Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Matt Smith was at the state Capitol in Harrisburg for an unusual New Year’s Day swearing-in ceremony.
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…
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Matt Smith defeated D. Raja for Pennsylvania State Senate with 53% of the vote.
Matt Smith bear hugged supporters and feverishly pumped hit arms in the air moments after learning he had won election to the Pennsylvania State Senate. The normally subdued 3-term state representative showed more emotion than usual after a hard-fought battle against fellow Mt. Lebanon resident D. Raja. Smith takes over the seat formerly held by John Pippy. The district wraps around the South Hills of Pittsburgh from Peters Township up to Findlay. “When you have a message that resonates, then that will trump money every day of the week,” Smith said about being outspent 3-to-1 on the airwaves. “The message we have is resonating with people.” Smith, standing with his wife, Eileen, and three young children, Delaney, Emerson and Jameson, …
Saturday, April 21, 2012
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 for the seat against fellow Republicans D. Raja of Mt. Lebanon and state Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, for the seat soon to be vacated by Sen. John Pippy, who announced his …
Friday, April 20, 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…
Thursday, April 19, 2012
State Rep. Mustio seeks re-election in the state's 44th legislative district, and Sen. John Pippy's current seat.
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 …
Friday, April 13, 2012
D. Raja, Sue Means and Rep. Mark Mustio discussed budgets, property reassessments, the sewer tap-in moratorium in Peters Township, health care, education and Marcellus Shale Tuesday night.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
D. Raja, Sue Means and Rep. Mark Mustio discussed budgets, property reassessments, the sewer tap-in moratorium in Peters Township, health care, education and Marcellus Shale Tuesday night.
The three candidates for the 37th district state Senate seat, replacing Sen. John Pippy, convened Tuesday night at Peters Township Middle School for a debate. Voters and Washington County Republican leaders attended the event, which was hosted by Peters Township Republicans. Former Mt. Lebanon Commissioner D. Raja, Sue Means of Bethel Park and state Rep. Mark Mustio, of Moon Township, answered questions—both broad and specific—concerning their role if they took office and their stance on issues concerning Peters Township residents and those of and surrounding communities. State Rep. John Maher introduced the candidates and Peters Councilman David Ball moderated the debate. The three candidates will face-off in the primary election on April…
Three endorsements for D. Raja were announced on Tuesday. Raja's campaign said Peters Township is 'one of the key swing areas.'
Republican state Senate candidate D. Raja has received endorsements from Washington County Republican committee member Tom Uram, 2011 Republican county commissioner nominee Bill Northrop and Edward "Buzz" Reich, first vice chairman of the Washington County Republican Party. Peters Township is one of the key swing areas in Raja's race for the Republican nomination for the 37th state Senate district, according to the Raja for state Senate campaign. “Raja brings a new approach to state government and a new vision to handle our state concerns," Uram said in a statement. "Raja brings to his candidacy these qualities and many more positive approaches to lead state government. Raja does not represent politics as usual. It’s time for a new …
Bernard Bender
6:51 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
Welcome the Barack Obama of the South Hills! Raising taxes to pay for union pensions and benefits! yay! more ›