Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Matt Smith travels to the state Capitol in Harrisburg for the unusual New Year’s Day swearing-in ceremony to become the new state senator of the 37th District.
Matt Smith’s New Year's Day celebration got off to a good start Tuesday afternoon when he was sworn in as the area’s new state senator. Smith, who previously was a three-term state representative for most of the South Hills, was at the state Capitol in Harrisburg with friends and family for the unusual New Year’s Day swearing-in ceremony. The Mt. Lebanon Democrat takes over the 37th state Senate seat vacated by the retirement of John Pippy, a Republican from Moon Township. Smith defeated D. Raja, a Republican from Mt. Lebanon, in the November election to win the senate seat. “It has been an amazing and humbling journey to arrive at this moment,” Smith said in a statement. “I am thankful to reach this milestone and look forward to returning…
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The unanimous vote happened on Tuesday night.
The Allegheny and Washington County Democratic Committees joined together Tuesday night and nominated State Rep. Matt Smith to be their candidate in Pennsylvania's 37th State Senate district. Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, who now serves the 42nd legislative district, said he was thankful for the support and proud to be the nominee. He recently announced plans to challenge Republican D. Raja in November's general election. The winner of the election will fill the seat vacated by the former Sen. John Pippy, of Moon. “I have been humbled and gratified by the outpouring of support and encouragement I have received from Democrats, Republicans and Independents throughout the district, and I look forward to a positive and spirited campaign,” Smith said …
Thursday, July 12, 2012
The Mt. Lebanon-area state representative will challenge D. Raja for Pennsylvania's 37th senatorial district, which includes Moon Township.
State Rep. Matt Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, has announced he will challenge Republican D. Raja for Pennsylvania's 37th senatorial district in November's general election. Smith, who now serves the state's 42nd legislative district, will run as a write-in candidate. The winner of the election will fill the seat vacated by the former Sen. John Pippy, of Moon. No Democrat sought the seat during the spring primary. Former Democratic candidate Greg Parks, who was also running as a write-in, dropped out of the race in June. Former Mt. Lebanon commissioner D. Raja won the district's Republican primary for the nomination earlier this year. The software company CEO lost his 2011 bid to become Allegheny County Executive to Democrat Rich Fitzgerald. …
Monday, July 9, 2012
The Moon-based state senator left his post in Harrisburg after June's state budget vote.
Former state Sen. John Pippy, R-Moon, will head an organization that lobbies on behalf of Pennsylvania's coal industry, according to reports. Pippy resigned from his seat in the state's 37th district after casting his vote on the state's budget in June. His term was set to expire in November. Pippy is expected to announce today that he has been tapped as the CEO of the new Pennsylvania Coal Alliance, a group formed from a merger of the Pennsylvania Coal Association and Families Organized to Represent the Coal Economy, reports the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He will make the announcement today during a press conference in Station Square in Pittsburgh, according to the newspaper. The 41-year-old former lawmaker announced his retirement …
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley will have to decide whether to hold a special election to fill the last few months of John Pippy’s senate term.
State Sen. John Pippy’s resignation could leave his constituents without a senator for the next six months. According to state law, if a senate vacancy happens less than seven months before the expiration of the term, Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley has 10 days to decide if there should be a special election or let the seat remain empty. Pippy, R-Moon, resigned from his position over the weekend after voting on the budget. However, his district and capital staff members are expected to remain intact to assist constituents. The Associated Press has reported that Pippy left his post early to accept a job in the private sector, though he has not specified what that position will be. With less than six months left until the term expires, Cawley will have…
Sunday, July 1, 2012
State Sen. John Pippy left his seat in the state Senate at midnight.
Pennsylvania Sen. John Pippy, R-Moon, formally resigned his seat in the Senate late Saturday after casting his budget vote. Pippy announced in January that he would not seek re-election for the state legislature. He has served in the state Senate since 2003. Pippy resigned at midnight, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He called his work as a state senator the most "meaningful experience I have had in my professional career," according to the resignation letter obtained by the newspaper. He served in the state House for six years prior to being elected to the state Senate. Republican D. Raja, a business owner from Mt. Lebanon, is vying for Pippy's seat in the 37th district in November's general election. He may face an …
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The Mt. Lebanon business owner is running for the Republican nomination for the state's 37th senatorial district in the April 24 primary.
Mt. Lebanon business owner D. Raja said his failed 2011 bid to become Allegheny County Chief executive did not deter him from hitting the campaign trail once again, this time for Pennsylvania’s 37th senatorial district. The former Mt. Lebanon commissioner is vying against fellow Republican state Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, and Bethel Park activist Sue Means to replace outgoing Pennsylvania Sen. John Pippy, who announced his retirement from Harrisburg politics in January. No Democrat is running in the April 24 primary. “Well, I’m done with that race,” Raja said of his campaign for county executive. “But I do want reform. And I want lawmakers to be accountable.” Raja, owner of the Computer Enterprises Inc. and a Carnegie Mellon and University…
The Bethel Park resident and former nurse said years of lobbying for limited state government have prepared her for Harrisburg.
Longtime conservative activist Sue Means said while she might by running for Pennsylvania’s 37th senatorial seat, she has no plans of becoming a career politician. “I’ll limit my time in office to two terms,” Means said. “And I will not accept a pension as a part of my platform. Pensions are for careers. “Texas has only a part-time legislature, I want to us be part-time,” she said. “Here it's set up to entice career politicians when it should be citizens volunteering for duty.” Means, a Bethel Park resident and former nurse at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, will vie against fellow Republicans D. Raja of Mt. Lebanon and Pennsylvania Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, for the seat soon to be vacated by Sen. John Pippy, who announced his …
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Sue Means, D. Raja and Mark Mustio will debate at Peters Township Middle School.
This spring's state primary could leave a big impact on Moon area residents—the Republican winner on April 24 might be an unchallenged nominee in November's general election. The Peters Township Republicans organization will sponsor a debate between the Republican candidates for the 37th Senatorial District seat, which Sen. John Pippy, who announced his retirement earlier this year, currently holds . The debate will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Peters Township Middle School auditorium. Rep. John Maher, who represents Pennsylvania's 40th District—also a candidate for PA Auditor General—will lead the opening ceremonies. The debating candidates are Sue Ann Means, Republican state committee woman from Bethel Park; Mark Mustio, 44th …
State Rep. Mustio seeks re-election in the state's 44th legislative district.
State Rep. Mark Mustio said he began to mull his bid for the Pennsylvania senate after his fellow Moon-based legislator Sen. John Pippy announced his intent to retire from state politics. “I thought if John’s going to leave, I’m going to need someone who I can work with [in the state senate],” Mustio said. “Well, I’m the one I can work with.” Mustio, who was elected to the state house in a 2003 special election, is running for Pippy’s seat in the state senate and for re-election in the state house’s 44th district. Mustio entered the race for Pippy's seat after Allegheny County Councilman Vince Gastgeb, whom Mustio had endorsed, dropped out. He is running unopposed for the Republican nomination for the 44th district in the April 24 …
Jon Vernon
9:59 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Wow- someone who voted to raise taxes on seniors healthcare and small businesses against someone who didn't. Wow- someone who voted to fund Jerry Sandusky's 2nd Mile foundation against someone who didn't. Wow- someone who lied about taking a pension, healthcare, and per diems against someone who didn't. Wow- someone who charges taxpayers for his cinnabuns on the way home from Harrisburg against … more ›