Russell T. Chiodo – 9/18/05

This page was last updated on September 19, 2005.

Think before you vote; Russell T. Chiodo; Beaver County Times; September 18, 2005.

An editor’s note accompanied the letter stating, “The writer, the retired director of the Beaver County Emergency Management Center, is a Patterson Township commissioner.” He is also a Democrat.

This letter reminds me of the bootlicking letter by Rep. Frank LaGrotta on a different subject. I don’t know Mr. Chiodo. He may be a decent and honorable person, but this letter reads as if a political partisan wrote it.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“This letter is for all who employed the poison pen before engaging their brain in calling for our legislators to be voted out of office because of the pay increases voted for all three branches of our Pennsylvania government.”

[RWC] We’re not engaging our brains when we’re upset that our elected representatives grossly violated our trust?

“If you’re upset over the increases, that is your prerogative and I applaud your right to express that. But why would you advocate throwing the baby out with the bathwater?

“If you look closely at the breakdown, the two local legislators (Sen. Gerald LaValle and Rep. Mike Veon) taking more than their share of the heat received wage increases commensurate with their long years of service and their positions on numerous committees.”

“Very few days go by without The Times reporting grants for this municipality or grants for that proposal.

“Where do these kneejerk [sic] reactionaries think this money comes from for our area?”

[RWC] The question is, where does Mr. Chiodo think this money comes from? It’s our own money after some is skimmed off the top by the General Assembly.

“Definitely not from freshman legislators with no political power, which is what will happen if their espousal of the removal-from-office call is heeded.”

[RWC] Does this mean Mr. Chiodo believes our reps should be elected for life? I wonder if we’d see this letter if the local reps were Republican. <g?

“A new legislator will receive the new wage anyway, and we collectively will lose the ability to bring funds to our region.

“Having a personal relationship with these men was not and is not my motivation to write this letter.”

[RWC] No, not at all, I’m sure. <g>

“Nor was I prompted or urged by either to do so. My strong opinion is because of my knowledge of how much better off the residents of Beaver County are and will be with our present legislators and not any new one-issue candidates.”

[RWC] Sure.

“When the misplaced indignation subsides, the drumbeaters should look at the bigger picture and see that for many, many years, LaValle and Veon have worked tirelessly for their constituents and have genuinely done good things for our area.”

[RWC] “Misplaced indignation?” How is it misplaced to be indignant about a 16% to 34% pay increase that received no public debate and included a pay raise in the current term in violation of the PA Constitution? Further, it appears PA judges were in cahoots with the General Assembly.

I’m sure politicians work hard for their constituents, but what about their districts as a whole? Perhaps Mr. Chiodo should consult a dictionary before he uses constituent in this context.

“Right, wrong or indifferent, don’t let how your legislator voted on a wage increase be the deciding or only factor in your next vote. Vote for the person who has done the most for you.”

[RWC] If we should “vote for the person who has done the most for [us],” that means we should vote only for incumbents. What a joke!