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Editorial: Choice in District 10 Simms is the most impressive of four Democrats Monday, May 03, 1999 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Everybody running for office in Allegheny County emphasizes the need for economic development and job growth. But residents of the new County Council District 10 understand that need on a profound level.
In Wilkinsburg and many of the eastern city of Pittsburgh neighborhoods that make up the district, boarded-up shops and jobless men hanging out on street corners are part of the texture of daily life. Fifteen of the 20 Pittsburgh neighborhoods in the district have poverty rates above 25 percent.
The good news for voters is that all four Democrats seeking election to the new county council in District 10 recognize the need and credibly promise to address it. Their backgrounds are diverse but their stands on the issues and approach to government are similar. (No Republicans are on the ballot in District 10.)
Charles D. Conley, 69, of Lincoln-Lemington worked for U.S. Steel for many years and now is a private consultant with international business experience. He is not afraid to admit the truth that taxes, by providing services to those who have little, are a good and not an evil.
He considers it an advantage that he is the only candidate who has not been involved in local politics. We're not convinced. Experience and political savvy can help a representative gain footing on the new board. We are also troubled about his unwillingness to talk in specifics.
Vaughn Vincent Hill Jr. of Homewood worked 17 years with the county in conjunction with federal programs, and now works part time to help senior citizens get jobs. He knows the county well. However, besides his desire to legalize poker machines so that the revenue can be taxed (an approach we don't endorse) and his suggestion that community college open shop in high-rises to teach computer skills to the residents (we're not exactly clear on why), his rhetoric tends to be general and his proposals amorphous.
Lois M. Cain, 61, of the Hill District operates a human services/job readiness consultation business. She has a master's degree in social work, is a community organizer and is notable for her emphasis on health and human services, which have not attracted much attention this election season. She is serious-minded and is now poised to work for change, but we question her judgment in initially opposing the home rule charter.
In the midst of a strong field, James E. Simms, 55, of the Hill District, stands out. A 27-year city employee with a doctorate from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, he now serves as minister at St. Paul's Baptist Church in North Point Breeze.
It's not that his stand on the issues is so different, but it is the knowledge from which he speaks, the authority he conveys, the common sense behind his words.
He talks about the importance of bringing economic development but realizes how difficult it will be to insist that jobs be located within District 10. So, he says, the Port Authority must play a vital role in getting people to the new jobs. He believes the city must remain vital but understands that regional planning and growth are also crucial.
Finally, he notes that for many African Americans the government provided employment and advancement opportunities when avenues within private industry were closed. He wants to make sure that such opportunities remain.
James E. Simms brings a lot to the table, and wins our endorsement.
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