Progress Pittsburgh

Friends of P2PAC,
Both of the P2PAC endorsed candidates for City Council edged out their opponents in a pair of tightly-contested races.  Natalia Rudiak, District 4, and Daniel Lavelle, District 6, will be on the ballot in November after victory in yesterday’s Democratic primary.  Congratulations, Natalia and Daniel!

Please join us for a celebration on Thursday, June 4, from 5:30 to 7:30 at the New Amsterdam Pub (Butler Street in Lawrenceville) with our candidates.

If you ever wondered about your power as a contributor, we hope that our success in this campaign demonstrates that together we can influence the outcomes of elections!  Have you given to the challenge?  If you want to see more victories for progressive candidates who support social and economic justice, donate to the campaign challenge today! We are well on our way to reaching our goal of raising another $2009 by the end of May.  Your contribution can help get us there.  

Click here to visit The Point $2009 in 2009 Challenge

We would also like to congratulate P2PAC endorsed candidates Hugh McGough for Court of Common Pleas and Susan Banahasky for District Magistrate in the 6th and 9th Wards for running strong campaigns.  Both Susan and Hugh are leaders who we believe in and, although they did not win their races on Tuesday, we know that they will continue to be an asset to our City for years to come..

With your help, we will continue to identify and support socially progressive candidates to move our city and county forward.  Please, join us at our event on June 4th and celebrate our victory!  And join us in our commitment to progress in Pittsburgh!

Click here to visit The Point $2009 in 2009 Challenge

Cheers, P2PAC Board

When campaigns begin to sputter and hemorage support close to Election Day, this is the time when they often begin to engage in disgusting and illegal tactics.

Exhibit A:  At least one elderly woman was reportedly harassed at her door for telling a Coghill-canvasser that she was suppoorting Natalia Rudiak in the District 4 City Council race.  After telling the canvasser repeatedly that she would be supporting Natalia, the woman had to then ask the canvasser multiple times to leave her alone.  No–she wouldn’t take her sign down, no–there was nothing that the person could do to make her vote for Coghill, no–she didn’t care who else was supporting Anthony and “needed” her to vote for him, and “how many times do I have to ask you to leave?”

Also–suspiciously–nearly all Rudiak for Council signs disappeared from one section of Beechview the same night that the Coghill signs appeared.

According to the Trib piece about the hundreds of signs in Coghill’s own yard, he is in violation of city zoning laws.

It’s unclear exactly how much support a campaign should expect to be able to pick up in a district through intimidation and theft, but you may remember that we have a history of seeing desperate, illegal campaign tactics punished at the polls on Election Day.

Over at p2pac, the Progress Pittsburgh Political Action Committee has announced their endorsement of four candidates for the 2009 Primary cycle.

From their announcement:

P2PAC develops, supports, and helps to elect candidates who demonstrate vision, progressive values, and electability… 

These endorsements represent four races where a group of dedicated citizens can make a MAJOR impact on the race…

• Natalia Rudiak, City Council District 4, nataliarudiak.com 
  • Click Here to Donate to Friends of Natalia Rudiak
  • Click Here to Volunteer
• Robert Daniel Lavelle, City Council District 6, lavelleforcouncil.com
  • Click Here to Donate to Citizens for Daniel Lavelle
  • Click Here to Volunteer
• Susan Banahasky, Magisterial District Judge 5-3-10, susanformagistrate.com 
  • Click Here to Donate to Friends for Susan Banahasky
  • Click Here to Volunteer
• Hugh McGough, Court of Common Pleas, mcgough4judge.com 
  • Click Here to Donate to McGough for Judge
  • Click Here to Volunteer

In many ways, the race to represent district 4 on Pittsburgh’s City Council is largely shaping up to be a fight between Natalia Rudiak and Anthony Coghill.

A week ago, the community group Pretty Up Beechview announced their endorsement of Natalia Rudiak.

More »

YDAC Petition Party and Happy Hour
February 26th, 2009, 6:30pm
Hough’s Restaurant and Sports Bar in Greenfield

Bus routes that go near Hough’s Restaurant and Sports Bar: 56E, 56U, and 74A. Email Brian O’Malley at president@ydac.com or call 412-398-6296 if you have any questions. If you know are an unendorsed candidate, please contact our president, Brian O’Malley for our rules and regulations.

YDAC’S ENDORSED CANDIDATES:

Mayor: Luke Ravenstahl

City Council District 4: Natalia Rudiak

Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas:

• Don Walko
• Michael Marmo
• Phil Ignelzi
• Dan Butler
• Carolyn Saldari Bengel

YDAC on Facebook

The race for City Council in Pittsburgh’s 4th district is the buzz today. 4 candidates have announced they are in the race. The PG reports the Tony Mosesso has entered the race. 2 Political Junkies and Matt H both reference Natalia Rudiak’s campaign kick-off this evening. Yesterday, The Huddler reported that Anthony Coghill has entered the race and gives some interesting background on who could win the democratic committee endorsement. Other than some brief mentions, there doesn’t seem to be much out there about Patrick Reilly in the blogs.

Here is what we know about the candidates.

• Natalia Rudiak, 29, from Carrick, runs her own consulting business, catering to nonprofits and community groups
• Tony Mosesso, 61, from Bon Air, works in the employee records department of the Carpenters Combined Funds, the administrative office for the Greater Pennsylvania Regional Council of Carpenters. He is also a Democratic Committee member and vice president of the Bon Air Civic Association.
• Patrick Reilly, 26, from Brookline, outreach coordinator for state Rep. Chelsa Wagner
• Anthony Coghill, 42, from Beechview, owns Coghill Roofing Co. and works part-time as a constituent liaison for state Sen. Wayne Fontana, a Beechview Democrat.