Dear Friends,

Thank you for your support, encouragement, and for all your help on our campaign for Allegheny County Chief Executive. While, I certainly was disappointed to have lost the race, I was even more disappointed that Allegheny County voter turnout was only 27% (only 24% stateside). When a candidate is facing a more the 2:1 voter disadvantage, as we were, the only path to victory is an increased turnout (Jim Roddey, the only Republican to win, had 40+% vote and he won by a narrow margin). The low turnout made the results look one-sided since just the base voted and the base essentially has the 2:1 voter disadvantage.

As a CEO for the past 19 years, I am conditioned to lead by example and in particular ensuring integrity in words and, more importantly, actions. I learned that perhaps this isn’t an advantage in electoral politics, particularly when you run against someone who is willing to say and do whatever in order to win. A case in point is the “bait and switch” by my opponent on property taxes; less than one week after the election he is supporting a 20+% increase in property taxes. He did this despite running on a platform of holding the line on property taxes and even suggesting that he would lower these taxes. Here is a link: http://www.politicspa.com/raja-was-right-sort-of. I ran for office because I believed the citizens deserved better than someone who will say one thing to get elected and do another once in office.

I am not deterred in my interest to make Allegheny County all that I know it can be. I will continue to remain active and involved. In fact, the local media has continued to be in contact with me with regard to policies and issues in our region and I hope to continue to send out updates. Once again, thanks for all your wonderful contributions to my campaign. I wish you and your families a very happy thanksgiving.

Thanks.

Raja

Allegheny County tax hike pondered
Would be first time council increased millage in 10 years
Monday, November 14, 2011
By Amy McConnell Schaarsmith, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Democrats on Allegheny County Council plan to pass a 1 mill tax increase in early December, raising more than $50 million to help restore recent service cuts and prevent additional cuts in the proposed 2012 county budget, according to supporters of the measure.

The proposed increase would raise the county property tax millage from the 4.69 mills set in 2002 to 5.69 mills, supporters said. As a result, a homeowner with a $100,000 house would pay an additional $100 a year in property taxes.

The proposal has the support of incoming county Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who will take office in January.

Cutbacks at the federal and state levels have left council members little choice but to raise taxes for the first time in 10 years, Mr. Fitzgerald said Sunday. Without a tax increase, he said, many local residents will suffer.

“State cutbacks have made it very difficult for local governments to provide the services needed, particularly human services,” said Mr. Fitzgerald, a longtime county council member who resigned to run for executive. “These cutbacks are devastating to children, youth and families, and to many human services providers.”

Council is expected to take separate votes on the budget and tax increase when it meets Dec. 6.

The state Legislature cut funding for Allegheny County by $15 million this year.

The county’s community college system was hit hard by those state cuts, resulting in a hiring freeze, a tuition increase beginning in the spring of 2012 and other cost-saving measures to compensate for a loss of $6 million in state aid.

In addition, county Executive Dan Onorato’s proposed $730 million budget for 2012 includes $19.3 million in cuts to the county Department of Human Services, partly as a result of state cuts. The proposed budget prompted more than 100 parents, child advocates, members of the clergy and others to testify to county council against the cuts on Wednesday.

Mr. Onorato’s budget fails to include $5 million for human services that would have secured an additional $17 million in state and federal matching funds, dramatically amplifying the actual impact of the county budget cuts. The United Way of Allegheny County has estimated that, if approved in its current form, about 1,000 jobs would be lost under Mr. Onorato’s budget.

If local residents don’t want the service cuts that come with budget cuts from Washington, D.C., and Harrisburg, Mr. Fitzgerald said, local governments have little choice but to raise property taxes.

Allegheny County is the only county in Western Pennsylvania to avoid raising taxes as long as it has, he said.

“There’s nothing else I can think of that you can buy where the price has not gone up in 10 years,” he said.

The prime sponsor of the measure, Councilman William Robinson, could not be reached for comment. The legislation, which has circulated through council for several days, is being co-sponsored by eight other council Democrats.

James Ellenbogen — one of just two Democrats on council who did not co-sponsor the measure — has been supportive of the idea. If the measure earns his vote, the proposal would win a veto-proof majority in the event that Mr. Onorato refuses to sign the bill. Mr. Onorato could not be reached for comment.

The other non-sponsoring Democrat, Council President Jim Burn Jr., said he has serious reservations about the proposed tax increase. He would prefer to pass Mr. Onorato’s budget in its current form, then reopen the budget after council reorganizes in early January, he said.

Mr. Fitzgerald, he said, should have a hand in deciding whether to raise taxes, or whether some other means of balancing the budget might be better.

“I think we owe it to the taxpayers of Allegheny County to show them we have exhausted all remedies,” Mr. Burn said. “At least then we can look folks in the eye and say we tried everything, including letting our new leader take a look at this.”

Amy McConnell Schaarsmith: aschaarsmith@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1719

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11318/1189835-455-0.stm#ixzz1dh4RD4L6

RAJA Election Night Remarks

The polls open at 7am and close at 8pm. If you have any time please volunteer at our office at 1910 Cochran Rd, Manor Oak One, Pittsburgh, PA 15220. You can call us at 412-567-8448.

To find your polling place you can call us at the office or visit the PA Department of State website here.

Flaherty, Democrats Endorse Raja
Momentum Grows Heading into Final Days of Campaign

Pittsburgh – Former Democratic State Representative Shawn Flaherty and former Vice President of the Pittsburgh Public School Board, Randall Taylor keynoted the announcement of Democrats for Raja this morning at the Allegheny County Courthouse. With the election just five days away the endorsement is yet another sign of the tightening of the race with many voters still undecided.

“I am proud to have the support of Democrats all over Allegheny County. I know I am not the traditional pick; I am not a Democrat, I am not a career politician, and as you know, I wasn’t born here. But, I very humbly ask voters to consider doing something new, something different to get our county moving. I humbly ask for your support,” said Raja.

“I know something about leadership. My father served in the courthouse that Raja is about to lead. Effective Leadership brings with it temperament. Because of Raja’s temperament, his integrity, and his ability to find and create jobs he is the best person to lead us into the future. That’s why I am asking Democrats to join me in supporting Raja,” said Representative Flaherty.

“I am a Democrat and I will remain one, but I believe we must give Raja the benefit of the doubt. I am impressed with his vision, his talent, and his understanding that we can leave no communities behind,” said Randall Taylor.

Unhinged, Unstable, Unfit
Rich Fitzgerald’s Erratic Behavior on Display at Last Night’s Debate,
Calls Into Question Fitzgerald’s Fitness to Serve

PITTSBURGH, PA – Rich Fitzgerald’s continued erratic and aggressive behavior has once again called into question his ability to lead Allegheny County.

Allegheny County Chief Executive is a serious office that oversees a budget of $1.7 billion and just over 7,000 employees. If Rich Fitzgerald loses control of himself in a political campaign when he claims to be “ahead by over twenty points,” how will Rich handle an actual crisis in our county.

In an extremely concerning statement posted online late last night, Mr. Fitzgerald said to PoliticsPA that he is running a negative personal campaign against Raja to send a message to any future political opponents of either party to think twice before running against him.

And in an unprecedented move at the WTAE debate last night Rich Fitzgerald personally insulted campaign consultant Mark Harris’s wife in front on reporters from the Tribune-Review and Post Gazette.

“Rich’s odd and off-putting behavior reflect what I have been saying throughout this campaign,” said Raja. “I have been a CEO and I know how to remain calm under pressure. If Rich acts this unpredictably and unprofessionally during a campaign, how can we expect him to respond responsibly during times of crisis such a major transit strike, a natural disaster or God forbid a terrorist attack?”

Rich’s Unprecedented Erratic Behavior

Thursday, January 27th, 2011 (5:26AM) – Sent an email to Marcellus Shale executives saying “I need money and I need it fast. Its great to hear from Dave Spiegelmeyer about how wonderful I am for
the industry, but what I really need from Dave is money.” “If you don’t I will be gone in a few months, and the voices you hear won’t be your friends.”

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 – At a candidate forum at the South Hills Chamber of Commerce Fitzgerald was seemingly out of control, even going as far as to take steps towards Raja while yelling at high volume.

Monday, October 24th, 2011 – At a candidate forum in Hampton Township with school students, Rich turned his attacks from Republican candidate Raja to an unprecedented attack on two campaign consultants, Mark Harris and Mike DeVanney.

Thursday, October 27th, 2011 – At a Robert Morris University debate in front a group of college students, Rich Fitzgerald reiterated his erratic and unprecedented attack on campaign team members. “When he hired, ya know, two of the sleaziest campaign operatives in this community Mark Harris and Mike DeVanney. We knew where that campaign was going to go.”

Saturday, October 29th, 2011 – Rich Fitzgerald took his unprofessionalism a step further comparing Mark Harris and Mike DeVanney to infamous crook Bernie Madoff who stole the life savings of thousands of hard working Americans. “The biggest swindle since Bernie Madoff… No its DeVanney and Harris who swindled you, ha, ha, ha, ha.” (KDKA – AM 1020)

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 – PoliticsPA reported an increasingly unhinged Fitzgerald stating that he was running a personal negative campaign this election in order to scare other future political opponents in either party who disagree with his political viewpoints. Fitzgerald again names Raja campaign team members and personally attacks them. (http://www.politicspa.com/allegheny-exec-candidates-fight-to-the-finish/29120/)

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 – In a disturbing exchange, Mr. Fitzgerald attacked both Mr. Harris and his wife Krista who were waiting to talk to Raja post debate.

Fitzgerald noted that it was Raja’s campaign that announced in August that it would be issuing one new attack each day against Fitzgerald until Election Day. Fitzgerald again attacked Raja’s political strategist, Mark Harris, as one of the “sleaziest political operatives in town,” which led to a testy exchange after the debate.

On his way out of the studio, Fitzgerald walked past Harris, who said to the candidate, “You’re attacking me by name?” Fitzgerald said he was. Then Harris’ wife, Krista, who was standing next to Harris, shook Fitzgerald’s hand and said, “I’m his wife.”

Fitzgerald, smiling, responded: “I wouldn’t be proud of that.”

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, November 2nd, 2011