Nov 8, 2011 - Election Guide County Offices

County Council

District 1 – most of Millcreek Township (districts 2-10, 12-17, 22, 23, 24)

Phil Fatica (Incumbent)

Residence: He resides in Millcreek with his wife, Kathy.

Background: Served on County Council for the past 4 years.

Website/Facebook page? Yes. He has a Facebook page The information on his Facebook page is the same as the information on his mailed flyer.

Excerpts from flyer:”is an advocate for the Millcreek Paramedic Service and volunteer firefighters.”…“He has consistently fought for no tax increases and has supported initiatives to grow the economy in the Erie Community”.

Pleasant Ridge Manor: Per recent 10/30/11 ETN article - Phil Fatica favors consolidating the East and West Pleasant Ridge Manors facilities into the current building for Pleasant Ridge West. He also suggests making necessary repairs to Pleasant Ridge-West such as installing required sprinkler systems, roofing, etc. This plan could cost up to $6.7 million. Phil stated “We can’t be delaying this any longer…We have to make some decisions…This is my suggestion.”

Summary: Considering the plans to build a brand new Pleasant Ridge complex would cost more than $60 million dollars with interest, I’d say Phil’s plan is just a little more common sense than the “build a new complex” plan.

Rebecca Styn

Residence: Lifelong Erie resident.

Background: Currently, marketing director for Medical Associates of Erie. Sits on numerous boards around Erie

Website/Facebook page? Yes. Facebook page and a website – www.voterebeccastyn.com.

Why are you running for county council? From her website: “Simply, I love change. I believe anything and everything must grow and evolve. Nothing should remain stagnant, especially our community, and even government. No matter how wonderful or tragic life is, we must move forward.”

Excerpts from her website: We need to continue to create a nest-egg of financial capital. I support the use of County gaming funds to create a $700,000 economic pool to provide seed capital for technology start-up companies. This pool should be increased and Erie County should project a national image of itself as a hub for young entrepreneurs. …Erie County must continue to act as a supportive partner for the region's dynamic arts and culture scene.

Note: I would love to know her stances on the Community College and Pleasant Ridge. What I did get out of her website led me to believe that she is a huge supporter of “the Arts” and she wants us to use gaming funds to create a $700,000 economic pool. Sound good? You decide.

Summary: I don’t personally prescribe to Rebecca Styn’s vision of embracing “change” in the government - probably because it sounds like more spending. Also, she has a lot of community fundraising experience, but I question whether that will translate into sound, economical decisions for Erie County.

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District 3 - Erie's 2nd Ward, District 8; Erie's 3rd Ward, Districts 2, 6, and 7; Erie's 5th Ward, Districts 1, 2, 11, and 20; Erie's 6th Ward, all 17 Districts; and Millcreek Township, Districts 11, 18, 19, and 20

Fiore Leone (Incumbent)

Residence:

West 32^nd St, Erie

Background: Erie County councilman for the past 24 years (he is way over his term limit)

Website/Facebook Page? No.

Summary: I am not in his district so I wouldn’t receive his flyers and because of a lack of website/facebook page, I don’t have any information on the candidate.

Darlene Kenny

Residence:

3017 Washington Ave, Erie 16508

Background: Her family moved to Erie’s Little Italy back in 1964. She has 20 years in the healthcare field - including 6 years teaching in post secondary education.

Website/Facebook page: Yes. http://www.electdarlenekenny.com/

Summary: Per her website, “I would like the opportunity to help our community grow and keep our property taxes down.”

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County Controller

Mary Schaaf

Website or Facebook Page? Yes. She has a Facebook page.

Bio: Lifetime resident of Erie County. Retired vice president and senior financial adviser with Merrill Lynch

Education:        B.A. Mercyhurst College, Math & Education / Master’s Degree from Edinboro University

Donald T. Regan School of Financial Management / Wharton School of Finance, University of PA

Experience:     33 years as Financial Advisor & Portfolio Performance Specialist

                        First Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor

                        Adjunct Faculty Member at Mercyhurst College

                        Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Quote from 5/14/11 goerie.com article: “Erie County needs an independent, experienced financial expert to (watch) tax dollars," Schaaf said. "The county is a business. We must be accountable for every dollar of taxpayer money that is spent."…she says she is the one candidate in the race "who has never been employed in the government sector. That gives me an unbiased view. I am not tied to any political entities."

Quotes from Flyers: “It’s Your county – Your money”

Quote from Facebook Page: “I will hold elected officials accountable for every dollar they spend…”

Casimir Kwitowski

Website or Facebook Page? No. I could not find a Facebook page or website.

Bio: Native of Erie. Majored in Accounting at Gannon University. Cas was a bookkeeper and credit manager for a local plumbing concern for 28 years prior to his present position.

Experience: Erie City School Board 1996 - 2002

                        Erie City Controller 2002 - today

Note: The information provided above for Casimir was from the city of Erie’s website http://www.erie.pa.us/.  
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**Sources: Smartvoter.org, People for Life Erie Candidate Survey, Pennsylvania Pro-Life, Firearms Owners Against Crime, Pennsylvania Family Institute Survey, http://www.eriecountygov.org/, Erie Times News