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Friday, May 09, 2003

Voters in Allegheny County Council District 10 have a big job in the May 20 Democratic primary: Fill the big shoes left by former Councilman James Simms, who stepped aside to run for county controller.

Council President Simms was a highly regarded member of the 15-member body, a leader who worked as well with Republicans as he did with his own Democratic Party. Since no GOP candidate filed in this year's race for the council seat, Democratic voters in Wilkinsburg, the Hill District, Highland Park, East Liberty, Homewood and parts of Squirrel Hill, Point Breeze and Frick Park will essentially be choosing their next county representative.

Marlene Russell, 50, is the fresh face in the race. A former nursing assistant and former president of a local in the Service Employees International Union, she is now a payroll specialist for the county. In her first run for public office, Ms. Russell says she'd like to win to strengthen mass transit, which is facing fare increases and service cuts around the state. On other issues, however, she was less informed and less sure of herself.

The veteran candidate is William Robinson, 61, who served in the state House of Representatives for 14 years and, prior to that, on Pittsburgh City Council. While in the House, Mr. Robinson frustrated rather than fostered city development plans like the new stadiums and the rehabilitation of Fifth and Forbes.

This time around, Mr. Robinson says he's willing to see public money used to keep the US Airways hub in Pittsburgh, but not without a written commitment from the airline. He is opposed to the 3 percent car rental tax to support operations at the convention center and build a hotel; he favors instead the legalization of video poker in bars to raise revenue for the center. On whether the county needs 10 elected row offices, he said some consolidation is inevitable and that he would be supportive, as long as key offices like the district attorney, sheriff, treasurer and controller are independently elected.

Ms. Russell agreed with many of Mr. Robinson's points, sounding more like an echo of her opponent than a candidate who had formed her own opinions. Though we do not see eye-to-eye with him, the former legislator is clearly the more knowledgeable of the pair. The Post-Gazette endorses William Robinson for the Democratic nomination.