posted by Mike Madison at 11:16 AM /
Paul Shelly, a member of the McKeesport City Council, has posted a note to his blog about Mt. Lebanon and one of its new Commissioners, Raja. The post title, "Person over Party," suggests the overall tenor of the piece. An excerpt:
Paul's post reminds me that one of the things that I really dislike about this area is how thoroughly local elections are driven by party politics.
The point applies not only to Mt. Lebanon but to the region as a whole. I understand the history here. I understand the tradition. I understand that many people have significant personal investments and egos embedded in their political party activism. I understand that being able to organize and mobilize the party at a micro level bears importantly on races for the state legislative, Congress, and the presidency. I also think that Democrat v. Republican competition for local offices -- such as Commission seats -- is damaging to the community and to its residents. Is there a Democratic view of Mt. Lebanon? A Republican view? I don't see it.
Of course, I cut my political teeth in California, a state where "Democrat" and "Republican" don't always mean what they mean in other parts of the country, and sometimes don't mean anything at all. I also worked as a political organizer in the Iowa presidential caucus, and I saw how it's possible to distinguish party politics that are meaningful at the national level from the politics that are relevant to local communities.
At the least, I would enthusiastically support a ban on campaigning at polling places. Several states ban electioneering within 100 feet of polling places, and the Supreme Court has ruled that the bans don't violate the First Amendment. I do vote, but running the gauntlet of campaign volunteers stationed right outside the school -- many of whom are organized and sponsored by local party committees -- makes it a thoroughly unpleasant experience.
The folks in Lebo are lucky to have Raja. . . . I’m lucky to have him as a friend.
Sometimes you have to choose person over party. Believe me that is not an easy thing for a staunch progressive like me to do. I hink the last Republican I supported was John Heinz.
I think I made the right call on this one. So did the good people of Mt. Lebanon.
Paul's post reminds me that one of the things that I really dislike about this area is how thoroughly local elections are driven by party politics.
The point applies not only to Mt. Lebanon but to the region as a whole. I understand the history here. I understand the tradition. I understand that many people have significant personal investments and egos embedded in their political party activism. I understand that being able to organize and mobilize the party at a micro level bears importantly on races for the state legislative, Congress, and the presidency. I also think that Democrat v. Republican competition for local offices -- such as Commission seats -- is damaging to the community and to its residents. Is there a Democratic view of Mt. Lebanon? A Republican view? I don't see it.
Of course, I cut my political teeth in California, a state where "Democrat" and "Republican" don't always mean what they mean in other parts of the country, and sometimes don't mean anything at all. I also worked as a political organizer in the Iowa presidential caucus, and I saw how it's possible to distinguish party politics that are meaningful at the national level from the politics that are relevant to local communities.
At the least, I would enthusiastically support a ban on campaigning at polling places. Several states ban electioneering within 100 feet of polling places, and the Supreme Court has ruled that the bans don't violate the First Amendment. I do vote, but running the gauntlet of campaign volunteers stationed right outside the school -- many of whom are organized and sponsored by local party committees -- makes it a thoroughly unpleasant experience.
6 Comments:
Mike,
Thanks for the mention. Actually in Pennsylvania, I believe that the majority of voters are conservative leaning Democrats. I believe that the Casey - Santorum race evidenced that fact. Before a vote was ever cast in that race, I felt that a pro-life democrat was a tough hurdle for the former Senator to overcome.
Dirty politics are not owned by either party or completely admonished by either. I was beat up within my own party because I wasn't one of the hand-picked chosen few. How dare I run when I wasn't endorsed.....
I think we are at an interesting point in PA politics. Renegade new State Reps like Bill Kortz in the 38th District are in Harrisburg for the right reasons. They want to make a difference. So far, I believe that the Freshman class has done well. They represent enough votes to be a force to be reckoned with. I hope they can stick true to their guns and not be deflected by the Harrisburg culture. Time will tell.
In a perfect world, we would all vote person over party with each of our votes. Some folks do,and I respect that. However, there is an inherent value in loyalty to ones supporters and affiliations.
It is a tough call sometimes. I try to support the best candidate available, whenever that is discernible. If the candidates are equal, I'll support the D over the R. When it is two Dems fighting it out, I always support who I believe the better public servant will be. I think if we as a party put forth our best candidates forward, as opposed to the often endorsed hacks or yes men, we serve the public better.
This doesn't always endear me with the local (McKeesport) political establishment.
That doesn't bother me much since they didn't help me to win and I don't have to look at their faces in the mirror every morning.
You have a great blog and I look to contribute more to it in the future.
I also see that you link to my friend Jason Togyer's Tube City Almanac.
He keeps me planted soley in my place as Mckeesport's second best blogger.
Between you and I, there are only two that I know of..... ;)
I like Raja a bunch - his breath of fresh air (and intolerance for BS) will be very welcome at 710 Washington Road.
The good news about MTL elections is that no race is a walk in the park. As was the case in the first ward -- both teams routinely advance excellent candidates for 32% of registered voters to choose between (2007 MTL general election voter turnout). Voter turnout is the bad news about MTL elections.
By now you know I like to look at data , to make fact based decisions (something I share with Commissioner-elect Raja). So before we start writing the legend of how Raja beat the odds in the first ward because he "overcame great odds to win a seat as a commissioner in Mt. Lebanon, in a ward that leans heavily Democrat in terms of voter registration" as Mr. Shelly suggests - let's look at the data.
Republicans actually enjoy a voter registration edge over Democrats in MTL's first ward. The ward is about 46% “R”, 41% “D” and 13% Independent and other affiliations (2006 County Election Records).
Bill,
I apologize the the innacuracy of my voter registration comment.
I was told by another elected official (not Raja) that represents Lebo that the Ward was a Democratic one and Raja had a rough hill to climb. I should have checked my facts better.
Irregardless, Raja ran a good clean campaign and one.
COncerning voter turnout, Mt. Lebo's # actually weren't bad in comparision to other communities. We werelucky to be a little over 20 percent in McKeesport.
Too many citizens fail to realize that the LOCAL elections are the ones that influence their lives more. Turnout would have been better in the Governor was running and better yet in a Presidential year.
It's also funny that towns like McKeesport that are HEAVILY Democrat, where the Primary's typically ARE the elction, more folks will come out and vote in the General elction when everything has been decided.
The night of my Primary victory, turn-out was worse than this year. Typically, a low turn-out favors machine candidates. Folks who's jobs depend on the powers that be do drag themselves to the polls.
However, when I, an outsider won, my victory was discredited. The Mayor went on to say in our local paper that nobody turned out to vote because they were so content with the job he and his Councilors were doing.... Not to discredit the Mayor, who has done a decent job in a difficult time for McKeesport, but I ask that you drive through yourself and see how "happy" and "content"the voters are.
People are so sick of the dirty politics in McKeesport that they have quit running for office, quit voting and quit caring.
I ran and serve to try to give the folks hope. Sometimes you just have to take a stand.
With one faction of one political party controlling McKeesport for the past 30 years, we have had the same old tired ideas, just coming out of different mouths.
Time to shake things up a little and bring in new ideas and new people.
Sorry for the diatribe.
Glad you like Raja.
On the subject of Partisanship, I would like to say that the Allegheny County Democratic Committee got a MAJOR upgrade when County Councilman, Former Mayor of Millvale and practicing attorney Jim Burn was elected party chairman. In addition, Carmella Mullen, the party vice chair is good people and a good compliment to JB.
I believe that we are policing our own much better with these two individuals steering the ship. I predict that you will see better Democratic candidates at all levels as a result.
-Councilman Paul Shelly,
City of McKeesport
You apparently had a much better view of our election from KcKeesport than I did from Mt.L Somehow I missed seeing the “strong-arm tactics”, “slanderous unfounded remarks”, and “anonymous emails and bloggings”. This past election had two very impressive individuals running for the office of commissioner in the 1st ward, and the community stood to benefit with the election of either of these individuals, both being a hugh improvement over the outgoing commissioner.
One thing you neglected to mention, is that, in contrast to the $5,000-$7,000 average amount spent by the candidates for both the commission and school board, Raja spent upwards of $50,000!!! This may have had just a much to do with his winning as going “door to door, belly to belly, face to face”.
You are absolutely correct.
Yes, I did have a better perspective than you on the election.
I had the inside perspective that voters don’t often see.
Trust me, I’ve been through it myself and know what to expect. I’ve worked on quite a few campaigns and run two of my own so far.
Raja went through just about everything but “swiftboating”.
What you see "publicly" is mild compared to what goes on in the trenches, behind closed doors andthrough innuendo.
I am not blaming the Raja bashing and strong arming on his opponent. I understand she was a fine candidate as well.
There are others, with much more to lose that didn’t want my friend to succeed. They are afraid he will use it as a stepping stone. Maybe they are right, maybe they are wrong, only time will tell.
Can’t speak to the effectiveness of the previous commisioner either. Raja would be an upgrade over most so you are probably correct in your assesment.
I haven’t seen the post election finance report Raja filed. I can neither verify or deny your claim of $50K.
(Why aren’t these online yet???? State Finance Reports are but they process has not trickled down to our fair county. It is the 21st century correct?)
I do know that his last pre-election report was in the neighborhood of $35K.
I too feel that Raja spent to much. That comes from his being a neophyte to this game.
But hey, he had the money to spend, he won, so why second guess his decision?
Putting out so much of his own money shows a real commitmenton his part.
I understand that a large portion of his spending went directly to a high powered political consultant. Not one penny of that $ was seen by the voters in terms of mailings,ads etc.
Votes can not be bought in local elections. They are earned. Market saturation does help. Did Raja havemore signs than his opponent? More mailings? If so, perhaps the added expense helped.
The risk of using an outside consultant is that they are not in touch with the pulse of the voting community. What plays well in a Senate Race, or in McKeesport for that matter, probably doesn’t sell in Lebo.
The last two weeks, Raja took counsel in a friend who knows how to win at the grassroots level.
He had a good positive message that communicated a vision. He had good people with him. The final missing piece of the puzzle was the door to door effort.
It ensured his victory.
Most voters don't really tune in until the lasttwo weeks. Thats when you kickin to a gear you didn't know you had, if you want to win.
Raja kicked it in, pounded the streets and earned a win.
Until a person's name is on a
ballot, they really have no clue as to what goes on behind the scenes.
Yes, I did have a better and more educated perspective. It was earned from the school of hard knocks.
Peace.
Paul Shelly
McKeesport City Council
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