[Ravenstahl scolded over library funds]
[Rudiak aims to boost public input on projects]

Here’s the ad:

It has taken a while for this race to really start getting wide attention.  With plenty of undecided voters still out there, the compressed timeline may serve to level the playing field.  If the other candidates are able to afford TV in these final weeks up until the election, then Onorato has essentially lost his fundraising advantage.  With all 4 candidates expected to be on TV this week, the volatile race may be settled by the campaign that is better able to put together a strong field campaign and who can run the best Election Day program.

Just before the close of business on the final day that petitions could be challenged, the Onorato campaign filed objections trying to block Joe Hoeffel from being on the ballot.

The Hoeffel campaign fired back in a statement from co-manager Lauren Townsend:

“We filed petitions with 7,632 signatures from 33 counties…”

[State law requires gubernatorial candidates to have at least 2,000 signatures in total and have at least 100 signatures from 10 counties.]

“Dan Onorato has good reason to be scared, and now he has turned desperate.  This is a cowardly act.”

Press was rough for team Onorato all across the state.  For example, NEPArtisan  said, “Dan Onorato has gone the low road.”

Throughout the campaign, Onorato has been attempting to paint the race as a fait accompli. If this is the case, why challenge someone who clearly had exceeded the signature requirements?

Maybe it has something to do with these polling results, touted by team Hoeffel a few days ago. They show that, in a general election matchup, in vote-rich Southeast PA (a region that a Democratic nominee MUST win big to have any hope of winning statewide), Hoeffel leads Corbett, while Onorato trails.

Things got even stranger later in the day when Onorato withdrew his challenge. Their explanation raises more questions than it answers. In a statement to Politics PA, team Onorato said–and try to stay with me here–that they filed the suit, because they thought that Hoeffel might challenge Williams’ petitions. In what universe is this how a serious candidate for governor makes decisions!?  For his part, Hoeffel called it a “lame-ass” excuse; a “cynical effort to play around with the Democratic process”, and it’s hard to disagree.

So what is really going on? Your guess is as good as mine, but I think these poll results (and what we can infer about Onorato’s internal polling) must have a lot to do with it. It’s not unusal that when campaigns of so-called front-runners start to spudder or slide, they begin to show signs of disorganization, bad political decision-making, and irrational behavior.

It is with that background on Roe v. Wade’s anniversary that the Hoeffel Campaign sent out a release announcing that Kate Michelman is endorsing Joe for governor and will head his Women for Hoeffel committee.  Michelman is the former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

The full text of Michelman’s endorsement letter is below the fold.

Dear Friends,

As a proud Pennsylvania woman, I want to use the occasion of this anniversary of Roe v. Wade to announce my support for Joe Hoeffel for Governor in 2010.

Roe v. Wade is the landmark Supreme Court decision recognizing a woman’s right to decide matters of pregnancy, childbearing and abortion – in privacy, safety and with dignity.  It is a time to reflect on and remember those who have sacrificed to fight for and protect that fundamental American right.  It is also a time to rededicate ourselves to continuing the fight for women’s lives, health and economic security.

At a time when many in the Democratic Party are retreating from the issues that matter to many of us, I am proud to endorse someone who can be counted on to stand up for what is right — no matter how the temporary political winds might be blowing.  That is especially true on reproductive rights.

Joe Hoeffel is a determined pro-choice leader who understands that the rights of women to make their own reproductive health decisions cannot be traded away. Joe Hoeffel has served Pennsylvania in the State House, in the US Congress, and as a County Commissioner. During my tenure as President of NARAL Pro-Choice America, I saw Joe fight hard for women. He spoke out against passage of Pennsylvania’s restrictive abortion law, he worked for equal pay for equal work, and he is the only candidate for Governor to speak out against the prohibition on abortion coverage in the Health Care Reform bill.

The willingness of National Democratic leaders to secure passage of health reform by prohibiting abortion coverage under private insurance plans represents a significant setback for women, potentially for generations to come.

Joe Hoeffel is the kind of leader who understands that health care legislation at the price of women’s health is regression, not reform.  He’s the kind of leader who can speak to the people of Pennsylvania about these choices in clear and compelling terms.  He is the kind of leader who knows that policies that invest in women — their health, education, skill training and job security — are an investment in the well-being of our nation.  At this moment, in our long journey for women’s liberty, equality and freedom of choice, for which we have fought for so long, Joe Hoeffel is the leader we need.

I hope you will join me today by signing up for Women for Joe Hoeffel.  (Supportive Men are welcome to join as well.)

You can also support the campaign by:

– Joining me at his Campaign Kickoff this Tuesday, January 26, in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, or Philadelphia.

– Making a contribution to the campaign.

It is vitally important that women be actively involved in choosing the Democratic candidate for Governor. Whether you can contribute your time or your money or both, your support will make an important difference.

Sincerely,

Kate Michelman

There’s a lot of campaigning ahead of us, but in the early stages of the race for the the Democratic nomination for governor, it would seem that at least two of the campaigns are acknowledging that winning progressives is the key to winning the race.

Following Luke Ravenstahl’s infamous New Year’s Eve veto of the prevailing wage bill, Joe Hoeffel, Democrat from Montgomery County, issued a statement slamming the move and supporting the bill:

The bill had been passed unanimously by Pittsburgh’s city council and has received support from labor groups, environmental groups, and other progressives from across the City.

He went on to challenge Onorato and others to “stand up for economic justice and denounce the move.”

Onorato–who has the support of Luke Ravenstahl–failed to criticize the move or support the specific legislation on the table, but offered general support for prevailing wage legislation in principle.  In acknowledgement of the base that Onorato has no choice but to try to win, he went on to say,

“I think Mr. Hoeffel may be surprised by the support I have with progressives, including progressives in [southeastern Pennsylvania],”

This is an odd statement for those of us in Allegheny County who have some history with Dan.  For example, look back on this article written by Tim McNulty when he was a candidate for County Executive:

He says he’s against the living wage, a proposal pushed by organized labor, saying it is anti-business. He doesn’t have to mention it, but people there also know he is anti-abortion and pro-gun.

and maybe more interestingly,

[L]aw students were debating President Ronald Reagan’s nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court and proposals to prohibit burning the American flag, both of which were ultimately rejected.

Onorato, though, was in favor of both.

Meanwhile, from Hoeffel HQ:

“I’m thrilled to be endorsed by Philly for Change,” said Democrat Joe Hoeffel…

Philly For Change endorsed Hoeffel at its first monthly meet-up of the year on Wednesday night. With more than 4,000 members, Philly For Change is one of the largest progressive organizations in the greater Philadelphia area.

With a Democratic electorate that is desperate to be motivated by someone who has a record of standing up for environmental justice, economic justice, and the rights of women, working people, and the LGBT community, there should be a lot more coming on the race to secure the progressive base.

You’ve probably heard of the “Anybody But Luke” crowd, right? Well, I can tell you where everybody who is anybody will be on the night of Dec. 3.

They’ll be hanging out with city councilor Bill Peduto.

Here’s the details on that party, from billpeduto.com:

Here is how you can show your support for Bill – and build a better Pittsburgh! We need you to help us to make this event even more special.
Please join us and bring your friends.

For more information or to RSVP, please call 412-414-1430 or email Mike Devanney at Mike.Devanney@gmail.com.

Host Committee
Co-Chairs

In the Spring, Tonya Payne (illegally) used a fake political committee, “Sensible Constituents of District 6,” to distribute some negative materials.  This Fall, she was at it again.  See below for a flyer that she passed out (again, illegally using another fake political committee — “Neighbors Against Dirty Politics”).

She also had the flyers below–which accuse City Councilmember Bill Peduto of racism–distributed in his district.

The Neighbors Against Dirty Politics also sent around the following email:

From: neighbors against dirty politics 2
Date: Sun, Nov 1, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Subject: IS TRUMP FINANCING LAVELLE?

IS TRUMP FINANCING LAVELLE?

Is Trump financing Robert Daniel Lavelle‘s campaign in District 6? No, not really,  but I am confused where Lavelle received his money to add “extra” bonuses to his campaign workers.  I know if I truly believe in a candidate I do not have to be paid!  Why would he have to pay 130 workers $100.00 each?  Why would he have to pay workers breakfast, lunch, and dinner?  Who paid for his Rent A Cars? Who paid for his color brochures?  Who paid for his postage?  Who paid for his color postcards? Who paid for his t-shirts? Who paid for his parties? Why did he not put these expenses on his campaign report? Why did he drop his first name and change his campaign name now to Daniel instead of Robert.  Wasn’t his father, Robert,  fired from The Dwelling House Bank and under FBI investigation?

The Post Gazette’s article stated

the following about the bank;

“it suffered a severe blow to its stability late last year when federal auditors discovered that about $3 million had been drained out of its capital account and the bank..  Pittsburgh police and FBI agents are investigating the case.”

“Former Dwelling House president and CEO Robert M. Lavelle, who was fired in November by order of the OTS, also was fined $5,000 last week for his role in the gross negligence that ultimately brought down the bank.”

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09227/991047-28.stm

Where is this money? Robert “Daniel” now flip flops his name so people will not put two and two together. Call him Daniel now, not Robert .Does he think we are stupid?  Is this where the money comes from for his campaign?   The apple does not fall far from the tree.  I would “write in” TonyaPayne, her workers do not have to be paid to campaign for her!

She does not change her name to hide. Our group Neighbors Against Dirty Politics are starting an official “write in” campaign for Tonya Payne!  When you go to the polls just go to the “write in”section and write her name in the spot.

ON NOVEMBER 3, 2009

ELECTION DAY

“Write In”
Tonya Payne
Don’t Write Her Off!

District 6 City Councilwoman

“Let justice remain in your district!”

“Keep her REAL name in your decisions.”

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
NEIGHBORS AGAINST DIRTY POLITICS

Finally, if you still have any question about who the “Neighbors Against Dirty Politics” actually are, there’s a facebook group called “URGENT!! WRITE IN Tonya Payne for City Council District 6″.  The administrator and creator of the page?  Tonya Payne.

Of course, this election is history.  So why does it matter?  Two reasons:

1. To date, Jim Burn, chair of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, is turning a blind eye to the City Chair staging a campaign against the duly nominated Democratic nominee for office.
2. It’s really not clear what Tonya Payne was hoping to gain from these hijinks, but she is rumored to be preparing for a run against Jake Wheatley for State Representative next year.  Even her most staunch supporters must be turned off by her embarrassing behavior.

One complaint that we hear from time to time is that poor neighborhoods often get the leftover trashcans from other neighborhoods.  One example taken earlier in the year (Kevin Acklin used this particular example in the second mayoral debate, back in October): a trashcan behind the Homewood-Brushton YMCA labeled “Bloomfield”.

Here’s a photo taken today:

Problem solved?  Glad to see that the mayor is still getting it done.