Is this true?

We moved to Pittsburgh so that my wife, Catherine V. Palmer, Ph.D., could pursue her career in Audiology at the University of Pittsburgh. She is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders at the School or Health and Rehabilitation Sciences with a joint appointment to the School of Medicine in the Department of Otolaryngology. If that sounds impressive, it should. She impresses me everyday. Like so many spouses before, I took on the role of stay at home parent to our sons, to free her to pursue her career.

As a father of two boys, it is a role I am proud of, and an experience I am fortunate to have been able to have.

I've got the best job in the world.

Furthermore, I've been a professional swim coach and expect to coach again, and holding an elected position does not change this. I've worked as a paid coach from 2003 to August 2007.

If I needed money, I would pursue a career in the private sector. It pays better. The reality is, life has put me in a fortunate position in a difficult town. I wish to give something back by dedicating my time to public service at a time when our region is lacking leadership.

Why are you running for both City Council and City Controller?

I am running for City Council because the city's finances are in shambles, liberties are on the decline and new energy is needed in the post of Chairperson of the Citiparks and Youth Policy Committee.

I can't stand idle and give Bruce Kraus a free pass to city council. Hats off to him for winning the 2007 primary to get the nomination from the Democrats. But I've campaigned with him and seen double-talk and his fumbles with the purpose of government. Kraus wants to play give-a-way politics and the city is without any assets to make more handouts.

I'm immensely more qualified to serve the city in the role of chairperson of Citiparks and Youth Policy Committee than Mr. Kraus -- and any of the others elected to office in Allegheny County. I'll do more for kids in Pittsburgh than all the other politicians combined. For Pittsburgh to recover, we need to grow ourselves out of this mess we find ourselves in today. Our kids need to be strong and must be successful competitors in a world marketplace.

As City Controller I will be in a position to exercise performance oversight over the city -- from council's special interest spending to the mayor's office to the school district.

Why did you initially run for other offices as well?

Pennsylvania's law make it nearly impossible to get Libertarians and other third-party candidates onto the ballot. In the hopes of luring other like-minded citizens to also run for office, I charted a course to provide alternatives. Election rules allow for a political body to change candidates, and we were successful in getting another into the mayor's race.

My candidacy in many races assured spaces for other challengers on the ballot, depending upon the primary election outcomes.

What is your agenda?

I want an urban Pittsburgh that is a splendid place to raise our kids. And, as our kids mature, I want them to have the freedom and liberty to grow and stay here.

Some of my strategies for addressing our city's issues, from education, to parks, to the city's ongoing financial crisis follows.

---

Are there other questions you feel should be asked and answered?

Hey, Teachers. Leave that school alone. Memo to Pgh Public Schools: Do NOT sell South Vo Tech

The board of Pittsburgh Public Schools is moving, again, to sell off a treasure -- South Vo Tech.

This should NOT happen.

Keep the school. Don't sell it. There are plenty of other wonderful uses for that building that need to occur. The buildings and space are with too much value. The site has always been a pivotal place for learning and employment.

There are few who are more 'free market driven' than me. And I say -- don't sell it off. The building is at a wonderful cross-roads. People can get there by foot, walking from town. Buses go. When the road is open, people can slip into the site from the mouth of the Liberty Bridge and Tunnel.

Here are some proposed uses:

1. Re-open a Vo-Tech High School!

South Vo Tech should have never closed. Pittsburgh needs a great Vo Tech program. We were promised a re-do of the Vo Tech opportunities when South Vo Tech closed.

2. Turn South Vo Tech's into a different school.

2a. Make it a K-8 building. The existing Phillips is not that good a building for K-5. There is no room for music, gym, science labs, nor expansion. The existing Phillips school could be great for pre-school and K. Grades 1-8 could fit into South. Or put one classroom for K for sibling preferences.

The residents in the "new urban high rise condos" that were slated for the east end of Station Square would find it ideal to send their kids to a South K-8, walking from 2nd Ave to 9th.

2b. Schenley High School might get a face-lift. The 9th graders of Schenley could go to South Vo Tech while the school gets a re-hab for a year.

2c. South Vo Tech could be a great charter school. Put the Science and Technology High School operated by Pgh Public Schools as a charter school there. Yes, as a charter school.

By the way, I don't like the idea of putting grades 6, 7 and 8 with the high school kids within one school.

2d. Make South Vo Tech a haven for 9th Grade Nation. Get the kids that are 'at risk' to have a specialized school to bone up on literature, algebra and writing. Then from this school, they could go to other district schools in 10, 11 and 12th grade.

3. Make South Vo Tech a regional park headquarters.

Put the Pittsburgh Park District there, next to the football stadium. Give the kids a great strength and condition space for year-round training in the basement of the building. All sports participants could use the gym, boys and girls, coaches and parents.

4. Put PCTV 21 studios into South Vo Tech.

There are big rooms, an auditorium and other spaces that would be 'sound proof' and ideal for a TV studio. PCTV is busting at the seams.

5. Make South Vo Tech a POLICE STATION.

The South Side (Zone 3) Police Station is way too small. The parking down by 18th Street is a mess. Keep that station for Fire. Bring EMS either to the 18th St. station, where they were before with fire. Or, bring EMS to the South Vo Tech too, along with the police.

6. Make the old South Vo Tech building a Student Union for bridging the gap from high school to college.

Duquesne, Point Park, RMU, Pitt, CMU and CCAC can all have distance based and outreach programs there. Lifelong learning, inter-generational programs, academic and non-academic courses could be offered. This setting could be a real 'community learning outreach hub.' ESL, drivers ed, PodCamps, music, Parenting groups, and a range of other course work opportunities could flourish there. Think of it as a Regional Enterprise Tower for hands-on learning.

Sell the hard to sell buildings first as there are only a few customers who will want them.

Another important reason to NOT sell South Vo Tech, at this moment, is because other more pressing neighborhoods need their vacant dark schools to be put to use first. South Vo Tech can be put into 'mothballs.' It is a big, visible building. Lots of people go by it all the time. If something bad should happen -- it would get seen and curtailed. Meanwhile, some of these other schools are much more remote. They can be breeding grounds for lots of nasty things that won't be easy to spot and prevent.

I think Knoxville and Hazlewood need help more than the South Side. They have empty school buildings that could be sold to private owners. Then the new business in those settings could help to turn those areas around. The South Side can survive with South Vo Tech in an idle condition. However, I'm not sure if the same holds true with these other neighborhoods.

Furthermore, let's say a high-flying tech start up needs a space for 'wet labs' or some such operation. They want to employ (I'm dreaming here...) 20 people in the first year and grow to 200 in six years. It could be Google, a bio-tech, a spin off from PPG or Bayer, etc. There are only so many of those customers out in the market. They need cheap, sturdy space with options for growth and custom build outs. A school building could fit their needs. But we are NEVER going to find 20 of those customers. We might find three. Sell off the buildings that buses can't get to easily. Sell off buildings that adults can navigate. Sell off some of the harder buildings first.

Otherwise, the demolition costs for the other 20 buildings is going to be expensive.

As a member of Pittsburgh's City Council, I look forward to the challenge of public discussions and measurements of assets. The role of stewardship has been fleeting for those on Grant Street. Facilities and building re-use is a great challenge and problem.

Even as the city's controller, there are plenty of ways we could insure that all the vacant public buildings -- such as schools and the indoor, closed, ice rink in the park -- can be utilized. We need spaces were we can teach kids how to play well with others. We need spaces were citizens can teach government entities how they too can play well together.

I swear, if we took a new look at parks and figured out how to blend responsibilities and entities in an open, responsible, forward thinking way -- that was saving the taxpayers and insisting on democratic decision making -- we'd be able to build skills, relationships and capacity for other topics yet to come.

Merge parks now. It would be fun and rich with expriences. Then the shift to saving pension funds can be made easy.

Tony Oliva, L, candidate for mayor, on with Honz Man, Wed at 5:50 pm

Tony Oliva is booked for the Honz Man show, KDKA Radio, for Wednesday (tomorrow) at 5:50. Sounds like he'll get a 10-minute interview.

I think DeSantis and Ravenstahl are due to be on the early KDKA Radio show on Wed. too.

The Modern Mom’s Guide to Dads: 10 Secrets Your Husband Won‘t Tell You” is now available for purchase.

Hogan's new book is out at www.barnesandnoble.com and www.amazon.com.

Review from Mothering Magazine:

"I received a galley of The Modern Mom's Guide to Dads, and I really liked it. It is so hard to find a male perspective on fathering. I really appreciate your empathy for fathers' feelings about pregnancy and birth - the sense of responsibility, fear, helplessness, and the drive to provide. I love the description of how men feel during childbirth classes, how they object to being called coaches as well as their reluctance to share their feelings in a room full of women! This book is a great service to families. Thank you for writing it.

Melissa Chianta, Managing Editor, Mothering Magazine

Cumberland House Publishing press release, "Why Do New Fathers Behave the Way They Do?"

Modern Mom’s Guide to Dads Reveals Ten Secrets to Strengthening a Marriage

“A must-read for everyone with kids!” — Dr. Laura Schlessinger

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – New moms are frequently confused by their husband’s behavior after the birth of a child. What do they really think about being a father? Why has this new life they created together altered their marital relationship? Authors Hogan Hilling and Jesse Jayne Rutherford offer their own unique, qualified perspectives in The Modern Moms Guide to Dads: Ten Secrets Your Husband Won’t Tell You (Cumberland House, ISBN-13: 978-1-58182-606-7, $16.95, October 2007).

Hilling has been conducting workshops for dads for 15 years and moms for 5 years at conferences, hospitals, and corporations across the country, and he has heard it all – from frustrated women and men. The Modern Mom’s Guide to Dads is a “parenting relationship” book, full of thoughtful insights about what new dads are thinking, and how wives can get their husbands more involved in the kids’ lives and the household without nagging or manipulative tactics. In each chapter, there are stories from real dads’ lives that shed light on some of the secrets they try to hide from their wives; quotes from fathers about their feelings; helpful strategies; and a section called “And a Mom Wants to Know,” Rutherford’s input as modern-day mother and wife.

Whether you’re planning, expecting, or raising a family, The Modern Mom’s Guide to Dads offers keen insights into what your husband really thinks about pregnancy, parenting, and marriage!

Hogan Hilling is the founder of Proud Dads, Inc., through which he develops and conducts expectant father classes for hospitals in Southern California and conducts workshops for mothers on fathering issues through the United States. The author of The Man Who Would Be Dad and the stay-at-home father of three boys, he is the recipient of a 1995 California “Courage to Care” Award and has made multiple television appearances. He and his wife, Tina, live in Newport Beach, California.

Jesse Jayne Rutherford is a freelance writer and mother. She is the co-author of Speaking Up: How to Help the Children You Work With Who Live in Abusive Homes, and the author of Save the Date: A Curriculum for Teens on Developing Healthy Dating Relationships, which she wrote on staff at the Family Violence Project. She, her husband and daughter live near San Diego, California.

For review copies or high res photography, please contact: Michelle Nikolai, 615-832-1771, ext.18, michellen@cumberlandhouse.com.

South Side Park -- 75 Canadian Geese go south -- if you know what I mean

Someone was in city council today to claim that there may have been another round up of Canadian Geese. Seems that 75 have been taken, with erie flashbacks to North Park's DEP kill-off.

There was some 'doubt' -- so don't be too alarmed. I've asked for her statement via email.

Anyone know anything?

News flash: Water in the South Side -- in our neighborhood -- is bad

What's up with the water? It flows from the pipes, but it is yellow and dirty?

This started today (Tuesday) in the morning.

Let's not elect a Democrat to Council District 9

This is not good for the Democrats.

Carlisle aide pleads guilty and will testify against councilwoman Pittsburgh Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle's defense against theft charges became more difficult yesterday when alleged co-conspirator Darlene Durham pleaded guilty to transferring $19,480 in city money to the embattled official.

Luke Ravenstahl was in city council when some of this went down.

City Officials Develop Plan To Fight Urban Blight

This is a great example why Luke Ravenstahl should not be in charge of the city. For me, this becomes a policy problem.

kdka.com - City Officials Develop Plan To Fight Urban Blight "And I can tell you that the No. 1 issue when it comes to neighborhoods and quality of life is abandoned properties, is abandoned lots, is the neglect from those property owners to take care of them," Ravenstahl said.

To pile onto their train of thought, the #1 person in the mayor's office concerning neighborhoods came to a community meeting last week. She said that the city's #1 asset was its property.

These guys and gals are brainwashing themselves to think about lots, property, blight, buildings and real estate. In feudal days there were land lords and renters. They've got feudal perspectives.

Notice too how he is going to declare war on building. There are 1,400 condemned buildings and the budget gets to be doubled. They want to talk about apples and oranges. Money to building totals paints a bleek picture.

Double the demolishing still means less than half of the buildings get touched.

Presently, more buildings are flipping to racoon hotels than are being torn down. The city is going under farther each week.

After the city doubles its efforts this year, it will need to double its efforts again next year. Then there might be light at the end of the tunnel.

The comprehensive plan the city needs is rooted in the land value tax.

Today, property owners are rewarded with lower taxes when their buildings decline. Today, property owners are punished with higher taxes when their buildings are fixed up.

As taxes are set only upon the value of the land, there will be a city-wide push to retain value in the existing buildings. Or, if they are bad, but in poorer neighborhodds, they'll be fixed up for the value. And, the buildings that have gone to seed in more upscale neighborhoods will get fixed too, as the taxes will be too high to hold onto an under performing property.

The land tax is a win-win-win-win for owners, neighborhoods, city and taxpayers.

Jonathan B. Robison's newsletter. You might have to search for 28 more to find those 30

Jonathan B. Robison: For us, the most difficult contest is for mayor of the City of Pittsburgh

There was some chatter on another blog that there were 30 Dems who were on the city committee who were now on the Mark DeSantis bandwagon. Some said, "prove it." Well, here is one newsletter that proves the point that the bandwagon better have good springs as many may be jumping aboard.

Minor mayor candidates want to make point - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Minor mayor candidates want to make point - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Tony Oliva, Libertarian candidate for Pittsburgh mayor, didn't get to share the stage with the major-party candidates during a recent mayoral debate, but he snagged the crowd's attention at the end.

This was Tony's second joke from the podium. The first, about plenty of people having egg o their face after he won the election, was blogged about before. It is harder to put that joke into a news article and make it as 'funny.'

Good article Dave Brown (Tribune Review reporter)!

The rest of the news on the Libertarian follows.

"I see (Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, the Democrat, and Republican challenger Mark DeSantis) as a choice between painting a bare room," Oliva said when given three minutes to add his two cents. "You have the choice between painting it eggshell white or mother-of-pearl white. They even look like they have the same tailor."

When about 200 people, including DeSantis and Ravenstahl, stopped laughing, Oliva added, "Maybe a splash of color is just what this city needs."

Oliva and Socialist Workers Party candidate Ryan Scott -- who each had three minutes to speak after the debate on Thursday -- have no false hopes about winning the Nov. 6 election. Even so, they are scrambling to get their disparate messages out to anyone who will listen. Minor-party candidates appear frequently on ballots in Western Pennsylvania and across the nation, although their campaigns rarely succeed in a political system dominated by the two major parties.

So why bother running at all?

The candidates offer straightforward reasons often set in personal convictions: Generally, they hope to make a point.

Cut stuff about the Socialist Workers Party. Read that in the comments or at the Trib's site.

Oliva said he became a Libertarian because that party best fits his political philosophy.

"I tend to lean toward fiscal conservatism, with low taxes and financial freedom, but I'm also more socially liberal on personal freedoms and liberty," he said. "Neither the Republican nor the Democratic parties speaks to me as well as the Libertarian Party does."

A former Army paratrooper, Oliva, 28, of Oakland is a graduate student in economics at the University of Pittsburgh. He was born in New York and moved to Western Pennsylvania about 10 years ago. The first thing he pledges to do, if elected mayor, is cut his pay. It troubles him that city officials get full pay and benefits at a time when Pittsburgh is in financial distress.

Running for mayor is worthwhile, Oliva says, if only to show voters there are options. After hearing Ravenstahl and DeSantis debate, the Libertarian told the crowd it was just more "political rhetoric that Republicans and Democrats spew at each other."

"I think it's time we heard a new voice," he said.

Tony Oliva

Party: Libertarian

Age: 28 (blog note: Tony is one year older than the existing mayor)

Occupation: Crossing guard and graduate school work

Residence: Oakland

Education: Bachelor's degree, political science, University of Pittsburgh

Family: Single

Political experience: First race for public office

Do you think that the Trib could have made the photo in the online edition any smaller?

Study finds retail glut Downtown

OMG:

Study finds retail glut Downtown 'We have a lot of retail but it's all junk,' such as discount stores, convenience stores and nail salons, said Mr. Sullivan.

Until the city is able to clean out the 'bad' retail, he said, it is going to have trouble attracting high-quality retail.

You know, there is a lot of junk on the internet. However, the junk on the net does NOT prevent the net from being a splendid place for other resources.

The retail places in downtown that are "bad retail" are not trying to be 'bad.'

Perhaps they are bad because of cash flow, customer base, changes in the marketplace, tax free shopping via the internet, and a zillion other reasons. Perhaps they are bad because the competitors get tax breaks.

The same type of BS comes when they say that there are too many bumbs downtown. Hell, the homeless folks are the only ones you see downtown because they are the only ones that go downtown. The homeless are not the real problem. The lack of other people are the problem.

The bad retail isn't the problem. The fact is, downtown can't support great retail at this time.

Lord & Taylor is where?

Lazarus is where?

Old Navy is where?

The list gets too long to make.

[412] In the news -- and ethics update -- we need an UPGRADE, but only have an update

Email blast:

[412] In the news -- and ethics update -- we need an UPGRADE, but only have an update

Hi,

Today's (Monday, Oct 15, 2007) Post Gazette has an article about me and a few other political pals seeking public office from outside the ranks of the D party.

See my blog for a peek between the lines of that article:

http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/2007/10/p-g-coverage-running-is-all-uphill-for.html

Furthermore, my website, http://Elect.Rauterkus.com, has a had a face lift! Check it out.

On Friday I spoke before Pittsburgh's Ethics Hearing Board. I've seen glaciers move faster.

By the way, check out my new website, http://Elect.Rauterkus.com.

Two-fer theme

P-G coverage: Running is all uphill for Pittsburgh's 3rd-party candidates

Running is all uphill for Pittsburgh's 3rd-party candidates: "Running is all uphill for Pittsburgh's 3rd-party candidates CAMPAIGN 2007 Monday, October 15, 2007 By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette David Adams has put up wanted posters accusing his electoral opponent of ducking debates.

Mark Rauterkus has filed ethics complaints against rivals.

We made the news today, oh boy.

There are a few points to make about the article, reposted here with comments throughout.

For voters, the Dave S, Dave A, Mark R, Mark R, Mark D makes for an interesting 'ticket.' There are only two names one needs to remember. I've been working with Dave A and Dave S on a regular basis. We're on the same page. I'm a team builder.

Meanwhile, the Republicans have never been cooperative -- even when I ran for Mayor as a Republican because I hated what Tom Murphy was doing to our city. By the way, my experience with the issues and throughout the years as a vigilant watchdog was overlooked.

David Schuilenburg has a Web site that includes a "Darlene Watch" listing what he views as his incumbent foe's missteps.

They're Pittsburgh's political insurgents, carrying third-party banners in uphill battles, hoping that unusual tactics and an unsettled climate yield Nov. 6 upsets. With no Republicans running for any city office other than mayor, they are the alternatives to the long-reigning Democrats.

I'm able to carry a third party banner, the LIBERTARIAN BANNER. Tony Oliva joins me in that effort. We have three slots for Libertarians. Dave S and Dave A are hardly holding a 3rd party banner. Dave A is 'no party.' Dave S is something like 'reform Democrat' or 'new Democrat' or 'Independent Democrat.'

To lump us all together under the "party banner" tag is a little weak. "Don't Put Me -- or US -- in a BOX." I tried to get them to join me in running as a "Libertarian" -- but each declined. They knew that goofy reporting would be forthcoming.

And they're eternal optimists.

Guilty. Furthermore, I think we are 'idealists' and mostly optimists who have faith in our fellow citizens and voters.

Only those who think that they can change the world are the ones who do change the world. Those that think make the first step. But we who think and have the energy of action are the real change agents. One needs to be an optimist to run for public office. One needs to be an optimist to stand and fight. One needs to be an optimist to live in the city, especially with a family.

By the way, I've helped to change the city in a number of ways. We have won some battles. We have turned the tide in some domains. I am optimistic that my involvement has made Pittsburgh a better city and region.

"If I can get 1,500 kids to come out to vote, I'll win this election," said Mr. Adams, the independent candidate for the seat being vacated by Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle.

Mr. Adams, 49, of East Hills, faces the Rev. Ricky Burgess, who won the Democratic primary in May.

Mr. Adams has tried to paint Mr. Burgess, 50, of North Point Breeze, as a pawn of outside interests and white gentrifiers. Both men are African-American.

"Mr. Burgess has the idea that other people can solve our problems," Mr. Adams said. "There's a plan to take over the 9th District, to push us out."

The Democrat has countered that his opponent is too polarizing.

"This district is not an African-American district," said Mr. Burgess. "This is a peoples' district. ... You want to bring more people into the district, not just black people."

Something further from the truth has never been said about David C. Adams -- and it figures it would come from a challenger like Burgess. Mr. Burgess is using double-speak. But, he won't show up for a debate. Mr. Burgess tells the Post-Gazette editorial board one thing. Yet, he tells neighborhood groups another.

Both say crime is the key issue in the district, which covers the city's northeast corner.

Mr. Burgess would use crime data to identify areas to be targeted with police activity and social services, the effort advised by churches serving as the "liaison between the police and the community. ... We don't want tanks and militia indiscriminately coming down the streets."

He wants to fight crime while encouraging job development and housing construction.

Not really. Burgess is talking about using POLICE RAIDS. The talk we given witness too from Burgess about crime is alarming.

Mr. Adams said before any new development or housing push starts, crime has to be cut by 40 percent. He wants teams of "surveyors" to canvass every city neighborhood identifying their needs, followed by police cooperation with five-person community advisory committees to craft action plans.

His proposal calls for effective social service programs to be advertised in a resource guide, offenders to be given second chances and efforts to promote healthy living.

Exactly. David Adams is pushing for and PULLING for real community driven interactions with the police. This is what it is going to take. The people have to get involved, and they need to trust those in charge. They will be able to know that Dave C. Adams is with them, for them and going to stand tall to the troubles, both within the force and within the streets.

David's approach is thought out. It is calculated. It is full of hard work. It is necessary. And, above all, it is a plan of change that cuts the the root issue. The cancer there now is the disengaged citizens. "Snitching" is negative. That has to change.

Mr. Rauterkus, a 48-year-old volunteer swim coach from the South Side, is running for both City Council and controller as a Libertarian.

I'm a volunteer who has been a paid coach. Rich Lord took a cheap shot there. "Rauterkus is a professional swim coach that also volunteers to lead his son's school swim team." We had practice last night (Sundays from 6:30 to 7:30 pm) with 19 kids at the Oliver Bath House. I've stepped away from coaching this fall to run full-time campaigns. In September I was offered another job with another team to return to the day-to-day coaching.

The repeat candidate faces two Democrats, Allegheny County Prothonotary Michael Lamb in the controller's race and interior designer Bruce Kraus in the council race to represent the South Side, nearby hilltop neighborhoods and parts of Oakland.

Now the P-G calls me a repeat candidate. Both my opponents are 'repeat candidates.' I ran for mayor, so did Lamb. I ran for city council, so did Kraus. Wonder if Kraus is a 'volunteer painter' when he covers graffiti.

One does what one is called to do in life. Kraus does wallpaper and paints. That makes him good at painting, rose colored glasses optional. I work with kids. I'm called to recreational leadership and to volunteer as a coach. Voters get to choose.

Meanwhile, Lamb is a gentle bureaucrat from the dominant party. He'll be happy to have others on the Ethics Hearing Board tell him what is right and wrong. He'll be happy to report to the party bosses or foundation wire pullers as to what to do, who to hire, and when to make waves -- or not. I think we need someone in city hall where citizens can get a grip on this town's policies. We need a controller who cares about PERFORMANCE.

Though neither Mr. Lamb nor Mr. Kraus is a city employee yet, Mr. Rauterkus has filed complaints against both with the Ethics Hearing Board, which is empowered to review actions of city officials and workers. Both say the complaints are groundless.

Mr. Rauterkus accuses Mr. Lamb of a conflict of interest by being involved in the A+ Schools reform group while running for a post that oversees city and school district finances.

"If I'm fortunate enough to win this election, I plan to seek the advice and opinion of the Ethics Hearing Board on what a conflict is and isn't," Mr. Lamb said. He'll resign from any board that conflicts with his office, he said.

Mr. Rauterkus complains that Mr. Kraus has tried to keep current Councilman Jeff Koch, who lost the Democratic primary, from getting another city job.

Mr. Kraus called that "rumor and innuendo," and said he hopes Mr. Koch gets "any job he is qualified for, for as long as he chooses to work."

Rich Lord must be upset at the editor's editing of this section. I know he'd never do such a hatchet job with gross omissions. I put THREE complaints to the Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board.

The main target was the Ethics Hearing Board itself. They are the most unethical with the confidentiality aspects and damages that can be delivered against citizens that have the courage to raise a complaint.

My complaints have now come into view with the board. They gave fleeting mention of how the code needs to be overhauled and the confidentiality elements need examination.

Without the other examples where Kraus and Lamb were targets, my compaints could have been knocked out without the necessary 'standing.' More needs to be done with ethics in the city. I have the mindset and capacity to stand and fight. Others told me that the Ethics Hearing Board was a joke. I have to agree. But, to let the joke linger without pushing it into a serious discussion would be equally troubling.

The complaints I filed are clearly visible at http://Elect.Rauterkus.com/ethics. However, the coverage from the Post-Gazette only went into the P-G blog, Early Returns, not into the newspaper. The City Paper covered the story. (add links)

As to the Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board scope, I feel that it needs to be willing to examine cases that deal with candidates, not only employees. Candidates and campaigns are perhaps the one area where the most mud and trouble unfolds. And, it is the one place where voters have the upper hand to oust bad politicians and parties. If the Ethics Hearing Board only has a mandate to focus on employees, then it is only a puppet of the regime in power, not the people.

The Ethics Hearing Board needs to be 'proactive' and not only 'reactive.' Heck, the golf saga with Luke Ravenstahl won't be settled until the first of the year. If two days of golf tie up the Ethics Hearing Board for more than six months, how responsive can they be with more pressing issues. We can't lead by only looking into the rear view mirror. We need to move the city 'forward' -- so to speak. Let's not make 'ethics' and 'end of the day' experience. We need to consider ethics in real time: morning, noon and night. We need ethical discussions to dive into the future as well as the past.

I want a city that can be 'proactive.' Watchdogs are proactive tools. A controller can be 'proactive.' We need to get a grip on this city in proactive ways -- before the assets are torn down, before the money is spent, before the kids are shot, before the jails are overcrowded, before our vets return home from Iraq to rehab.

Mr. Rauterkus' primary platform plank is improving parks and youth programs. He wants to create a new city-county parks district, with elected trustees who would take parks leadership "off of Grant Street."

"What works for me is freedom and liberties," he said. That means no subsidies for skyscrapers or home rehabilitations, a return to the city's pre-2001 system of taxing land at a higher rate than buildings and no security camera systems in neighborhoods.

The "home rehab" quote isn't 100% complete. I say that we should not do tax breaks for home fix-ups in certain neighborhoods and not others. No unfair, special interest tax breaks. However, the policy that I advocate, the land tax, is all about a city-wide home rehab tax break. Everyone gets a tax break for fixing up their properties when the taxes are only calculated upon the land. I don't want to tax the buildings. I only want to tax the land. That is the direction we should go and return to.

If one has a house and adds an addition, a sun-room, a new deck, a new porch -- whatever -- great. They'd get a tax break under my plan. The home owners who fix up properties under today's plan get punished with higher taxes. That's wrong.

The land tax is all about home rehabilitations for everyone, including tax breaks. The taxes stay the same because the land hasn't changed.

Furthermore, I'm not saying 'no security cameras in neighborhoods.' I'm saying that we need security cameras. However, I want to point all the security cameras at the politicians, public meetings, treasury, police, public works employees and all authorities. We'll need a lot of cameras to cover that. We've got to get away from the back-room deals. We need to cut through the 'smoky city' legacy. Then, after all the government elements are fully monitored, then let's talk about pointing cameras at citizens.

"If all of the cameras that arrive in town are pointed at the public officials, as well as the public treasury, then I would welcome them," he said.

Like other third-party candidates, he's running on the cheap.

Cheap. Yeah, right. Cheap shot. I'm prudent. I'm not going to run a campaign that costs lots of money and racks up a lot of debt. Likewise, I'm not going to govern in a way that generates debt and costly spending.

I'm running a campaign that is visible. I'm hyper in my presence and willingness to debate. I'm able to leverage the internet for outreach and to sustain discussions. I'm not hunkered down doing as little as possible such as my opponents -- and Ricky Burgess.

He's a regular speaker during council's televised public comment periods, an Internet blogger and a dogged distributor of campaign DVDs that, he said, cost him around 23 cents each.

I also speak to county council, state hearings, Pgh Ethics Hearing Board (not on TV), unions that will have me, and other community meetings -- not on tv.

Mr. Schuilenburg, 34, of Summer Hill, is a city 911 dispatcher trying to unseat Councilwoman Darlene Harris, who won the seat in a special election a year ago. He finished sixth in that race, and is again running as an independent.

His Web site promises detailed plans on attracting homeowners, combatting crime, reforming government and encouraging development, but details were not posted by Friday.

His campaign seems focused on painting Ms. Harris, a former school board member and longtime Democratic Committee ward chairwoman, as old school. His Web site proclaims that "the status quo will no longer be tolerated by citizens, and change to what has become the norm in [traditional] leadership in the City-County Building is now desired."

Go, Dave, Go!

From people & vips

The insurgents see hope in May's primary election, which saw three incumbents losing Democratic primaries. If that tumult continues, it will be the unexpected result of unusual tactics.

Unusual tactics -- give me a break. Well, I guess it is 'unusual' to stand tall, to be so confident because the others are so weak at heart and mind, and to champion citizen candidates working for everyday opportunities.

Rich Lord can be reached at rlord@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1542.

At least the article didn't have a mention of the other 'third party candidate' seeking to win a seat on Allegheny County Council, David Tessitor. He is another Dave. He is NOT a member of either the D or R party. It will be interesting to see if he gets any coverage for that at-large seat on Allegheny County Council.

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From Mark Rauterkus

Younger voters giving GOP the cold shoulder | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Younger voters giving GOP the cold shoulder | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle... young people are less likely to embrace the Republican Party than any generation since the '60s.

The reasons for the GOP's woes among under-30 Americans include frustration with the long-running Iraq war, libertarian or liberal views on social issues, which clash with Republican social conservative orthodoxy, and changing demographic trends that have created the most ethnically and racially diverse group of young people in American history.

South Side Step Trek -- walking along

It is a good day for the South Side Slopes Step Trek.

My son is a teenager and we've had a birthday sleep over with some cousins and have a Sunday morning and afternoon party. Laser Storm, here we come.

Yesterday both boys swam in a meet at Woodland Hills. Grant and Erik did fine. It was the first meet of the season. Erik's 100 breast time was about equal to his 100 fly time, 1:20.

Wilburn was in town and just loving his opportunity in Toronto. Good to see them last night at a party.

Cider pressing party mid-day today should be fun.

Tonight, we have the second practice for the Phillips Swim Team at the Oliver Bath House -- at 6:30 pm.

Enjoy the weekend. Go Red Sox.

A HOME RUN

A HOME RUN: "When I’m Mayor, I’ll work to strengthen the City’s ethics code, not weaken it for my own benefit."

DeSantis wants to strengthen the ethics code. Ravenstahl wants to weaken it.

Meanwhile, I want to be certain that the ethics code isn't about politicians at all. It needs to be stronger for the sake of citizens and whistle blowers.

Let's strengthen the ethics code by elimination of the confidentiality clause -- right now. Let's strengthen the ethics code with the elimination of all threats of punishments and liabilities against those who file ethics complaints.

DeSantis needs to be much more specific.

One could think that the ethics code could get stronger by giving them more powers -- and bigger clubs to pound against citizens who wish to file complaints yet hold onto First Amendment Rights too.

I have been specific in my complaints with the ethics hearing board.

Mark DeSantis and Luke Ravenstahl should, and could, join with me, along with other members of city council, to demand that the ethics hearing board's code eliminate the confidentiality clause and eliminate all threats against citizens.

More to come on this topic, as I spoke on Friday at the Ethics Hearing Board meeting.