We must admit that we don’t know much about seven of the
eight candidates running for the Democratic nomination for Fayette County treasurer
in the upcoming primary election.
But we do know a lot about one of them. And that’s why we
are wholeheartedly endorsing former State Representative (and self-employed
labor arbitrator) Larry Roberts for this position.
(We want to make sure we cover all of our bases, so
depending on when you met or knew Larry, our endorsement also covers anyone
named Larry Rabbit, Larry Zajac or Larry LaMonica).
In the election preview story “Treasurer candidates discuss post responsibilities,” (Herald-Standard,
May 7), Roberts said his
qualifications put him at the front of the line.
“My
level of responsibility over the years has meaning, and I have served in several
levels of responsibility,” Roberts said.
Amen to that. We think you’d be hard-pressed to find a
candidate with more experience than Larry Roberts. He’s done it all – and one
of the things we like about him is that should he be elected, the people who
put him in office won’t be in for any big surprises.
You don’t have to worry about being shocked by a Larry
Roberts ethics case. He’s already been hit with a $600 ethics penalty for allowing legislative staff to
arrange campaign events in 2001 and again in 2004.
Worried about Larry’s name popping up in connection with allegations
of hanky-panky? That’s already happened, in a 2004 Election Board hearing where
20-year-old carpet installer Michael Ciampanelli testified that Roberts agreed
to pay him $200 to enter the race for state representative.
Holding off on voting for Larry because you think he
might let you down by voting to increase his pay as treasurer? Roberts can’t
let you down, because he already voted to increase his legislative pay, in the
infamous midnight pay raise of 2005, from
$69,647 to $81,050 each year. (Calculations showed that vote additionally hiked
his state pension by $721 per year.)
http://triblive.com/x/dailycourier/news/s_359223.html#axzz2SephmF1O
http://triblive.com/x/dailycourier/news/s_359223.html#axzz2SephmF1O
We
know that some of you probably have concerns about how Larry as treasurer would
interpret the fourth-class county code. Put your mind at ease -- after voting
for that 2005 legislative pay raise, Roberts accepted the unvouchered expenses
used to skirt a constitutional prohibition on midterm raises.
Think
there might be dissension in the treasurer’s office if Roberts wins? Do not
fear; Roberts already has had a staffer testify against him during an election
board hearing.
Nepotism
is a big issue these days in Fayette Co. The great thing about Larry is you don’t
have to sit around wondering if he’ll help out a family member. Roberts' son
Mark has already been county controller, and Mark Roberts even tried to keep
challenger (and current controller) Sean Lalley from running against him in
2007.
If
philosophy of governance is important to you, Roberts already has made his
position clear, making the press go to court to try to obtain information on his
expenses paid for by the public.
Of
course, there are many other reasons to vote for Larry Roberts, some of which
we detailed in our own critique of Roberts' performance, back in 2011.
When
you go to the polls on May 21, please vote for Larry Roberts for Fayette County
treasurer. Remember, in 14 years as a state representative, he brought cable TV
to Ohiopyle Borough.
With
all his experience, just think what he can do for you now.
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