Franklin Park Home Rule Charter

My wife and I have resided in Franklin Park for 35 years and feel strongly about preserving the wonderful aspects of our community into the future.  We understand that the community is now faced with a significant financial shortfall that needs to be resolved in the immediate future to stay solvent.  To address this effort, I wish to dedicate my time and exdpertise to serve on the commission to evaluate the best means to correct the borough's finances in the best interest of the borough residents.

I am a registered professional engineer in PA that came to Pittsburgh in 1980 to build the downtown subway, tunnesl and bridges for the light rail system and transit maintenance facilities.  Prior to retiring , I was the Director of Engineering and Construction for many large and small civil works and facility projects very much like what Franklin Park has.  I worked with an office of twenty five professionals to provide full services in all aspects of adminstration, real estate, accounting environmental and project management needed to implement projects.  

In recent years, I have served as an officer for 10 years on a HOA board charged with evaluating and implementing project on buildings, roads, swereres and drainage networks.  I have also served as the Majority Inspector for the County Board of Elections.

My understanding is that Home Rule is an alternative form of government from that which Franklin Park currently uses.  Personally, I don't know if it's better or worse than our current form, but I do know that by serving on the commission to study it, I intend to learn more about it.  My reasons for volunteering to serve are quite simple - First, as 35 year citizen of this community, I fell that it is my civic duty to give back to this community that has given me a wonderful place to live and raise my family, and second, since I have four grown and married children and 10 grandchildren who also call Franklin Park their homes, I want to try and do all I can to makes rue they have the same great pland e of living and raising their families as I have enjoyed.  If, after learning more about HOme Rule Charter, I decide that's in their best interests and those of owther residents to support the prposed charter, whatever it may entail, I will act accordingly.  

For a briefbackground on myself, I am 73 years old, have been married to a native Pittsburgher for 51 years.  Together we have four cheldren who benfitted from North Allegheny education, attended Penn State and worked and live in the area.  I was born and raised in Akron , Ohio and attended and graduated from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OHIO.  I am retired from the insurance industry having worked for a number of insurance companies and local agencies for over 40 year.  

Finally, I don't know if any of the above informatiion qualifies me to serve on this commission, but I do know that whatever the outcome of November's election, I am proud to be a part of Franklin Park and will continue to support it to the best of my ability.

My wife and I have been residents of Franklin Park for 24 yers.  We are both retired.  

I am aretired attorney having proacticed law for more than 40 years.  During my career I handled complex litigation matters including product liability and medical Malpractice cases.  I was in Private practice in St. Louis  when I joing the law department of Bayer Corporation which brough me to Pittsburgh. I was Vice President  and Associate General Counsel in charge of the litifation group at Bayer.  In that role I handled mass tory litigation involving various pharmaceutical products as well as genetically modified rice, among other matters.  After retiring from Bayer I was in private practice with a large firm in Pittsburgh where I hadnled civil litigation and also worked as a mediator.  My role as an attorney was always to assist my client in solving complex business and personal issues.  

I have been a volunteer for the American Heart Association since coming to Pittsburgh.  I have had many roles with the Heart Association includeing service on the Corporate and Finance Committee, Chairman of the Board of Great Rivers Affiliate, Member of the Board of the Pittsburgh Chapter , and service othe other local and national committees.  

I believe that my background and experience will allow me to serve the community well as a commissioner.  I respectfully ask for your vote.

My husband and I have been residents fo Franklin Park for 17 years.  We retired from our career jobs-he as a registration clerk with the veterans Adminstration, and I as a career law clerk with the U.S. Courts.

I began my legal career as a paralegal working primarily in civil litigation first with a private law firm and then with the US Attorney's Office.  While working fulltime as a paralegal, I attended law school at night. During my legal career, I have worked inhouse at U. S. Steel Corporation as a tax attorney, at a private law firm as head of their appellate division, and as alaw clerk to judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of PA.  Throughout my legal career, I hav gained extensive  experience in researching and interpreting laws and wrting legal opinions.  

Since retiring from the U.S. Courts, I have served as a member of the Franklin Park Borough Civil Service Commission which works closely with the Chief of Police to ensure compliance with the civil service rules and regulations when hiring and promoting officers.  In addition, I have been a volunteer attorney with Neighborhood Legal Service Association in the Landlor/Tenat Mediation Program since Moarch of 2024.  From 2021 through 2024, I served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of Christopher's Kitchen, a local non-profit that stocks food pantries in Children's Hospital and the Children's Home and Lemieux Family Center.  I have also served in various leadership roles for anumber of othe professional organizations throughout my legal career.l

Based on my background and experience, I believe I bring the knowledge and skills necessary to serve as a Government Study Commissioner, and I ask for your vote.

Check back later for new information.

Check back later for new information.

My wife (a former North Allegheny School Teacher) and I are both retired and have been residents of Franklin Park for 40 years. While I am now retired, I was a licensed attorney for more than 40 years, practicing in the areas of civil litigation, business, corporations, municipal law, and bankruptcy (both business and personal).

I served as an Assistant United States Attorney, where I was appointed as Chief of Financial Litigation. I have served as a federal Bankruptcy Trustee, and as a Staff Attorney for the United States Department of the Interior where I was accorded Special Assistant United States Attorney status by the U.S. Justice Department to pursue litigation in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

I was appointed to the Evaluation and Review Staff for the Executive Office for United States Attorneys where I conducted evaluations of the litigation handling of various United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

I have served as the Solicitor for the Northland Public Library Authority, and as a Board Member of the McCandless Industrial Development Authority, the North Allegheny Foundation, the North Allegheny Fine Arts Coalition, and the North Allegheny Choral Patrons Association. I have also been a softball coach for the Ingomar/Frankin Park Athletic Association, a language tutor for Literacy Pittsburgh and, most recently, a volunteer at Animal Friends.

I believe that I can provide the background and experience needed for this position and ask for your vote.