Sen. Pam Roach Makes the Case For Jason Osgood. Roach clearly and succinctly describes a problem for which there is one best solution; Jason Osgood!
Voters should choose King County elections director
June 16, 2006Voters should
Dean Logan’s upcoming departure as King County elections director ends a period in which many voters lost faith in our elections system. But it presents an opportunity to regain the people’s trust in this civic institution and make this crucial government position more accountable to the public.
King County is the only county in our state that allows its top elections official to be appointed (by its county executive), not elected by the people.
Voters in Washington’s 38 other counties choose their elections director, who is usually the county auditor. That’s the way it should be. Voting is the foundation of our democratic process. If that foundation is cracked, it not only reduces voters’ confidence and trust in this process, it also undermines the support and trust many of us have in our elected officials.
Now that the smoke has cleared, we can bring King County in line with the rest of the state by allowing its voters, rather than the county executive, to choose their elections director.
In 2005, I introduced Senate Bill 5667, which would make the chief elections official an elective office in all counties in Washington, including King County. The bill was favorably received but not acted on by the Legislature.
We all still remember the costly mistakes made by the county’s elections department that tarnished the 2004 gubernatorial election and left a bitter taste in the mouths of many voters, not only in King County but throughout Washington. Mistakes included overlooked absentee ballots left out of the count, provisional ballots tallied without verification of voter eligibility beforehand, and wide discrepancies in the records of voters voting and ballots cast.
It’s ironic that the one county in Washington that allows its elections supervisor to be appointed rather than elected happens to be the symbol for election problems in our state. The people in King County deserve better. Instead of being accountable to only one person, the elections director of Washington’s most populous county needs to be accountable to the voters.
Early this year, members of the Citizens Election Oversight Committee said King County should choose its elections director by a public vote. The committee, which was created by the King County Council to review elections procedures in the county, said voting for the director would increase the public accountability of that office.
And if the elections director doesn’t perform up to expectations? Then voters could remove him or her and elect someone else. That’s why we so desperately need to bring real accountability to this office!
King County shouldn’t wait for the Legislature to take action on this issue. In fact, there are two ways it can make its elections director an elected position: 1) through a county charter amendment adopted by the county council and then approved by voters; or 2) through a citizens initiative to change the county charter.
The King County Council should act now to provide accountability in our elections department by putting a charter amendment vote to the people this November.
-end-
Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, is ranking Republican on the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Jessie Bloom Quoted at Knoll Funeral Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Knoll lauded at funeral
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
By Dennis B. Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Amid a keen of bagpipe and a whirlwind of memories, Catherine Baker Knoll, a woman who sometimes fought for respect, was paid tribute today in a cathedral filled with political leaders and presided over by seven bishops.
The powerful came: Gov. Ed Rendell, Sens. Bob Casey and Arlen Specter, members of the General Assembly.
Elsie Hillman, grand dame of the state's Republicans, sat alongside Democratic Auditor General Jack Wagner and joined him in offering the prayers of intercession.
Too, came the ordinary citizens who had brushed shoulders, pressed hands and shared chicken dinners and neighborhood coffees with Mrs. Knoll, the state's lieutenant governor who died Nov. 12.
"Whenever we called her she came. Whenever we needed someone," said Jessie Bloom, Democratic chair in Lycoming County, a place dominated by the GOP, and a venue to which party leaders often struggled to find high profile speakers for events.
"We always have trouble getting some of the candidates, particularly the statewide candidates, to come to this area. She never refused us," said Mrs. Bloom, who drove in from Williamsport for today's services at St. Paul's Cathedral in Oakland.
"I'm just devastated over this happening to her."
Mrs. Knoll, 78, of McKees Rocks, died of neuroendocrine cancer.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
By Dennis B. Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Amid a keen of bagpipe and a whirlwind of memories, Catherine Baker Knoll, a woman who sometimes fought for respect, was paid tribute today in a cathedral filled with political leaders and presided over by seven bishops.
The powerful came: Gov. Ed Rendell, Sens. Bob Casey and Arlen Specter, members of the General Assembly.
Elsie Hillman, grand dame of the state's Republicans, sat alongside Democratic Auditor General Jack Wagner and joined him in offering the prayers of intercession.
Too, came the ordinary citizens who had brushed shoulders, pressed hands and shared chicken dinners and neighborhood coffees with Mrs. Knoll, the state's lieutenant governor who died Nov. 12.
"Whenever we called her she came. Whenever we needed someone," said Jessie Bloom, Democratic chair in Lycoming County, a place dominated by the GOP, and a venue to which party leaders often struggled to find high profile speakers for events.
"We always have trouble getting some of the candidates, particularly the statewide candidates, to come to this area. She never refused us," said Mrs. Bloom, who drove in from Williamsport for today's services at St. Paul's Cathedral in Oakland.
"I'm just devastated over this happening to her."
Mrs. Knoll, 78, of McKees Rocks, died of neuroendocrine cancer.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Broccoli / Raisin Salad by Kay Ertel
Broccoli / Raisin Salad
Recipe #267452
SERVES 8
Ingredients
- 2 heads broccoli
- 1/2 cup onion
- 1 cup raisins
- 8 slices bacon
- 1 cup Miracle Whip
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- 1/4 lb cheddar cheese
Directions
- Mix dressing ingredients, except cheese.
- Pour over broccoli.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Toss.
- Sprinkle with grated cheddar chesse.Post Options
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Kay Ertel Salutes Diane Glenwright's Work at the YWCA
According to former director Kay Ertel, one award not given during the ceremony was one honoring Diane Glenwright, the organization's executive director.
"One of the best things to happen to us is being able to have Diane Glenwright as our executive director," Ertel said. "She's so shy, but she's turned that place around."
Ertel discussed landmark programs that have occurred at the YWCA since it was founded locally in 1893. In 1912, the first area's first Girl Scouts unit was started by the organization. In 1913, it started a nursery for mothers, opened a cafeteria and began a visiting nurse program. In 1926, it opened an employment bureau for women.
According to Ertel, the organization has remained vital because it has been able to adapt to the changing needs of the community.
When Wise Options for Women - now known simply as Wise Options - was started in 1977, "the early years were quite a struggle," Ertel said. "Today, it is a strong, respected asset to our community."
"One of the best things to happen to us is being able to have Diane Glenwright as our executive director," Ertel said. "She's so shy, but she's turned that place around."
Ertel discussed landmark programs that have occurred at the YWCA since it was founded locally in 1893. In 1912, the first area's first Girl Scouts unit was started by the organization. In 1913, it started a nursery for mothers, opened a cafeteria and began a visiting nurse program. In 1926, it opened an employment bureau for women.
According to Ertel, the organization has remained vital because it has been able to adapt to the changing needs of the community.
When Wise Options for Women - now known simply as Wise Options - was started in 1977, "the early years were quite a struggle," Ertel said. "Today, it is a strong, respected asset to our community."
Friday, September 5, 2008
Joe Smith at the Democratic Convention
Democrats bring back convention memories By MIKE REUTHER - mreuther@sungazette.com
Attending last week's Democratic National Convention gave two Lycoming County residents a chance to help support presidential nominee Barack Obama as well as to embrace their party's issues.
Joe Smith, owner of Gleghorn Insurance Co. in Watsontown, said it was exciting to be part of the whole experience.
"It's almost a once in a lifetime thing. Just to be there on the floor experiencing it," he said.
Mary Lou Baldys of Williamsport, who was at the convention with her husband Warren, had similar feelings.
"Everybody was very upbeat," she said. "We were pretty proud of the candidates and positive they can make progress on issues."
It was hardly a relaxing vacation for Smith and Baldys.
Each was in Denver to help ensure that convention attendees had the proper credentials.
"Essentially, we were working the suburban hotels. The credentials were there in the morning. We would have their credentials. Each day they had to pick them up," Smith said. "We would get up at 5 o'clock. We were probably done by 3 o'clock, which allowed us to go to the convention."
Both agreed it was a busy week.
"It was quite a process to get everyone where they needed to be," Baldys said. "When you are part of this, you see there are a lot of details."
Baldys said despite her duties she was able to attend many of the events during the week and see closeup some of the major players, including Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., the Clintons and Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden.
"I got to meet Jimmy Carter in an elevator," she added.
She said she was heartened by the diversity of people attending the convention - young people, Hispanics, blacks.
She said the issues people seemed most interested in were the economy and health care.
Smith said it was a great experience for anyone at all interested in politics and a good chance to network with Democrats from all over the nation.
"It was inspiring to have that many people of the same belief."
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Roan Confer Gets Client Off Lightly in Serious Case
DuBoistown woman jailed for stealing from trust fund
By MARK MARONEY mmaroney@sungazette.com POSTED: August 30, 2008
A DuBoistown woman who was sentenced to one year in Lycoming County Prison Friday for depleting nearly $200,000 from a woman's trust fund said she was not aware she was doing wrong.
Judy A. Lach, 52, of 136 Valley St., said she was sorry for what happened as administrator of the fund of the late Mary Jane Evenden but she believed she was entitled to the woman's estate.
Lach pleaded guilty in May to a charge of theft for stealing $196,000 from the fund.
She told Judge Nancy L. Butts she made payments to the woman's son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Debra Evenden, the beneficiaries, and thought that she was doing what she was supposed to do.
Lach was Mary Jane Evenden's cleaning lady and the two developed a friendship until it became so close that Evenden entrusted her to administer her trust fund.
When Evenden died, Lach received some money for her services, about $20,000 decreed in the will, but Lach wanted more. She paid the woman's son and daughter-in-law $700 a month, but wrote much larger checks to herself, according to Tom Waffenschmidt, the Evendens' attorney.
By 2006, Lach told the Evendens she would pay them $700 every quarter.
Waffenschmidt said he wrote to Lach, asking her for a full accounting and to open the books.
"She never responded, avoided all inquiries," Waffenschmidt said.
Litigation ensued and state police began to investigate, he said.
"I can't believe you did not know what you were doing," Butts said.
Butts sentenced Lach to seven years intermediate punishment, one year in prison, made her eligible to be on prison Pre-Release in six months and ordered 100 hours' community service.
Butts ordered Lach to either sell property or find a way to get the full restitution to the Evendens.
"She is sorry," Lach's attorney, Roan Confer said after the hearing. "She met with police and she didn't know."
Confer said Butts' prison sentence was fair, but he contended his client never had so much as a speeding ticket.
"Unfortunately, under trust law, you can't take money unless you are a beneficiary. She did not know that and she thought she was entitled," Confer said.
Life Lessons and Career Insights by Anil Menon
Seen on Andrew da Silva
Life Lessons and Career Insights by Anil Menon
Anil Manon is Vice President, IBM Marketing Strategy and Worldwide Marketing Management — what a mouthful! He is responsible for IBM’s Brand Strategy which includes Industrial Design, Content and Corporate Identity. Responsible for IBM’s Worldwide Market Intelligence, he conducts and coordinates all forecasting, customer and market research within IBM.
Still quite active in academia, he is involved in the Yale Center and sits on the board of the Zyman Institute. (source)
In 2006, Anil Menon was a distinguished speaker at Duke University where he presented life lessons and career insights from his academia experience and his current career at IBM.
Anil has everything of a great speaker; he is funny, a good storyteller and charismatic. I was going to exhaustingly list his lessons and insights, but I won’t. The presentation is an hour long, you should be able to spare that time.
On a side note, it is really a shame that Anil Menon isn’t more present and known on the Internet. Aside from a couple of marketing blogs reviewing his presentations, newspapers haven’t interviewed him and his speeches aren’t offered online, except for Duke’s.
It’s incredible how Duke’s Distinguished Speakers Series has an awesome selection of executives. I’ll try to present more of them in the upcoming weeks.
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