P-G: Mt. Lebanon teen Nathan Zezza invited to White House

At 17, Nathan Zezza of Mt. Lebanon wasn't even old enough to vote in the presidential election earlier this month.

But that didn't stop him from working more than 500 hours on the campaign to re-elect President Barack Obama, manning phone banks and pounding the pavement.

He thought his big reward for that effort was the president's re-election.

But last weekend, he found out he's getting a more personal reward. Nathan, a senior at Mt. Lebanon High School, received an invitation from the president, Vice President Joe Biden and their wives to a holiday reception Dec. 18 at the White House.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/mt-lebanon-teen-nathan-zezza-invited-to-white-house-664656 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

P-G: Mt. Lebanon commissioner enters county executive race

Encouraging startup companies is key to bringing more jobs to Allegheny County, the newest candidate for county executive told about 50 cheering supporters this morning.

D. Raja, a Mt. Lebanon commissioner and founder of an information technology company, became the third Republican to announce a run for his party's nomination for the post.

Read the full article:

• http://www.postgazette.com/pg/11048/1126132-100.stm (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Lawmakers Pay Themselves First (But Smith Won't Take It)

State workers will have to wait another week to be paid for days they have worked since July 1, but House Democratic lawmakers have checks in hand. They paid themselves first.

Their paychecks were issued Tuesday as they voted on a $27.3 billion budget, which Gov. Ed Rendell yesterday chopped to $11 billion through line-items vetoes. He left intact funding for such items as public safety, state parks and employees' pay.

At least one House Democrat -- Matt Smith of Mt. Lebanon -- says he won't cash his check until state workers are paid, too.

Link: www.postgazette.com/pg/09218/989004-454.stm

Lebo Couple Exemplifies Election Gender Gap

Before even entering, passersby can tell that the Grandinetti house in Mt. Lebanon, Pa., is a divided one. Signs dotting the front lawn proclaim support for both John McCain and Barack Obama.

"We are the Grand Canyon of differences here," Nick Grandinetti said of his wife, Donna, and him. "There is no common ground that I can think of [that] Donna and I have in this election."

Nick Grandinetti supports McCain and Donna Grandinetti supports Obama. The Grandinettis illustrate a national trend: Women are more likely to be Democratic and men are more likely to be Republican.

Link: abcnews.go.com/GMA/Politics/story?id=6154232&page=1

'ER' TV Stars Go Door To Door In Mt. Lebanon For Obama

TV drama will meet real-life drama as "ER" stars Laura Innes and Gloria Reuben join Pennsylvania health care workers getting out the vote for Sen. Barack Obama on Tuesday. Representatives said that the actors will begin knocking on doors in the Mount Lebanon area at 1:30 p.m.

The actors will spend the day in Pittsburgh alongside hospital and other health care workers knocking on doors, making campaign calls, and talking with voters about the need for a better health care system.

The "ER" stars are among more than a dozen actors who have lent their celebrity to ongoing election efforts by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation's fastest-growing union, and are volunteering to help voice to working families' concerns.

Link: www.wpxi.com/news/17771149/detail.html

Sign Wars

It's that time of year again when political signs sprout up as quick as weeds around town. We're all used to seeing our neighbors support their choice of politicians, but there's always one that stands out from the rest.

I saw the following sign while traveling on Morrison Drive neat the intersection with Cochran Road. As you can see, the message is very strong -- and depending on your opinion -- is either way off or right on target. I just have to wonder what this homeowner's neighbors think of it.

Students Support Primary Vote Change

Students from three high schools in the Pittsburgh region told a state House committee on Friday that 17-year-olds should be allowed to vote in Pennsylvania's primaries provided they turn 18 by the general election.

"In an age in which primary election turnout is usually around 25 percent, a measure to allow more young people to vote would be a welcome aid to our rather deplorable rate of civic participation," Fox Chapel Area High School senior Luke Secosky testified.

Students from Fox Chapel Area were joined by others from Monaca and Mt. Lebanon High Schools and members of special interest groups who said they favor the idea.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/mostread/s_566828.html

Judge Checks Into PAC Finances

Allegheny County Common Pleas Court President Judge Joseph M. James has scheduled one additional hearing in May over a Mt. Lebanon Political Action Committee's (PAC) finance records.

It's possible the case will be dismissed once canceled donation checks are shown to the judge proving members of the PAC donated the sums they filed in their reports.

Link: http://www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/04-23-ML-PAC-hearing--B

Meet The Candidates Night

How do you know who to vote for? Take the time to meet and question school board and commissioner candidates. A non-partisan forum sponsored by the Mt. Lebanon PTA Council and the League of Women Voters.

Date: October 30th

Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Place: Jefferson Auditorium

Lebo - Democracy in Action

In a Comment at this earlier post, Ward 1 Voter posed a series of excellent questions for the candidates for Mt. Lebanon commissioner:

1. One of the largest retail spaces in our Central Business District - the Denis Theatre - has remained dormant for a number of years. Certainly, it would add to the vibrancy of our communtiy and the existing retail and dining establishments if this asset was once again put to good use, or even redeveloped for a new use as soon as possible. How would you prevent similar property owners from sitting on these prime retail locations while doing nothing?

2. As I travel to my children's soccer games around Western Pennsylvania, I have noticed that the community fields in several other areas put Mt. Lebanon to shame, both in number and overall condition. Further, it is becoming increasingly obvious that Mt. Lebanon's fields cannot meet the present demand. Do you have a position with respect to developing additional field space, while maintaining or updating our existing field space?

3. Do you have a position regarding the various swimming pool proposals that have been presented?

4. Do you support TIF funding for the condominium project on Washington Rd?

5. In recent years, traffic has become one of the single biggest issues facing our community. As you may know, a traffic calming policy was implemented a couple of years ago and several recommendations for effected neighborhoods have been presented to the Commission. However, only one (Mission Hills) has been formally implemented. Are you in favor of increased funding to support traffic calming measures or do you believe that traffic is something that we simply must accept as part of life in Mt. Lebanon?

6. For several decades Mt. Lebanon was able to market itself to first time homebuyers and growing families by promoting its excellent schools, its stately homes on quiet streets and its proximity to Downtown. However, many neighboring school districts have made up the gap and, in some instances, passed Mt. Lebanon. Many of our once quiet streets are now busy cut through routes for residents living south of Mt. Lebanon. And our stately (aging) homes are now a tough sell to a family of 4 or more, particularly when you compare them to the newer homes in Wexford, Pine Richland and Cranberry, all of which are becoming increasingly convenient to Downtown with 279 North, the HOV lanes, etc. How do you plan to market the "new" Mt. Lebanon to first time homebuyers and growing families?

So far, Andy Reinhart (candidate in Ward 3) and Raja (candidate in Ward 1) have weighed in with responses in the Comments to that post. Again, here is the link.

UPDATE (10/19 7:25 am): Bonnie Van Kirk (Ward 1 candidate) has added a long response in the Comments to the earlier post Link here. Dan Miller (Ward 5 candidate) has put up a long Comment on this (Democracy in Action) post.

Political Signs Everywhere

Yes, I know...this is the time of year where are our plants begin to die and the political yard signs begin to grow. Each April and October, signs supporting one candidate or the other sprout in our yards showing our support of a particular candidate or candidates. Mt. Lebanon is no different that anywhere else with regards to this.

What I want to know is -- why are candidates' signs showing up in areas that they shouldn't be? While I'm not going to name names, I'm very curious as to why I'm seeing a signs for someone on the other end of Mt. Lebanon -- nowhere near the area they are running to represent. I can totally understand saturating your own ward that you want to represent, but I think that is is unfair (and totally confusing to some voters) to place your signs all over the municipality. It's also totally inappropriate for signs to be placed on municipal property -- which I have definitely seen as well.

If any of the candidates read this blog, I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts (or reasons) why we're seeing signs in places that they shouldn't be.

Smith and Mustio Buck Party Leadership

Two Pittsburgh-area legislators, one Republican and one Democrat, find themselves in a spot where no rank-and-file lawmaker wants to be -- out of sync with their own leaders on a major issue.

But Reps. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, and Matthew Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, are vowing to push for a vote on a bill that often strikes a chord among the public: reducing the size of the General Assembly.

Mr. Mustio said the size of the proposed reduction isn't set in stone, but he's working on a bill to trim the House, now at 203 members, by about 20 percent, or to 161, and reduce the 50-member Senate to 40. Those are also the numbers contained in a Senate bill sponsored by Sen. John Pippy, R-Moon.

NOTE: Senator Pippy represents Mt. Lebanon as well.

Link: www.postgazette.com/pg/07267/820128-85.stm

Representative Smith Making House Calls

Matthew H. Smith mopped the sweat from his forehead and approached the front door on Milbeth Drive, literature in hand. Would anyone answer the bell? Would he be able to solve a problem? Answer a question? Or even field a complaint?

"I think it's great," Mr. Brzezinski said of Mr. Smith's effort. "I've been here 11 years and I think this is the first time I've had somebody who isn't running come to the door."

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07221/807937-55.stm

Meet The School Board Candidates

Mt. Lebanon School Board candidates night will take place from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 8 at the Jefferson School auditorium. You can meet and ask questions of the nine candidates: Zachary Benkovitz, Elaine L. Cappucci, James Fraasch, Rene M. Garson, Edward L. Kubit, Sue Rose, Faith Ann Stipanovich and Carol J. Walton.

This non-partisan forum is sponsored by the Mt. Lebanon PTA Council and League of Women Voters.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/ML_Candidates_forum_5_8

Lebo Commissioner Candidates

Besides listing the school board candidates across the south hills, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also listed the commissioner candidates for Mt. Lebanon as well. We will also be adding web sites for these candidates to the sidebar as we are made aware of them. If you are a candidate, or know the address for a candidate's web site, please email me at josephpolk@gmail.com and I'll make sure that they are listed.

1st Ward

Democrat: Bonnie W. VanKirk
Republican: D. Raja

3rd Ward

Democrat: Andrew Reinhart
Republican: Joe DeIuliis

5th Ward

Democrat: Daniel L. Miller
Republican: William L. Hoon

Nine Seeking Five

Though most of the nine candidates for five seats on the Mt. Lebanon school board said they would like a place on the board so they can participate in plans for a new or renovated high school complex, there is no single theme that runs through the campaign.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07102/777021-55.stm