I have the experience to serve on this court

Last Thursday, the Post-Gazette editorial board endorsed candidates for Commonwealth Court ("Split Ticket," Oct. 22). In so doing, a statement was made concerning the areas of the law helpful for serving on the court. Unfortunately, an inaccuracy was stated about my professional experience. No mention was made about my 32 years of practical experience as a lawyer successfully representing individuals in workers' compensation, unemployment and consumer protection law claims, insurance regulation issues, zoning fights, land use issues and election challenges -- all of which are heard by the Commonwealth Court.

Our late mayor, Bob O'Connor, appointed me to serve as a commissioner with the City of Pittsburgh Department of Planning. As a commissioner I participated in decisions on the Rivers Casino, the August Wilson Center for African American Culture and the new ice hockey arena. The experience on the planning commission in making land use decisions along with my experience in the private practice of the law encouraged me to run for Commonwealth Court.

My interest in good government runs deeply. For 28 years I have held positions with the Allegheny County and Pennsylvania Democratic Committee, including being elected the first woman chair of the city committee. Of course, politics stop at the courthouse door, and I have resigned all political positions in order to be a candidate.

As a mother of three Eagle Scouts and the wife of my high school sweetheart, Daniel Ernsberger, I will bring compassion, caring and experience to the Commonwealth Court. My endorsements include labor, veterans and progressive groups across Pennsylvania.

BARBARA BEHREND-ERNSBERGER
Shadyside

Media failing us

It's less than a week until the mayoral election and a majority of Pittsburghers don't even know the names of the two independent candidates running for mayor, let alone their positions on the issues.

Whose fault is that? Are we that apathetic? Or is it impossible to run a successful political campaign without gobs of money for advertising?

Isn't it the responsibility of the media to bring those candidates into our homes? Why must the evening news be about hype and sensationalism without substance? We know about a road rage incident on the Parkway East but is that going to help us balance the city's budget and stay the exodus of young people?

I don't want another four years of a rock-star wannabe mayor more concerned with having his picture taken with the Obamas than with the financial well-being of this city. I want an Ivy League-educated mayor who would have had the sense to commission a panel to determine the feasibility of bringing the G-20 summit here before saying, "Sure!"

I thirst for a mayor who is more passionate about the people in the city than about filling his scrapbook with pictures of himself and the Super Bowl champions or the Stanley Cup winners -- a leader who knows the difference between right and wrong and doesn't need to be told that it's inappropriate to drive a federally owned, Department of Homeland Security vehicle to a Toby Keith concert.

Is that Kevin Acklin or Dok Harris? We don't know, because the media didn't think this election was important enough to cover until recently and it's just too late.

DAVID GROH
Green Tree City

His slime tactics

State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe is a one-man Swift Boater, sliming millions of veterans who don't agree with his Neanderthal beliefs ("Metcalfe Defends Harsh Talk About Vets on Climate," Oct. 21). As one of the millions he slimed, I defend his constitutional right to speak his mind. Too bad he doesn't defend our rights. Shame on Daryl Metcalfe.

WILLIAM BEHREND
Oakland

The writer is a World War II veteran.

Publicity generator

I think all your letter writers have given state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe way too much credit and ink. This is a typical Metcalfe strategy to get all the free publicity he can. Apparently his latest outrageous rants have worked well.

Cranberry Township projects itself as being so progressive, and in many ways it is. Yet, the paradox here is that we are being represented by a Neanderthal thinker -- Daryl Metcalfe. People of Cranberry, wake up!

CLARA HANNY
JOAN STRUEBER
Cranberry

The climate hoax

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe is 100 percent correct in his opposition to the military group "Operation Free" for pushing global warming. Global warming is a complete hoax and has not been proved otherwise.

Al Gore and other political cronies who are promoting global warming are doing so only to fatten their bank accounts. Al Gore has refused to debate or discuss global warming with anyone knowledgeable on the subject. He has the far left firmly in his pocket and his net worth climbed from $2 million to $100 million due to his phony propaganda. However, he will not be satisfied until his net worth reaches the billion-dollar mark, which won't take long with President Barack Obama and the rest of the far left trying to pass cap-and-trade legislation.

Cap and trade will do nothing but raise taxes on hard-working Americans and make Al Gore and other political cronies billionaires. Global warming is leftist propaganda and one big hoax.

VINCE ODDO
Greensburg

The larger issues

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe did seem to have a Bidenesque moment when he referred to the traveling veterans' 21-state show as traitorous. However, I had questions concerning these vets, God bless them.

It does take some money to tour 21 states. Who paid for it? And what is Operation Free's credibility concerning the issue of global warming? Do its members think that because they are veterans they have special insight into the issue?

I admit that because they are citizens they have a right to express their opinion. But the issue of global warming is far from settled, and in fact the evidence seems to be going against Operation Free at the present time.

And didn't Rep. Metcalfe start his statement, by saying "As a veteran ..."? I believe he still has freedom of speech, doesn't he? The comment should have been ignored by his constituents.

We should look into drilling for oil and natural gas. And the Post-Gazette should concentrate on larger issues, like what is the evidence for and against global warming.

JOHN W. VALENTINE
Seven Fields

Wrong and wrong

While Operation Free's assertion that there is any correlation between global warming and national security threats are comical and quite frankly preposterous -- similar in scope to the religious right's claims in the recent past that "intelligent design" has anything to do with real science -- that still does not excuse state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe equally outlandishly calling these veterans traitors because they disagree with him. Two wrongs truly don't make a right!

BART DONNELLY
Mount Washington

Help us keep better tabs on all government

Thank you for publishing the results of what my senators, congressmen and state representatives are voting for. It lets me know what they are up to.

Now if you could go just a few steps further, I would be thrilled. On the same page as the vote tally, let me know what the Pittsburgh City Council voted on and Allegheny County Council as well.

Additionally, please publish weekly on that same page what is happening politically in the coming week. For example, I learned after the fact that the Army Corps of Engineers met. A bunch of representatives (300 or so) of the coal industry showed up to lobby for mountaintop removal mining ("Coal Mining Backers Dig In," Oct. 16) with no responsibility for cleaning up their mess. If I had known that was happening, I would have attended. As it turns out, it was mentioned in an Oct. 8 story, but it would have been helpful to see it in a listing of upcoming government meetings.

You could include all of this on one page. Call it Local Government. We can't keep an eye on our politicians if we don't know what they are up to.

THOMAS CROWN
Lawrenceville

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