Readers of this Website are probably well aware of the relationship between engagement in election campaigns and passage of good environmental legislation. The Sierra Club takes this relationship seriously, and occasionally endorses candidates in races ranging from City Council to US President.

The recent US Supreme Court decision favoring involvement of corporations in campaign financing is causing real concern among organizations like the Sierra Club; the fear is that the influence of money will far outstrip our ability to effectively help a campaign with volunteer support. But even before corporations take advantage of the Supreme Court ruling, the flow of money to incumbents, be they good guys or bad, is a major factor that often diminishes  our ability to have a significant effect.

Below is a brief illustration of the fund-raising advantages that local incumbent members of Congress have over their challengers. The data is from the Federal Election Commission’s 2010 Second Quarter report. (more…)

The May 18 Primary election provides the voters in November with a stark contrast in the nominees for the US Senate, as far as their environmental voting records are concerned.

Each year the League of Conservation Voters develops a scorecard for every member of Congress, based on about fifteen or more key votes. During his first three years in Congress (2007-09) Democratic nominee Joe Sestak scored 100, 92, and 93 pct repectively.

During his three terms in Congress (1999 to 2004) Republican nominee Pat Toomey’s “lifetime average” LCV score was 11 pct, with a score of zero percent for each of the last two years.

Although there are several interesting state legislature races for the May 18 Primary, the only Western Pennsylvania candidate that the Sierra Club has endorsed is Rep. David Levdansky of Elizabeth, who is seeking re-election in the 39th District.

At the top of the ballot card is of course the race for US Senator. After serious discussion the Sierra Club decided not to endorse any of the candidates. In the race for Governor, Joe Hoeffel was recognized as the candidate with the strongest environmental credentials, but he was not fully endorsed.

As we see so often, just who we send to Washington and Harrisburg affects how our natural resources are managed and how our environment is protected. Although the May 18 Primary elections for US Senate and Governor are attracting state-wide attention, the Allegheny Group’s Political Committee is watching developments in three local races.
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Three recent news items suggest that supporting the coal industry at any cost is not in the best industry of the state or the industry. (more…)

Candidates endorsed by the Sierra Club in the May primary election were all successful in the November 3 general election. The slate of three reform-minded candidates endorsed by the Sierra Club all won seats in the Monroeville municipal election: Diane Allison (D-R), Lois Drumheller (D-R) and Bernhard Erb (R).

In the Pittsburgh City Council elections, Sierra Club-endorsed Bill Peduto easily retained his Dist. 8 seat and Natalia Rudiak was unopposed in Dist. 4.

The May Primaries are a couple of moons past, but only recently did we know that our endorsed candidate for Municipal Council in Ward 5 of Monroeville is a winner.  Before her appeal, Diane Allison was losing to Marshall Boone, 198 to 196.  The final certified result is Allison 198 – Boone 196.

Ms. Allison was one of a group of reformists backed by the Sierra Club in Monroeville.  Moral of the story: every vote counts, and with the right candidates environmental groups can have an significant impact in local elections.

Thanks to all who helped Sierra Club–endorsed Natalia Rudiak gain a significant victory in the May 19 primary. With a margin of 194 votes, or 3.0% over Patrick Reilly, Natalia is assured of a seat on Pittsburgh City Council in January, joining SC endorsed Council members Bill Peduto, Bruce Kraus, and Patrick Dowd. With the surprising win of Daniel Lavelle over Tonya Payne in District 6, there will be a solid progressive majority on Council, serving as an important balance to the Executive branch.

In the Monroeville primary, SC-endorsed candidate Lois Drumhiller won the Democratic primary in Ward 3, Berhard Erb was unopposed in the Republican primary in Ward 1.  In  Ward 5 SC-endorsed Diane Allison was losing by a mere two votes in the Democratic primary, and a recount is underway.

On the wintry night of April 6, a group of environmentalists enjoyed a Meet and Greet event for Natalia Rudiak, who is running for City Council in District 4.

Tom Hoffman, Natalia, and Barbara Grover.

Allegheny Group Chair Claudia Kirkpatrick and Natalia.

With questions also submitted by Planned Parenthood and the Sierra Club, the Pennsylvania League of Young Voters has released its 2009 Voters Guide.  The guide contains the responses to questions posed to candidates for City Council, Pittsburgh Mayor, Pittsburgh School Board, County Council, and the Judiciary.

Congratulations are in order for Theresa Smith, who won the February 3 Special Election for City Council, District 4. Runner-up was SC member Georgia Blotzer.

Attention now shifts to the May 19 Primary Election when the only known open seat on City Council is that for District 4 due to the departure of Jim Motznik. This race in the South Hills has already attracted the following candidates:
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Following a kick-off event on October 16 for its final-stretch campaign (see photos), the local Sierra Club is actively worked to elect Steve O’Donnell (18th District) and Kathy Dahlkemper (3rd District) for Congress.

While Dahlkemper succeeded in defeating  Phil English in the Erie-based 3rd District, O’Donnell unfortuntately fell short in Pittsburgh’s southern suburbs and Westmoreland County (see photos).

After an analysis of incumbent Tim Murphy’s voting record over the years, the Sierra Club is calling for support of his challenger, Steve O’Donnell in the 18th Congressional District. (more…)

On August 6, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club announced its endorsement of Kathy Dahlkemper in her bid to represent citizens of the 3rd Congressional District in the northwestern part of Pennsylvania. (more…)

In the three-man race for the 27th Legislative District, SC-endorsed John Paul Jones gained 32% of the 12,911 votes, but fell 801 votes short of defeating City Councilman Dan Deasy. Jones ran a good grassroots campaign but could not overcome the funding and workers that came with the Democratic Party Committee and AFL/CIO endorsements of Deasy. Jones sent thanks to Sierra Club members who worked for his campaign.

Without Republican opposition in the General Election, Deasy’s move to Harrisburg will create a vacancy on Pittsburgh City Council that will necessitate a Special Election in perhaps March 2009.

Other Sierra Club endorsed candidates won in the Philadelphia area, with Kevin Lee in the 163rd District and Tony Payton in the 179th. Rounding out the four Club endorsements in the state was Anne Dicker, who lost in a bid for the 1st Senate seat in Philadelphia.

In two Congressional primaries of interest to environmentalists, Steve O’Donnell beat Beth Hafer 45 to 41% in the 18th District and will face incumbent Tim Murphy in November. Further north, Kathy Dahlkemper of Erie won the four-person race in the 3rd District with 45%, and she will face incumbent Phil English. Well-respected Cook Political Report views both these Congressional races as competitive, with the outcome “likely Republican”.