Gov. Corbett, in Speech, Backs Efforts to Save 911th Airlift Wing

The Pennsylvania governor speaks at the Moon Township-based air wing, urging military officials to scrap plans to shutter the base.

Standing beneath the wings of a C-130 aircraft at the 911th Airlift Wing, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said he would work with Pennsylvania's federal lawmakers to fight renewed plans to close the Moon Township air base.  Corbett, appearing alongside Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, and state Sen. Matt Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, implored military officials and federal lawmakers to end efforts to close the 911th as a cost-saving measure.  "I'm going to ask our (Pennsylvania) congressional delegation to do whatever they need to do to save this base," Corbett said.  The U.S. Air Force has again taken initial steps toward closing the airlift wing after March 2013— after the expirationg of a law …

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Update: Allegheny County Officials Challenge State Voter ID Law

Board of Elections Chair John DeFazio scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday to consider a call by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald to authorize a legal challenge to the Voter ID Law.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Controller Chelsa Wagner are among the officials planning a challenge to the Voter ID law, which was signed by Gov. Tom Corbett in March. Sponsored by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry,the law requires voters to show photo identification before they vote at the polls. After a dry run in the April primary, it is scheduled to take effect for the Nov. 6 general election. Allegheny County Board of Elections Chair John DeFazio scheduled a special meeting of the Board of Elections for 3 p.m. Tuesday to consider a call by Fitzgerald for the board to authorize a legal challenge to Act 18, the Voter ID Law. The meeting at the Allegheny County Courthouse will include a vote to authorize a lawsuit against…

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Battle Over Property Reassessments Heats Up

Judge orders use of new 2012 reassessments the day after Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald declared them null and void.

It looks like the battle over Allegheny County’s reassessments is just warming up. The Pittsburgh Business Times reports that Judge R. Stanton Wettick has ordered the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Public Schools to use the new 2012 reassessments. Less than 24 hours earlier, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who took office Tuesday, declared the new reassessments invalid and announced that the county would continue using the base year assessments from 2002. During a news conference Thursday, Fitzgerald said new notices would be sent out Thursday, and those are “the ones that matter.” He was clear: Despite a court order mandating a property tax reassessment, he is following all state laws. But not according to Don Driscoll…

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Election Central 2011: Fitzgerald Elected Allegheny County Executive

After defeating Republican D. Raja in Tuesday's election, the Democrat and former county council president looks ahead to priorities once in office

Mass transit, Marcellus Shale, property taxes, the airport and the Allegheny County budget will be on Democrat Rich Fitzgerald’s radar when he takes over as  county executive in January. Fitzgerald, 52, of Squirrel Hill, defeated Republican D. Raja, 46, of Mt. Lebanon, by a nearly 2-1 margin in Tuesday’s general election. The former County Council member and president celebrated the win with hundreds of supporters at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers hall on Pittsburgh’s South Side. Many wore green T-shirts with the words, “Welcome to Fitzburgh” on the front. Afterwards, he talked with Patch about his first priorities when taking office. “We’ve got a lot of challenges, transit, stopping the reassessment of our county only…

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2011 Election Central Voters Guide

Planning to vote Nov. 8? Sewickley Patch brings you its 2011 Election Central guide to the candidates and races that affect your community.

With the Nov. 8 general election just around the corner, Sewickley Patch brings you its 2011 Election Central database. Here you will find links and pages detailing positions that will be filled in the election, as well as information about the various candidates running and polling locations around the Sewickley Valley. Bookmark this page and return for updates through Nov. 8 and beyond.   In our 2011 Election Log, we'll keep you updated on candidates' stances on issues, events, announcements and any other news related to the races. Interested in something you don't see? Leave a comment, or send an email to larissa.dudkiewicz@patch.com.   Planning a debate, a coffee or gathering with candidates? Let Patch know.     The following locations…

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Patch Poll

County Exec Candidates Raja and Fitzgerald Face Off in RMU Debate

D. Raja and Rich Fitzgerald each try to impress voters one last time before the Nov. 8 election.

With the general election looming, Allegheny County Executive candidates D. Raja and Rich Fitzgerald sparred over the future of the county's drink tax, job creation and other issues Thursday night in a debate at Robert Morris University. Raja, a Republican from Mt. Lebanon, and Fitzgerald, a Democrat from Squirrel Hill, also discussed their views on property taxes, Port Authority transit and Marcellus Shale drilling, hoping to make an impact on voters by the election Nov. 8. Although the event was billed as a debate and began at 8 p.m., Raja answered questions alone for 30 minutes because Fitzgerald was tied up at another event and had not arrived. Before Fitzgerald walked into the university's Academic Media Center, moderator Justin Downs…

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