Wows and Scowls
Wow: U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster outspent his challenger by about 3 to 1, yet Michael DelGrosso nearly pulled off an upset. Big money – more than half a million – was spent between the two on the Republican primary. But what brought DelGrosso so close was an organized campaign that didn’t discount the value of shoe leather and handshakes. DelGrosso set a goal of knocking on 10,000 doors throughout the 9th Congressional District. These weren’t just any doors, but the doors of strategically selected Republicans. It nearly worked. DelGrosso has not a thing to be ashamed of in the manner in which he campaigned. Beating an incumbent is tough.
That DelGrosso came within just a few votes is amazing for a first-time candidate. Hopefully, his campaign sends the message to Shuster that congressional seats aren’t an entitlement and that he must work hard to keep his seat.
DelGrosso conceded the race with style, lending his support to Shuster for the fall campaign and encouraging young people to “follow your dreams. Work hard, and don’t get discouraged even when everyone tells you that you are fighting impossible odds. Maybe this bit of perspective will help – 40 years from now, I will never have to ask myself ‘what if I had tried.’ Don’t ever leave yourself wondering. Be passionate about what you do, and know that a life spent pursuing worthwhile goals is the biggest victory of all.” We hope that DelGrosso’s next feat continues to involve some type of public service.
Wow: The Community Foundation of Fayette County announced this week that 26 local non-profit and charity-driven programs would benefit from $65,000 in grants. All of the money that the foundation gifts is raised locally. It matters not whether the donation is large or small. Combined it packs a powerful punch for programs such as those that enhance the area’s culture or work to raise student achievement.
The foundation also announced that county Commissioner Joe Hardy is sweetening the pot this year in giving away one ticket to the 84 Lumber PGA tournament for every $10 donation. Some people give without expecting anything in return; others like a little something for their trouble. Perhaps the tournament tickets will encourage the latter to consider the Community Foundation.
Scowl: How many sweetheart deals will the district attorney’s office give Shawn Ray Fuller? Five years ago Fuller was the star witness in a trial that locked up serial burglar Kenneth Jack Murphy for the next 22 to 70 years. The reason Fuller knew so much is that he was Murphy’s accomplice. But he cut a deal with the DA. He’d testify if given immunity.
Recently Fuller was arrested for the same old tricks and faces an assorted array of charges for two burglaries. On Monday, he struck another deal. He’ll agree to plead guilty in exchange for between 18 months and 3 years in prison. Oh, Fuller will have to testify again against his latest alleged accomplice.
But what message is this sending? Keep committing crimes and as long as you’re willing to be a snitch you’ll get off easy?
On second thought, perhaps Fuller’s future fellow inmates will turn his “light” sentence into hard time.
Wow: What a grand day tomorrow promises to be.
The Herald-Standard will publish on Saturdays again.
The annual May Day parade finally falls on a Saturday, which means that more people will have the time to line the downtown streets in support.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Tactical Search & Rescue Team will continue its festival in Marshall Park that begins today.
And the weather is expected to cooperate.
For those planning to watch the parade, it will begin promptly at 7 p.m.
Scowl: The county commissioners are on target in attempting to find out just what it is they are paying a consultant for the controller’s office to do.
Hit with a $47,400 bill from Weiss Advisory Group to complete the implementation of a new method of accounting that will soon be required, the commissioners tried at length to find out just what this “implementation” might be.
Controller Mark Roberts said he needs the consultant’s help because, “I’m the only one in the office who’s even qualified, in terms of education” to carry out such a task.
The commissioners might want to ask Roberts what he meant by that statement and just what the employees are capable of doing.
If money is to be spent, it might be wise to spend it on training employees so they are qualified to handle new programs.
As an aside, Commission Chairwoman Angela Zimmerlink said that she determined that the auditing firm that recommended Weiss to the former board of commissioners shares the same address as the auditors. This raises the question of how much research the former board conducted to determine if this were the best firm for the best price before contracting with Weiss.