Controller candidate details plans for office
Fayette County controller candidate Sean Lally vows he would keep a tight watch on Fayette County’s spending if elected in the May primary. Lally said he would like to “get my hands on” the county’s accounting software, and really learn about where the money is going. The county is currently operating on a $21.5 million budget.
Lally and incumbent controller Mark Roberts were both invited to answer questions before the Herald-Standard’s editorial board during a Monday session. Both men are Democrats.
Roberts had initially agreed to attend the debate, but withdrew his participation on April 13. He indicated that he would not participate “unless said debate is to be recorded and broadcast several times regularly during daytime and/or prime time viewing hours” on HSTV.
The controller is the county’s fiscal watchdog.
Lally said he felt that the 60 percent property tax increase several years ago was the result of a rolling deficit from years past when the commissioners at the time would routinely borrow money from departments and roll it into the general fund to cover expenses, then repay it the following year.
“By not paying the bills in the last two months, you’re robbing Peter to pay Paul,” he said, noting that he would carefully scrutinize any requests to do that if they were brought to him.
Lally said he feels the controller’s biggest challenge will be getting the books in order and address allegations that bills are not being paid. He said he would look over the books to determine where there are any cash leakages in an effort to save the county money.
Lally also indicated he would promote efficient payments rendered from the office, noting that he has heard complaints about money being owed, but not paid, from Roberts’ office.
Lally said he has a degree in economics and finance from Duquesne University and is pursuing a master’s degree. He owns a construction company and a real estate rental business, and because of both, he said he is familiar with audits and bookkeeping.
“I’m the watchdog of my own company and I’d like to be one for the county,” he said.
Lally noted that he would complete the controllers office portion of the county’s Web site ( www.co.fayette.pa.us
) and include on it specifics of the county budget and monthly expenditures.
“I think more public access is better than less,” Lally said.
A notation on the controller’s portion of the county’s Web site informs users that the site went live on Dec. 27, 2005, but, “at the request of Mark Roberts … this page is not viewable as content is being compiled and therefore it is still in its development stage.”
The notation further informs users that Roberts anticipated having the page viewable by January 2006 and indicated it would contain his biography, staff, functions and county code.
This is Lally’s second run for office. Four years ago, he unsuccessfully challenged Clerk of Courts Janice Snyder.
Lally said he decided to run for elected office again because he has “a genuine desire to help people.”
Hopeful that this year’s election will bring some new faces to the courthouse, Lally said the county may be able to start moving forward.
Lally also addressed Roberts’ recent attempt to have him removed from the primary ballot by challenging his nominating petitions. The challenge failed on both the county and appellate court levels, but Roberts alleged that there were defects in the way the petitions were circulated and signed.
A county judge struck 148 of Lally’s 436 signatures, leaving him with 38 signatures more than he needed to run for the office.
“Nominating petitions are a way to remove a candidate from the ballot instead of a way to put him on,” Lally said.
He said that he believes competition is good, and if elected, he would welcome it in the future.
The challenge cost him upwards of $14,000 in legal fees to defend, Lally said.
“It was a good, tactical business move … but in a political arena, you’re disenfranchising voters,” he said.
Lally admitted he made mistakes in allowing spouses to sign for one another, and by not personally circulating petitions that he affirmed he had circulated. But by challenging him, Lally said he believes Roberts brought him attention.
“If he would’ve said nothing, he probably would have been re-elected,” Lally said, noting that he never looked at Roberts’ petitions.
In his letter of withdrawal to appear in before the editorial board, Roberts also listed his accomplishments since taking office.
Roberts indicated he has saved taxpayers “over 10 million dollars” and has increased short-term returns by using more aggressive investment practices.
He also indicated he was the first controller in county history to give monthly financial reports at the commissioners’ meetings.
“As I am certain you intend to endorse my opponent – notwithstanding my accomplishments and other qualifications warrant you to select me as the only logical choice, I cannot benefit from any forum which voters will not see in order that they may appreciate the vast divide between me and my opponent,” Roberts wrote. “Therefore, my appearance before you would serve no purpose, so my time will be better spent actually reaching voters.”
Roberts indicated that prior to being elected to the controller’s office, he was assistant director of the state Department of Revenue in its Bureau of Compliance, an account representative for a financial services company and a business analyst for UPMC Health System.
He has a degree in business management from Penn State University, with emphases in accounting, economics, finance and law and has more than 20 professional education credits in auditing, according to his background.