Thursday, January 10, 2013
The new state senator from Mt. Lebanon announces appointments to several senate committees.
Pennsylvania Sen. Matt Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, has been appointed to the state Senate's finance committee. The senator, who earlier this month was sworn into the seat vacated by former Sen. John Pippy, of Moon, was also named to the professional licensure committee; the game and fisheries committee; and the community, economic and recreational development committee. He will also serve as the Democratic chair of the state government committee, according to an announcement from spokeswoman Lauren Hurley. As a state representative, Smith served as the Democratic vice chair of the House finance committee. Smith's district includes Bridgeville, Collier and most of the South Hills of Pittsburgh.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Matt Smith was at the state Capitol in Harrisburg for the unusual New Year’s Day swearing-in ceremony to become the new state senator of the 37th District.
Matt Smith’s New Year's Day celebration got off to a good start Tuesday afternoon when he was sworn in as the area’s new state senator. Smith, who previously was a three-term state representative for most of the South Hills, was at the state Capitol in Harrisburg with friends and family for the unusual New Year’s Day swearing-in ceremony. The Mt. Lebanon Democrat takes over the 37th state Senate seat vacated by the retirement of John Pippy, a Republican from Moon Township. Smith defeated D. Raja, a Republican from Mt. Lebanon, in the November election to win the senate seat. “It has been an amazing and humbling journey to arrive at this moment,” Smith said in a statement. “I am thankful to reach this milestone and look forward to returning…
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Matt Smith defeated D. Raja for Pennsylvania State Senate with 53% of the vote.
Matt Smith bear hugged supporters and feverishly pumped hit arms in the air moments after learning he had won election to the Pennsylvania State Senate. The normally subdued 3-term state representative showed more emotion than usual after a hard-fought battle against fellow Mt. Lebanon resident D. Raja. Smith takes over the seat formerly held by John Pippy. The district wraps around the South Hills of Pittsburgh from Peters Township up to Findlay. “When you have a message that resonates, then that will trump money every day of the week,” Smith said about being outspent 3-to-1 on the airwaves. “The message we have is resonating with people.” Smith, standing with his wife, Eileen, and three young children, Delaney, Emerson and Jameson, …
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
The state Senate candidates in the 37th District talked about Marcellus shale gas and public education during the event hosted by the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce.
Candidates vying for the seat in the state's 37th Senate District said they support Marcellus shale drilling in the region, but contrast on ways to correct public funding issues in the state's school districts. D. Raja, a Republican business owner and former Mt. Lebanon commissioner, faced off Friday with state Rep. Matt Smith, of Mt. Lebanon, during the first candidate forum of the race. The candidates fielded questions from constituents during the forum, hosted by the Pittsburgh Area Chamber of Commerce at the Tonidale in North Fayette. Raja and Smith seek to replace former Sen. John Pippy, R-Moon, who resigned from his seat in June. The 911th Airlift Wing: The next senator for the state's 37th senatorial district must work to …
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
The Republican from Shaler Township scored a decisive win over Democrat Sharon Brown.
Republican Randy Vulakovich won Tuesday's special election and will fill the 40th District state senatorial seat formerly held by Jane Orie. With 93 percent of precincts reporting in Allegheny County, Vulakovich has 11,010 votes (71 percent) and Brown has 4,325 (28 percent). In southern Butler County, Vulakovich won 4,118 votes (75 percent) over Democrat Dr. Sharon Brown's 1,638 votes (23 percent). Wexford businessman Don Bindas also launched a write-in campaign for the seat. The Butler results show 82 write-in votes, but it does not specify whose names were written in. The Allegheny results show 159 write-in votes. Voting was light in the 40th District—which covers parts of Allegheny and southern Butler counties. Vulakovich is joined by …
Saturday, July 14, 2012
State Rep. Matt Smith announced he will seek the Democratic nomination to replace former state Sen. John Pippy.
In what might have been the worst kept political secret this election season, state Rep. Matt Smith announced he will seek the Democratic nomination to replace former state Sen. John Pippy. The three-term Democratic representative must go through the Allegheny and Washington counties Democratic committees nomination processes after Greg Parks withdrew his name from the race late last month. That allowed Smith to throw his name into the ring to be the likely challenger running against Republican nominee D. Raja. Both men live in Mt. Lebanon. “I committed myself from my first campaign forward to being a champion of government reform and accountability, job creation and smart, fair tax policies,” Smith said. “While we have made great strides…
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley will have to decide whether to hold a special election to fill the last few months of John Pippy’s senate term.
State Sen. John Pippy’s resignation could leave his constituents without a senator for the next six months. According to state law, if a senate vacancy happens less than seven months before the expiration of the term, Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley has 10 days to decide if there should be a special election or let the seat remain empty. Pippy, R-Moon, resigned from his position over the weekend after voting on the budget. However, his district and capital staff members are expected to remain intact to assist constituents. With less than six months left until the term expires, Cawley will have to decide if a special election is “in the public interest,” according to state law. Matthew Keeler, a spokesman for the state Department of State, said Cawley …
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
D. Raja crushed state Rep. Mark Mustio and Sue Means after a bitter campaign battle.
Mt. Lebanon business owner D. Raja grabbed the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania's 37th senatorial district in Tuesday's primary. Raja, who is vying to replace outgoing state Sen. John Pippy, R-Moon, won the GOP nomination with more than 40 percent of the vote, according to unofficial returns. No Democrat has entered the race for the seat but Pleasant Hills Democrat Greg Parks has indicated that he will run as a write-in candidate, according to the Raja campaign. Raja and his supporters are now gathered at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Pittsburgh. His opponent, state Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, conceded the race. "Tomorrow is when the real work begins," Raja said of the general election. "I was thinking we were going to have tonight to …
Thursday, April 19, 2012
D. Raja, Sue Means and state Rep. Mark Mustio are vying to replace outgoing state Sen. John Pippy.
The three candidates competing for the 37th district state Senate seat to replace outgoing Sen. John Pippy convened April 10 at Peters Township Middle School for a debate. Former Mt. Lebanon Commissioner D. Raja, Sue Means of Bethel Park and state Rep. Mark Mustio, of Moon Township, answered questions—both broad and specific—concerning their role if they took office and their stance on issues concerning area residents. The three candidates will face-off in the primary election on April 24. Means, who has a background in nursing, said she’s running because she’s concerned about the direction of our country and the “out-of-control spending” in Harrisburg. “Our state is sick,” she said. “Our government is infected with parasites. It’s an over…
Monday, January 30, 2012
Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, told Patch he will run for Sen. Pippy's seat in the 37th senatorial district.
State Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, said he will vie for departing Sen. John Pippy's seat in the November race. Mustio's bid for the 37th state senatorial district comes on the heels Allegheny Councilman Vince Gastgeb's announcement that he will end his campaign for Pippy's seat just five days after it began. Mustio, who last week endorsed Gastgeb, said he chose to enter the race after the county councilman said he would no longer seek Pippy's seat. Pippy, of Moon, said last week that he will not run for re-election in the November race. "Yes it is (a result of Gastgeb's departure)," Mustio said. "There were people who had approached me about it along the way. Me and (state Rep.) John Maher and Vince (Gastgeb) had talked about it. "It was …
40.505318
-80.207389
State Rep. Mark Mustio
1009 Beaver Grade Rd Ste 220, Moon Township, PA
/articles/mustio-to-run-for-pippy-s-senate-seat
1795603
/locations/6279593
40.381426
-80.044285
State Sen. John Pippy
650 Washington Rd, Pittsburgh, PA
/articles/mustio-to-run-for-pippy-s-senate-seat
1857832
/locations/6279594
Charles Addleman
5:02 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
He should run for school board. more ›