Swartz for Allegheny County Executive

I don't technically live in Pittsburgh. I live in the metropolitan area of the city, no doubt, but my local tax dollars go to a suburb south of the city proper: Mt. Lebanon. As such, I have no say in whether or not Luke Ravenstahl is allowed to fill out Bob O'Conner's term as Pittsburgh's mayor. Still, I'm rooting for "Mayor Opie" if only for the fact that it'll piss off a whole bunch of fogies - and anything which pisses off crotchety old people (of which this area has an abundance) is a-okay in my book.

While I don't get to influence the political tide in Pittsburgh proper, I am still a resident of Allegheny County, that landmass surrounding Pittsburgh which may or may not be taken over by the city in the near or distant future. As such, I get to take my pick of County Excutive on May 15^th. The current contenders are both running on the Democratic ticket: well-known incumbent Dan Onorato and underdog Rick Swartz. I'm pulling for the underdog.

Understand that I am rarely a single-issue voter, however in little more than a month, I may find my mass-transit pass quickly and severely devalued. The Port Authority is cutting service by 15% and this year it is not likely that there will be a deus ex machina to stop this from occurring. Onorato, for his part, showed much apathy for the plight of the Allegheny County transit system using neo-conisms such as "right-sizing" and basically telling the populace that they would have to suck it up and deal. In all, his demeanour was, at best, apathetic and, at worst, thuggish. If there is one thing I loathe, it is Zell Miller-style "Democrats in name only."

Rick Swartz, on the other hand actually supports mass transit for the area. While, like most people, he gets it wrong about the North Shore Connector, overall he is more supportive of allowing people access to mass transit than Onorato is.

Does Rick Swartz have a chance of winning this race? In theory, the democratic process allows everyone to have a chance. So, fellow residents, I encourage you to vote for Rick Swartz for Allegheny County Executive on May 15^th. Tell Dan Onorato to take a hike - because that's all any of us poor schmucks will be able to do once the busses stop running.