A CALL FOR "BALANCED COVERAGE" IN THE TRIB REPORTING PRACTICES

Where's the balance?
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Voters deserve better from the Trib than "Whispers" items when it comes to this year's county commissioners election ("Whispers," Sept. 16 and PghTrib.com). They deserve details of the candidates' positions and records and they most certainly deserve balanced coverage.
Sunday's "Whispers" unfairly characterized our campaign efforts as "name-calling." In sharing information with the Trib about our challengers, Kim Ward and George Dunbar, we questioned their knowledge of county government and their qualifications.
We were responding to the claims of Dunbar, who held a press conference in which he was flat wrong about the state of the county's finances. The other challenger, Ward, missed the opportunity to do the right thing and correct him, and actually supported his misstatements.
Our challengers issue releases full of false information and get full coverage from the Trib. We point out the truth, justifiably point out their records, and are relegated to the back pages. Voters deserve balanced coverage.
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Tom Balya, Westmoreland County commissioner
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Tom Ceraso, Westmoreland County commissioner

This is the text of the entire letter sent to the Trib. The trib edits thier letters to the editor.

This is the text of the entire letter. The trib edits thier letters to the editor. Voters deserve better from the Tribune-Review than "Whispers" items when it comes to this year's election for County Commissioner. They deserve details of the candidates' positions and records, and they most certainly deserve balanced coverage.
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Sunday's "Whispers" unfairly characterized our campaign efforts as "name-calling". In sharing information with the Trib about our challengers, we questioned their knowledge of county government and their qualifications. We were responding to the claims of one challenger who held a press conference in which he was flat wrong about the state of the county's finances. Given his only previous business experience was CFO of a company that is now bankrupt; his views on all matters financial should be viewed with skepticism.
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The other challenger missed the opportunity to do the right thing and correct him, and actually supported his misstatements. Her lack of knowledge about the county, however, is not surprising given that she views the serious business of commissioners as only a part-time job.
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Our challengers issue releases full of false information and get full coverage from the Trib. We point out the truth, justifiably point out their records, and are relegated to the back pages. Voters deserve balanced coverage.
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Sincerely,
Tom Balya and Tom Ceraso
Westmoreland County Commissioners

WESTMORELAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE HONORED RECIPIENTS OF THE 2007 ARTHUR ST. CLAIR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARD

The Westmoreland County commissioners are among the recipients of the 2007 Arthur St. Clair Historic Preservation Awards from the Westmoreland County Historical Society. …
… The awards will be presented at the eighth annual Arthur St. Clair Dinner at 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at Greensburg Country Club in Hempfield. They are given annually to individuals, public or private organizations and businesses or educational institutions that make a significant and sustainable contribution to the preservation of historic places, documents, records or stories. …
… The Westmoreland County commissioners -- Tom Balya, Tom Ceraso and Phil Light -- are being recognized for the leadership to enhance Historic Hanna's Town. When the historical society embarked on plans to construct the History Education Center at Hanna's Town, commissioners provided the seed money for the concept and were the first to commit a significant amount to the capital campaign….
… The public is invited to attend the dinner and the program, but reservations are required. Interested parties should contact the historical society office at 41 West Otterman St., Suite 310 in Greensburg or call 724-836-1800. Tickets are $75 with proceeds benefiting historical society programs. … (Click here to read the full story)

Westmoreland County honored as the Outstanding Advocate for Good Government

Westmoreland County Recognized

by Local Government Academy

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Left to Right: Rob Jones, Steve Bland, Tom Ceraso, Susan Hockenberry

Pittsburgh, PA ---- Westmoreland County was honored as the Outstanding Advocate for Good Government at the Local Government Academy 2007 Recognition Luncheon on Thursday August 16, 2007 at the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania. This annual event recognizes the Local Government Academy’s donors, volunteers, instructors and the achievements of its current group of Municipal Interns.

The Outstanding Advocate for Good Government is an annual award that pays tribute to those whose exceptional leadership has contributed to excellence in local government. Commissioner Tom Ceraso accepted the award on behalf of the County. Susan Hockenberry, Executive Director of the Local Government Academy thanked Westmoreland for their continued support, “Westmoreland County officials and staff are capable and trustworthy stewards of LGA’s mission and values”.

"BEHAVIOR SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS"

Dunbar’s plan

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– ALL TALK and NO ACTION–

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Last week's quotes:
"What we owe the township is a decision," said Commissioner George Dunbar who termed the issue polarizing. "We can no longer sit here and do nothing." Then they sat there and did nothing. More rhetoric from a do nothing guy!

Click here to read this Article the quote is from

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This week's quote:
"We did not endorse E-Z Pass, we endorsed conversation," Commissioner George Dunbar said. "There is no done deal. We have no idea of what (the state agencies') stance is going to be. We need to explore what the options are." ... "Essentially what we want to do is start with a blank page," Dunbar said after the meeting. Then he told the press they did more nothing. More rhetoric from a do nothing guy!

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ELECTING GEORGE DUNBAR WILL BRING ALL TALK AND NO ACTION TO WESTMORELAND COUNTY GOVENMENT?

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GEORGE - LEADERSHIP REQUIRES MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS - NOT DUCKING TIME AFTER TIME, MEETING AFTER MEETING!

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Click here to read this Article the quote is from

CLICK HERE FOR MORE WARD-DUNBAR FOIBLES

Click Here for Supervisor Kim Ward & the Continuing Hempfield Twp. Saga