Outside Erie

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard the news that former state Rep. Linda Bebko-Jones is facing charges from the state Attorney General’s office for her role in an alleged effort to forge nominating petitions.
Bebko-Jones’ former chief of staff, Mary Fiolek, is also facing charges.
“On March 6, 2006, within her offices at the Pennsylvania capitol, Bebko-Jones […]

More major media outlets are turning their focus on manufacturing cities with the Ohio primary upcoming.
Recently, I pointed out a Washington Post piece on Toledo.
Yesterday, the New York Times offered a similar look at the campaign through the lens of nearby Youngstown.
The main theme of the story echoes what we can expect when similar attention […]

The Washington Post had an interesting story yesterday about how the Democratic primary is playing out in Toldeo, Ohio.
I point it out because the issues that are facing Toledo are very similar to the problems that are being grappled with in Erie.
And it’s interesting to point out that the story concludes that neither Sen. Hillary […]

My former colleague, Kevin Flowers, has an interesting Q-and-A interview with former Erie County Executive Judy Lynch in today’s Erie Times-News.
Lynch has an interesting take on the efforts of Erie County government to get involved with economic development projects such as the convention center and runway extension.
Says Lynch:
I think it’s very important for county officials […]

Who is the most powerful Democrat in Erie these days?
I’ll give you a hint: he doesn’t hold an office in City Hall or at the County Courthouse.
It’s Ian Murray, the lawyer and former city councilor who is one of six of the “super delegates” from Pennsylvania who have not yet declared who they will back […]

The Erie Times-News today quotes Erie County Executive Mark DiVecchio as saying “I just want this over with”.
He’s referring, of course, to the recent flap over his use of county employees for personal matters and for his unpaid parking ticket in Washington, D.C.
Should he get his wish? Has he paid his penance? Or does he […]

I am excited to introduce the newest member of the GlobalErie Network — Ian Enterline.
Ian is a former Millcreek firefighter and EMT and currently works as a firefighter in Richmond, Va.
He is also the author of The People Demand It!, our newest blog that will offer a fresh and sometimes controversial look at politics […]

Money is a big factor in any political race — and in the case of the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional district a lot of that money is being funneled to one candidate.
During the fourth quarter, Kathy Dahlkemper reported $154,000 in contributions, according to the Federal Election Commission filings released this week.
That figure is […]

I requested (and received) a copy of the memo sent last week to Erie County Controller Sue Weber to Erie County Executive Mark DiVecchio regarding allegations that DiVecchio had authorized personal use of government resources.
The full text of the memo follows:
TO: County Executive Mark Divecchio
FROM: […]

When I choose someone to lead our government, there is no ambiguity in what I expect.
I expect the person I pull the lever for to put his or her personal well-being behind the well-being of the organization he or she is running.
I expect the person to set an example that runs throughout all levels of […]