In my 60 odd years of voting, those I chose to vote for I’ve always made public. On May 19, it will be Primary Election day in Allegheny County and once again I am making my vote public. My first vote will be cast in the behalf of a candidate for Pittsburgh City Council’s 9th district. The incumbent councilman is Rev. Ricky Burgess and three candidates oppose him, and that almost guarantees his reelection. The three candidates could have improved their chances of winning if they had drawn straws and supported the one candidate.
Across Allegheny County the numbers of Black men and women with felony arrests and convictions is staggering, almost all of our families have been touched in some way. It is my absolute conviction that based on the crime these persons deserves a second chance. I thereby will cast my vote for former councilwoman Twanda Carlisle. Maybe the fact that she has the courage to run will serve as a poster for opportunities for our sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, husbands or ourselves.
The Magisterial District Judge is vacant because the incumbent retired. There are three individuals running for the position, and the position can be extremely crucial. Out of the three running I am only familiar with one and that is Leah Kirkland. I have been active in the 12th ward for a number of years and I have no knowledge about any activities that have benefitted the district performed by other candidates. I will cast my vote for Leah Kirkland.
Allegheny County Council 10th district position is being vacated by William “Bill” Robinson, because of a health problem. I will not cast a vote for this position because I perceive it a wasted vote and an insult to the voters, particularly to Black voters. Bill Robinson has stood as a proud courageous Black man for decades. However Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald is doing everything he can to replace Bill with his boy DeWitt Walton.
Pittsburgh City Controller is an extremely important position and the person who occupies it must be competent, trustworthy, knowledgeable and possess a sense of concern about all people. There have been others that Blacks have voted for and helped elect and once they are elected they are forgotten about. The current City Controller Michael Lamb is an excellent public official who has earned the opportunity to be reelected. I definitely will cast my vote for Michael Lamb.
Allegheny County Controller Chelsea Wagner has proven to be not just competent, but courageous and concerned. Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald has attacked Chelsea because she wants to follow Allegheny County’s money. Does the Chief Executive have something to hide? I definitely will cast my vote for Chelsea Wagner.
There are nine candidates running for Allegheny County Common Please Court. I will cast my vote for the only Black judge candidate, the highly recommended Attorney Rosemary Crawford.
There are a number of candidates running for Pennsylvania Supreme Court. I will cast my vote for two in the Democrat Primary, and they are Judge Dwayne D. Woodruff and Judge David Wecht.
In the General Election, hopefully I will be voting for a third candidate Judge Cheryl Allen.
(Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a weekly contributor to the Forum Page.)
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