Franco Harris’s Son Enters the Race for PGH

Looks like Chris Potter was on to something last week when he wrote about Dok Harris.  The website HarrisForPittsburgh.com is now live with quite a bit of content.

From an email sent this morning….

Harris for Pittsburgh

Franco “Dok” Harris Running for Mayor of Pittsburgh

March 09, 2009 10:00am

Franco “Dok” Harris, 29, has announced his candidacy for Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh. A native Pittsburgher and graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and Carnegie Mellon‘s Tepper School of Business, Mr. Harris has set forth a bold platform to address the many challenges facing the city and is committed to revitalizing our local economy.

I am running to be the next Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh because our city faces complex and difficult issues and requires wise stewardship to address them successfully.

The Pittsburgh of today faces an upcoming budget crunch and a profound pension crisis which must be met and addressed proactively before they cripple our hometown and further burden our already weakened infrastructure. We are now witnessing the local effects of a national economic downturn. We see neighborhoods ravaged by structural unemployment and crime. We watch as young graduates leave Pittsburgh to pursue careers in other cities. The Pittsburgh of today requires strong leadership to help it grow into a city that honors both the dreams of our children as well as the sacrifices of those who have gone before us.

As your mayor, the Pittsburgh of tomorrow will be an economic powerhouse; a green city that is a friend to businesses both small and large. Our city will work for our workers by ensuring fair wages and fair treatment. The Pittsburgh of tomorrow will be the intersection of labor and technology, where both startups and large corporations will benefit from the hard working blue collar spirit of our community and the intellectual trust of our universities. As your mayor I commit to building Pittsburgh into that city upon a hill – or in this case, three rivers – as an example of the role that good government has in our common successful future. I ask you to join me on this journey. Together, we will Forge Ahead.

I will face every problem and seize every opportunity in a manner that will promote safe communities, the health and welfare of our citizens, and the education of our next generation. I will be a vocal advocate of small business and will use my position to encourage individuals to open businesses in their communities, to hire within their communities, and to purchase within their communities. Pittsburgh is the heart and soul of Western Pennsylvania and the industry based here is the backbone of the region. It is my goal to make it a shining example of what cities can be. To that end, I will support our top notch police, fire, and emergency medical services, giving them the latest in tools and technologies while supporting the individuals who risk their lives to keep us safe. We will strategically address public transportation to encourage companies not just to move here, but to stay here. As mayor, I personally guarantee that all City contracts will be awarded in an open, fair, and completely transparent manner. In my administration the door to the Mayor’s office will remain open to everyone, and the era of pay-for-play will be at an end.

This is The City of Champions, not only on the field, but in our classrooms and boardrooms. We have world class universities and some of the nation’s greatest arts communities. As mayor, it will be one of my core goals to retain this intellectual trust, to keep young entrepreneurs in the City, and to support an arts community that enriches our minds and spirits. To that end, my administration will work with both the County and State to improve our tax system offering residents incentives to live, work, innovate, and build within the City’s limits.

I pledge to run an inclusive and open campaign. I will adhere to strict campaign contribution limits in order to guarantee to the citizens of Pittsburgh that each and every one of their voices will be heard. I will empower every Pittsburgher, – Democrat, Republican, and Independent; my supporter or the supporter of my opposition; residents of every neighborhood across this great city – empower every Pittsburgher to be involved in government and to know that their city is working with them and for them. I’m running for Mayor as an Independent because the crises we face as a city can only be solved by all of us joining together as Pittsburghers committed to revitalizing our city. We can no longer afford the luxury of divisiveness, but must instead take upon ourselves the burden ofbipartisanship. Only together can we forge a new Pittsburgh, a city both deserving of its legacy and poised to shine as a high tech town with a blue collar soul.

I look forward to the opportunity to speak with people across this city, to encouraging them to help shape the future of Pittsburgh and to honor the hard work and sacrifice they have made to better their neighborhoods and this city as a whole.

I look forward to a spirited campaign, and have the utmost respect for the civic service and dedication of my fellow candidates.

Together, we will Forge Ahead. Thank you for your time and God bless our City.

Franco Dok Harris

Mr. Harris is running as an Independent in the General Election. For more information please contact the Harris for Pittsburgh campaign office:
Phone: 412-620-8823
E-Mail: forgeahead@harrisforpittsburgh.com