Wows & Scowls
Wow: If you thought PACleanSweep wouldn’t make an impact on Tuesday’s election, think again. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, the CleanSweepers had chalked up 35 primary winners, including 16 in contested elections, and had ousted seven incumbents. But as famed New York Yankees’ catcher Yogi Berra once said, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” PACleanSweep is supporting 15 independent and minor party candidates this fall. If there ever was a time for diehard Democrats and Republicans to rethink their voting strategy to send a message, this is it. Wow: Greg Hopkins, whose Arena Football League contractual obligations kept him from being much of a 50th District presence during the just-concluded primary election season, is promising to be highly visible as the Republican challenger to Democrat state Rep. H. William DeWeese. “That’s the only way to win. Start hitting the streets,” said Hopkins, a 34-year-old resident of Nineveh. Although Fayette and Greene counties remain heavily Democratic in terms of voter registration, it’s good to see serious competition from the GOP in any fall campaign. Hopkins, John “Sonny” Mikita in the 51st District and William “Bill” Earnesty in the 52nd District will provide much-needed solid competition to the Democrat nominees.
Double Wow: Is it true or are we dreaming? Did the Laurel Highlands School Board approve a tentative new budget that calls for no tax increase? If the board stays on course, the tax rate of 13 mills will remain unchanged, meaning real estate owners won’t get socked with an increase. It’s called fiscal accountability, and we’re glad to see the board keeping that concept in mind. (Do you think last year’s election of new board members Jim Tobal and Bill Elias might have something to do with it?)
Wow: Give credit to James Rohaley, a lifelong Democrat, for speaking his mind when it comes to throwing his support behind likely Republican nominee Edward Angell when it comes to ousting state Rep. Peter J. Daley. Rohaley, who challenged but lost to the 49th District incumbent Democrat on Tuesday, said, “This is my last hurrah. I’m 80 years old. What are they going to do to me?” More voters, Democrat and Republican, should think like Rohaley. Some things are bigger and more important than straight-line party politics.
Scowl: It may have been a sound business decision, but the closing of the Pechin Express/Vocelli Pizza complex in downtown Uniontown is nonetheless a blow to ongoing revitalization efforts. Add to that the fact that several employees, who had no clue about the sudden closing, are rightfully upset about losing their jobs, and it’s hard to see any silver lining to the news.
Scowl: Isn’t it comforting to know that Mexican President Vincente Fox called President Bush to express his concern about the porous border whereby millions of people flee Fox’s country to become illegal residents of the United States? We wonder what Fox might have said, other than, “If you put National Guard troops along the border, would it be possible for them to parachute in?” Some advice on our internal affairs just isn’t needed from outside sources. This buck just isn’t stopping where it should. Harry Truman, where are you when we need you?
Scowl: The personal property assets of the former Brownsville General Hospital are headed for the bankruptcy court auction block, thickening the cloud of doom hanging heavily over the troubled community medical facility. It’s bad enough the the hospital shut down shortly into the tenure of new and private owners, but having the building and its real estate now at risk is further bad news.