___________________________________________________________________________________________
RAVES to a break in the humidity and to having a few choice musical events to attend this weekend. Pittsburgh
rockers Joe Grushecky and Rick Witkowski will host another acoustic "Songwriter Circle" on Saturday at 8 PM at
the New Hazlett Theater. Sometimes, hearing the stories behind the songs are nearly as entertaining as hearing the
music itself, so these shows are always so good. Across town and then some, Norman Nardini and crew are taking the
stage Saturday night at Moondog's, while 8th Street Rox will entertain at a newer venue, Jergel's Rhythm Grille in
Warrendale, as well on Saturday night. Also, save the date on June 6 to see Bill Deasy at the Three Rivers Arts
Festival. Just please get out and support our local musicians. (31 May 12)
Neither a RANT nor a RAVE, but an update on the group of lawyers calling around to see if they have any success at
getting political campaign nominating petitions at no cost and without signing a formal request form to the state to
obtain those records. They seem to be hitting the same brick wall that we did after hearing that State Rep Tim
Mahoney contended on AM radio talk recently that lawyers can obtain those petition copies at no charge through the
House Democratic Caucus. We also contacted a few people who had previously purchased copies of nominating
petitions and had the transactions and copies charged to house credit cards and a few state legislators of the
Democratic party for opinion. One would think that at least some of these seasoned veterans would be aware of
Mahoney's free source for the petition copies, so we'll keep trying. We've also sent a request to Mahoney to
explain if lawyers need to contact him directly to obtain these free copies or to share any information that he may
have, since two other Democratic state legislators contacted claim to know nothing about Mahoney's free source.
This question, of course, rose after Mahoney stated on AM talk radio that a $5,000 campaign expense of his paid
his lawyer for an unspecified retainer fee. This expense was dated the same February date that his lawyer prepared
and presented private citizen challenges to remove Mahoney's opponents from the primary ballot. He previously told
the local paper that he had nothing to do with those actions to remove challengers from last month's primary ballot.
(31 May 12)
RANTS that the Pittsburgh Trib seems to have got it wrong. Today's editorial page mentions Fayette being on the
watch list since the DA wants to empanel a grand jury to investigate voter fraud allegations in (the Bullskin #2 and
#3) polling precincts. However, the Trib also mentioned that the DA wants to empanel the grand jury also to
investigate allegations from State Rep Tim Mahoney, 51st District, that Michael Cavanagh forged signatures on his
nominating petition for the recent primary election. Unless the newsboy attended or got a scoop from the DA or
others at Fayette County Commissioner Vince Zapotosky's political event last night to this effect, this is news to
us. Last we heard, the DA had not made any decision yet, as to whether he would pursue a grand jury investigation of
the claims against Cavanagh or pursue Cavanagh's complaints against Mahoney. Apologies to the Trib if we wrongly
ranted and missed an announcement, but a source here cannot confirm the paper's claim. (1 Jun 12)
RANTS to the Herald Standard for this morning's editorial on the recent election board meeting. While the piece
described the meeting as "one of the most lively sessions in the history of the agency," with its recap of the drama
between Michael Cavanagh and State Rep Tim Mahoney, the HS editorial never mentioned that a third man, the only
man named on the agenda, brought accusations that poll workers told voters who to vote for and did not open
absentee ballots at the precinct. In stating opinion that nominating petitions should be eliminated, the HS contends
that "the courts seldom, if ever, hand out any criminal penalties for fraud involved with the signatures" and "this
could be a landmark of sorts if the charges are ruled valid." We note that a former aide to 2 Pittsburgh
mayors-turned activist-turned political campaign manager was charged with forging 8 Republican signatures, paid a
$10,000 fine and received 2 years probation in 2008. More recently, Magisterial District Judge David Murphy of
Delaware County last year received 4 years probation and 200 hours of community service for forging 64 signatures
on his candidate nominating petitions. Meanwhile, an Allegheny County candidate is pressing for prosecution of
incumbent State Rep Joe Preston, 24th District, for reportedly forging 90 signatures on his petitions. Seldom, we
buy. If ever and landmark, we don't. (1 Jun 12)
Neither a RANT nor a RAVE, but mention that the local paper yesterday reported that an investigation by local
state police is underway into why classified information from the Fayette County Housing authority reportedly was
found in an envelope left behind in a local restaurant by patrons. While police have not released any more specific
information, the authority's director was quoted as saying that some of the information would have been attainable
only through formal requests for those records and that no such requests were processed. A request for comment
was sent last night to Fayette County Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink to address rumors that she, reportedly, may
have been at the restaurant prior to the envelope being discovered. More, undoubtedly, on this will follow, but to
read what Zimmerlink had to say today about lunch out on Wednesday, as she denies even seeing such an envelope or
packet of housing authority documents and personal information about its director dating back to the age of 12,
please click here. (3 Jun 12)
Neither a RANT nor a RAVE, but this column's latest update on the search to track down the free source for
lawyers to obtain copies of candidate nominating petitions without formally requesting and paying for those through
the state, as State Rep Tim Mahoney, 51st District, said is possible, during his last radio talk show appearance.
Read more as we ask, "Timmy, Why Don't You Hear Us?" (5 Jun 12)
Editor's Note: Just as the ink on the anonymous unkind emails starts to dry, from those who believe we've "moved
on, from picking on Vince Zapotosky to Mahoney," followed next by a few dozen or so wondering if the AG and/or the
Ethics Commission should investigate Mahoney's free source for lawyers to get candidate nominating petitions...
Now comes an interesting email, from someone on behalf of Mahoney. Passed along from Mahoney to this column's
editor is the name and number of a high ranking elected state official, who will -- we're told -- enlighten us on
exacly how lawyers, legally, can obtain free copies of candidate nominating petitions, without formally requesting
them from the state, as the rest of us would have to do by law. While notes indicate that someone on our end
already spoke with someone in that particular office, we will try once again tomorrow, since Mahoney says he has
heard us. More on this later. (6 Jun 12)
RANTS that some out there dusted off an old incident to try to humiliate Fayette County Commissioner Angela
Zimmerlink -- possibly because they know that she spoke truthfully the other day to this column about the classified
housing documents and police investigation and the critics can't handle the truth. Regardless of their reasons, some
thought to paint the town with old copy of when the housing solicitor wrongly advised her that there was no conflict
if she signed off on Section 8 paperwork, when her estranged dad was a participating landlord in that program. She
asked in public meetings if she should be signing Section 8 housing paperwork as a board member, but yet was cited
by the Ethics Commission, for what basically was nothing more than bad legal advice. RANTS that the pathetic
motives of critics who dusted off of that old story seemed to be more about wanting to hurt her personally over
having an estranged dad than anything else. (7 Jun 12)
Neither a RANT nor a RAVE, but while we kill time waiting for Tim Mahoney's Harrisburg contact to find answers
for a few tough questions posed to him today that he was unable to answer -- and since we know that we have
Mahoney's ear -- we don't want to waste what could be an only opportunity to ask, "Timmy, What's Going On?" (7
Jun 12)
RANTS that the state showed no record of the House Democratic Campaign Committee's request for Gary Geariing
and Michael Cavanagh's candidate nominating petitions. Read More Here. (8 Jun 12)