Issues:

• Reducing County taxes and reform of the property assessment system.
  "I will not stand for an increase in property taxes or assessments when we are already over taxed. I will continue to introduce tax relief programs for the citizens of Allegheny County."
  

• Market the region to create more jobs and to take advantage of our resources.
  "Young professionals are leaving the area due to a lack of available employment. Economic partnership within the county is needed to ensure good jobs."
  

• Preserve and improve the County Park System
  "Community recreations is important for a person and family's well being. I will continue to work to bring funding to South Park so it can look and operate as a park."
  

• County Public Housing
  "Past decisions are creating confusing circumstances in our neighborhoods. Federal mandates that violate our local autonomy will always be fought and challenged to the highest possible legal recourse. 
  

• Senior Citizen & Health Issues
  "Little is known to what services are available. I will be a tireless advocate so that families and Senior Citizens have a comfort level"
  

Accomplishments in County Council:

 District  

• Opened a district office operational two days a week and staffed by senior citizen volunteers to aid constituents of any County related issue or problem. Office space donated by Bethel Park . (Office costs at own expense)

• Prevented the closing of the Community College of Allegheny County South Hills branch and provided alternatives for the site to continue as an educational resource in the South Hills.

• Assisted in securing County and CDBG dollars for district projects involving the disabled community, children’s services and capital improvements.

Assessment/Property Taxes  

• Seven Years balance budget. Member of Budget & Finance Committee.

• Base Year support for a county-wide program.

• Supported the current $15,000 Homestead Exemption.

• Supported the expansion of Act 77 Senior Discount Program.

• Wrote the legislation to eliminate assessment windfalls after reassessments.

• Supported the Assessment website regarding assessment postings for openness and transparency.

• Personally intervened, worked and developed a strategy regarding a young Mt. Lebanon couple with a gross error in their assessment. The young couple had the assessment changed and the mistake was erased. Covered by local TV media.

Reform Initiatives  

• Supported and help write the ordinance for Row Office reform. Spokesman.

• Wrote legislation and supported the telecast and web cast of Council meetings.

• Supported the strictest Ethic Code for Allegheny County .

• Supported and lead a merit based hiring legislation policy.

• Supported and authored the Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement Ordinance which gives County Council and suburban representation over potential City-County mergers/consolidation of services. Supported economies to scale in merging magistrate court, communications, 911 & purchasing.

• Wrote & sponsored legislation outlining reform initiatives for all Authorities, including the ability to dissolve and to change the operational make-up and provide accountability and cost parameters to the taxpayers.

 Family-Community-Children  

• Wrote and successfully passed a new library internet pornography filter for all Allegheny County Library computers. Protecting children in usage.

• Wrote and successfully passed a no smoking in the children’s playground portion only of County Parks.

• Provided drug and alcohol awareness and education seminars to high schools. (Program at own expense)

• Successful in legislation and capital funding to have South Park expand fields and lighting of fields so that children would have greater opportunity to play organized sports.

  County Park Initiative  

• Wrote the landmark legislation that changed the Park structure in Allegheny County . Incorporates a 501© component along with a Parks Commission and a Friends of the Park Board for each Park.

• Secured funding for multiple park improvements and safety upgrades. Including; new playgrounds, grove upgrades, leash-free dog park, deck-hockey court, Oliver Miller Homestead refurbishment, South park Amphitheatre upgrades, field restoration, Walking Trails/Montour Trial plans for park trails, and many more.

• Recognized as a leader with Park initiatives, took the lead in the Allegheny County 2001 master Park Plan.

• Developed and wrote legislation to voluntarily donate $1 or more to a County Park when a permit is being an applied for any Park activity. A volunteer 501(c)3 Board would receive the donated money per Park for investment within that particular Park. Currently under review in Council committee.

Community  

• Lead the fight and wrote the legislation that successfully protected and played a major part of evidence regarding the 10 commandment plaque on the Allegheny County Courthouse. Case was successfully adjudicated in federal Court. Worked with former Executive Jim Roddey to defend the case and started the private donation fund – Save the Commandments.

• Worked to amend federal CDBG budgets to allow for County applied funds to homeowners who lost things like furnaces during Hurricane Ivan in district area’s like South Fayette .

• Successfully defeated the county-wide Living Wage ordinance in a bipartisan fashion due to the economic hardship the legislation would have caused.

• Supported a County-wide smoking ban based on health and business aspects.

• Supported a Contractor Licensing provision on the County level to protect Senior Citizens from unscrupulous companies and to try to diminish the likelihood of illegal aliens being used as workers. Through the legislation, a website may be maintained by the County outlining the reputable firms to help homeowners to make a better informed decision.