posted by Joe Polk at 11:18 PM /
Republican Jim Blazeck is not a career politician, and, he said, that's a good thing.
He is challenging incumbent Democrat Matt Smith for the 42nd District seat in the state House of Representatives next month, somewhat short on experience but long on enthusiasm.
Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08297/921954-55.stm
Link 2: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/10-22-Smith-Blazek-B-w-2-pics
He is challenging incumbent Democrat Matt Smith for the 42nd District seat in the state House of Representatives next month, somewhat short on experience but long on enthusiasm.
Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08297/921954-55.stm
Link 2: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/10-22-Smith-Blazek-B-w-2-pics
Labels: election, jim blazeck, representative matt smith
3 Comments:
Last night at the Jefferson Elementary School Open House, Matt Smith presented what seemed to be the 150th check that he has delivered directly to the folks in the 42nd District since he took office. This one was to help build a playground.
I can't remember any State Rep, or frankly any politician serving Mt. Lebanon, who is as connected with his constituents as Matt Smith.
Personally, I hope he's around for many more years.
Matt Smith is a very personable young man, but where do you think the money comes from? I would be a lot more impressed if he could figure out how not to take so much in the first place, rather than assume that a politician has a better sense of how to spend our money than the average citizen.
Sure, it would be great if we all paid less. No kidding. After all, I'm a registered Republican. However, I'm also a grateful realist. Specifically, if I have to pay what I pay in taxes, its certainly nice when the elected official tasked with representing my interests returns to the community to give some of it back.
In less than a year, Rep. Smith has secured over $100,000 in grants for the Library, a $15,000 grant for the Police Department, a $350,000 grant for the Washington Rd business corridor, a $75,000 grant for Mt. Lebanon’s traffic enforcement efforts on Washington Road, a $15,000 grant for hospice care in Mt. Lebanon, $10,000 for Hoover’s playground, $13,000 for Washington’s playground, $10,000 for Howe’s playground and $10,000 for Jefferson's playground – to name a few. He has also done a ton for our local sports organizations, including football, crew, soccer and baseball. Matt has to work for those dollars - they don't just show up on his desk.
I'd venture a guess that if you asked each of those recipients if they could have relied upon the "better sense" (or even the generosity) of the "average citizens" to raise the same funds, the answer would be a resounding "No".
Before you go there, please know that I'm not advocating for the use of public funds (i.e. tax dollars) for every orgainzation, initiative or special project in our community. In fact, I've repeatedly argued the exact opposite on this Blog. However, I am more than willing to recognize, thank and support the person who is responsible for giving these much needed funds back to our community when they might not otherwise have been available.
Lastly, you'll be happy to know that when he wasn't delivering grant checks to our library, police officers, health care workers and students, he was in Harrisburg seeking a 20% reduction in the budget for the General Assembly and sponsoring legislation that would protect Pennsylvania homeowners from unfair home-loan practices.
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