Raja Announces Comprehensive Plan For Allegheny County Modernization.
Fitzgerald campaign still void of any substance.

PITTSBURGH – This morning Raja, candidate for Allegheny County Chief Executive, released his second major policy initiative, a six-point plan for modernizing county government. In his remarks Raja said, “The county government is antiquated and in need of a serious upgrade. These changes are practical, realistic, and will save the taxpayer’s money. We need a new direction in Allegheny County and it starts by bringing this government into the 21st Century. The same old politicians either can’t do it, or they won’t do it. It is time for a new direction.”

The press conference was held in the courtyard of the Allegheny County Courthouse.

Raja’s Modernization plan will focus on the following areas:
1. Responsible Spending
2. Efficient Government
3. Technological Innovation
4. Public Public Partnerships
5. Privatization and Public Private Partnerships
6. Quality of Life

Raja knows how to modernize county government. As a successful business owner he has the experience to make your county government more efficient and accountable to the taxpayers. He knows how to live within our means and not spend irresponsibly.

Raja went on to say, “There is a stark contrast in this race. My opponent has had the opportunity, as a member of county council for over the decade, to make these efforts a reality and has failed to do so. My opponent has no plan and no solutions, just the same ‘politics as usual’ rhetoric that this county has heard for too long.”

Raja is a candidate for Allegheny County Executive. He co-founded an Allegheny County technology company. The firm is a leading national provider of cutting edge IT solutions. Raja is a former Mt Lebanon Commissioner. He lives in Mt Lebanon with his wife Neeta and their two children.

Follow link for complete policy.

Modernizing Government

Executive Summary

The Raja Jobs Plan for Allegheny County draws from the regions strengths; a well-educated workforce, world-class educational institutions, major businesses, mineral wealth, transportation infrastructure and most importantly our high quality of life and low cost of living to develop and attract new jobs to the region. This region has always been a source for innovation, from the steel industry to the diversified economy of today. Developing and attracting high quality and good paying jobs to the region is essential in meeting the vision of economic prosperity and higher quality of life for all residents of Allegheny County.

The cornerstone of the Raja Jobs plan resides with the people of Allegheny County. Thanks to our world renowned educational institutions, Allegheny County produces some of the most qualified workers in the country. As county executive Raja will focus on ensuring these students continue to learn the skills that are needed by companies, while providing those graduates who have innovative ideas the tools needed to create successful start-up businesses in the county. Additionally, Raja will work to market the regions talented workforce and low cost of living to companies as the ideal location to relocate to or establish “Back Office” operations.

The emerging Marcellus Shale industry in western Pennsylvania offers the county a once in a lifetime opportunity for job creation in Allegheny County. By leveraging university research, start-ups, and a workforce trained for the needs of the industry; Raja will work to create an Innovation Zone at Pittsburgh International Airport. This zone will create a critical mass of talent and industry that will make Allegheny County the center of the local Marcellus Shale industry and also for start-ups from our universities

Finally, Raja will work with state and local officials to promote the region both nationally and across the world as a region that is open for business. Raja will accomplish this by ensuring the companies have the tools needed to succeed. He will do this by creating a public-private partnership to assist the regions small and mid-sized businesses sell their products competitively in the global economy and by working to ensure companies in Allegheny County are fairly taxed and follow concise and fair rules and regulations.

Below is a link to the entire Raja Jobs Policy

Raja Jobs Policy

Contact: James Genovese
James@joinraja.com

Raja calls on Fitzgerald to Support Non-Partisan Redistricting

County Council leaders on Friday laid out their plan to move forward with politically driven redistricting for county council seats. A special committee of council members has been established to oversee the process.

Today, County Executive candidate, Raja decried the partisan process and called on county leaders to adopt a non-partisan redistricting process similar to those used in Iowa or Arizona.

“This should not be a process done by politicians for politicians. It should be a process based on fairness. We need to end ‘politics as usual’ in this county. It is the first step in showing the voters that we have their best interest at heart, not the best interest of the political machines.”

Raja asked his opponent Rich Fitzgerald to join him in this cause “Rich Fitzgerald should join me in asking for a non partisan redistricting process to oversee. The other option is to stick with the status quo that got us here. We deserve better.”

During the last redistricting, Fitzgerald supported the hyper partisan effort in 2001 that circumvented public comment and allowed Wayne Fontana to personally draw the lines to “diminish Republican influence.” (Post-Gazette, August 24th, 2001)
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Post-Gazette Article, August 24th, 2001
Democrats on Allegheny County Council dropped a bombshell last night, aborting an established reapportionment process and approving new district lines designed to diminish Republican influence in the new home-rule government.

Councilman Wayne Fontana, who chaired council’s suddenly disbanded reapportionment committee, drew the new lines and presented them for approval last night, shocking Republicans and circumventing public comment in the process. The new boundaries put two Republican council members in the same district and another GOP member in the same district as a Democrat. That creates the possibility that the number of Republicans on the 15-member council would drop from five to three after the 2003 elections.