Tube City Almanac

May 17, 2006

Anyone Else Need a Shower?

Category: default || By jt3y

I was talking with an informed source on Tuesday about the two hotly-contested Mon-Yough area state legislative races, for the Democratic nominations in the 35th and 38th districts.

My source --- a longtime observer of local politics in Pennsyltucky --- said he thought the Marc Gergely-George Matta fight was one of the "dirtiest races" he'd ever seen in the valley, if not the dirtiest race.

No, I said, it was one of the dirtiest races in our area where the dirtiness was out in the open. Mon Valley politics have often been nasty, but the really slimy things are usually done surreptitiously --- anonymous mailings, theft of campaign materials --- or as the result of back-room deals (running spoiler candidates, for instance).

So George Matta II should be congratulated for being very up front and candid with his methods. (Listen closely, and you can hear the sound of one hand, clapping.)

Not that Gergely's allies were as pure as the driven snow. I don't know who the "Coalition For The Mon Valley" is --- that's the group that set up the "Stop Matta" website --- but hiding in the shadows didn't help their credibility. (The Pennsylvania Department of State doesn't have them registered as a political committee, and there's no way online to find out if they're registered with the county. I suppose I could make a trip to the courthouse and poke around to ask some questions, and as soon as I start to be paid a salary from the Almanac, I'll get right on that.)

But Gergely's official advertising and campaign materials (at least the things I saw) were mostly positive and upbeat, if a little bit bland. They focused on his record, and on the issues in the district.

Matta's advertising was occasionally nasty, often misleading or plain wrong, and sometimes just funny.

Take Matta's campaign commercials. One of them talked about how as mayor, he had "improved Duquesne." Tell that to the people in Duquesne! I realize that the mayor of any third-class city in Pennsylvania has limited authority, but you'd be hard pressed to find anyone (save Matta's allies) that would argue that Duquesne is getting better in measurable ways.

Another of Matta's ads carried the tagline, "Where he goes, good things grow." Ah, so he's kind of like fertilizer.

And Matta made an extremely bad tactical error when he tried to blunt the "Stop Matta" attacks: He ran ads that looked like the "Stop Matta" campaign's materials, which merely gave it more exposure.

Then, in the closing days of the campaign, Matta dragged a family squabble into the campaign and had Gergely's sister-in-law endorse attack ads in The Daily News and The Valley Mirror. That was embarrassing to everyone involved. It may have set a new low for nastiness in local politics.

Indeed, I'd call Matta's behavior at times positively Nixonesque. So I hope the Washington Post and the late, great editorial cartoonist Herb Block will forgive me if I parody "Herblock's" infamous 1954 cartoon of Nixon making a campaign appearance.

Gergely's challenge, assuming he's re-elected in November (no Republican filed to run), is to prove that he deserved the voters' trust, and to become a more pro-active legislator. Though I think he's been a good representative, I don't know if he's been producing the kind of legislative initiatives, and the regional leadership, that the Mon-Yough area needs.

State Sen. Sean Logan and state Rep. Jim Casorio grab headlines because they speak their mind and get out in front of issues in their communities. It wouldn't hurt for Marc Gergely and his staff to take a page from their playbooks. He needs to use his next term wisely, and to grow as a legislator. He needs to be someone who leads, rather than someone who reacts. If nothing else, Gergely is going to have to work twice as hard to overcome the negative advertising thrown at him this year.

As for George Matta, I've lost a fair deal of respect for him. Through his political and volunteer work, he's often been a very active and positive force for change in the Mon-Yough area, but his conduct during this campaign left a sour taste in my mouth. I suspect I'm not alone.

...

On the opposite side of the river, Ken Ruffing's loss of the Democratic nomination in the 38th District is surprising mainly for Bill Kortz's margin of victory.

I don't doubt that Ruffing campaigned sincerely and worked hard, but from the outside, his efforts seemed half-hearted and haphazard. His responses to the charges and counter-charges made by the press and his opponents were disorganized and petulant, and I couldn't believe he skipped his meeting with the Post-Gazette's editorial board.

Frankly, I was also astonished at how badly he answered questions about the pay raise money that he says he donated to autism research.

I will be interested to see if Kortz and his expected Republican opponent, Daniel Davis, take the high road and discuss the issues. From what I've read about both men, I have reason to hope that they will. The Mon-Yough area has seen enough mudslinging for this year.






Your Comments are Welcome!

Just a quick note to pass on that Central PA did their part to kick out the “Payraise Pals” by upsetting Bob Jubelirerwith John Eichelburger. I’m totally surprised by the vote, figuring that Jubelirer would win by a landslide again, but it actually looks like people paid attention this year. For once, I’m pround of my Central PA neighboors in an election decision!
Jerky (URL) - May 17, 2006




Just a quick note to recognize the Almanac for offering some good perspectives on the election which just concluded. It was Nasty yes, it got surreal for my family and I after the last week of mailings and network TV, man my picture was ugly.

I really got a kick out of the little WHY signs placed next to the STOP Matta signs.

I’m very proud to serve our Valley and understand the new challenges I need to embrace.

BTW: My Mom and Wife are the Chair/Treasurer of the Coalition for the Mon-Valley it is listed with the county.

I enjoyed finding the many typos in my opponents mail every piece had at least one and an Elizabeth Twp. piece had five! My positive mail might have been bland but I never had blurred pictures and the best was when Matta used
a slogan “Good things are happening in the Mon-Valley” the backdrop picture was Hooters and the Southside?

Take Care…
Rep. Gerg

PS: I spent about $110,000 he spent at least $225,000 probably $250,000….

Also looking into next year Lori Spando announced to me Tuesday at a poll she was runnning against Brewster for Mayor…
Rep. Gerg - May 18, 2006




Was a horribly negative campaign. I honestly don’t know who drew first blood but cooler heads should have prevailed. There were things said and done in this campaign that I wouldn’t say about a Republican, let alone a fellow Democrat and fromer friend. Tough to mend fences after a campaign like this. Families should ALWAYS be kept out and I think there was some violation of this from both sides.

The race hurt the Democratic COmmittee locally. Allegheny COunty endorses George Matta and is trumped by the State Democratic COmmittee (or at least the party leadership) and dumps tons of money into smearing George Matta, the endorsed candidate, for 10 days of mailings. The London Blitz had nothing on this carpet bombing.

We ran a COMPLETELY positive race in McKeesport and will run another for COunty Council, District 9, in the Mon Valley. You can be tough and good at the same time and win. The strategy is simple. Always be positive. work harder than the competition and turn each negative thrown at you by desperate competition into a positive. Governor Rendell used this strategy in his first race against then candidate Bob Casey. Clinton used it against GHWB in his first run. You would think that folks would catch on…..

People think negativety works. If it is based on issues and poor votes and poor legislation, to which we all are open game on, so be it. It should never get personal. It makes the entire process ugly, discourages and keeps home the electorate and keeps many GOOD folks from seeking political office. All’s fair. Doesn’t make it right.

My 2 cents.

~ Sluggo
Paul Shelly (URL) - November 25, 2006




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