Dormont Council Incumbents: Mailings Amount to Smear Tactics

At first glance, the anonymous mailings some Dormont residents received Friday appear to praise current council members. But incumbent candidates say these mailings are an effort to draw a false affiliation between council and urging residents to impeach the mayor.

The return address listed on the mailings—Concerned Dormont Residents,
Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15216—is identical to the return address on the postcards Mayor Tom Lloyd a few weeks ago.

“Dormont is on the right track thanks to council,” the mailings read, giving a list of council members’ addresses and phone numbers. Joan Hodson is the only council member not listed.

On the back, the cards list achievements such as “No tax increases for the last 4 years” and “Police officers now walk the beat and patrol the Borough again.”

But in the bottom right corner, a more tongue-in-cheek jab at council reads: “Add 35% in benefits on top of these crazy salaries.” The mailing goes on to list some borough-paid salaries from 2008 to 2010.

Councilman John Maggio, who faces , said he has "no idea" who is behind the mailings.

“It just upsets me that this is going on,” Maggio said.

Councilman Drew Lehman, Tuesday, also denied any connection to the mailings, which he'd heard of but hadn’t yet seen.

“It’s just ridiculous,” Lehman said. “I’m hoping everyone sees right through this charade.”

Noting the political tension that continues to escalate in the borough—just this week, former Police Chief Phil Ross against Lehman and council President Kim Lusardi, among other council members—Lehman said he thinks the mailer has it out for council.

“We’re running against a group that really doesn’t like us,” he said.

“I may lose the election,” Lehman added. “But I’m not going to lose my integrity.”

Lusardi, who has denied connection to the “Impeach Dormont Mayor Tom Lloyd” mailings previously, could not be reached for comment immediately.

Joan Hodson, whose term expires in 2014 and whose husband James is running for council, is the only council member not listed anywhere on the mailing. Neither Hodson could be reached for comment immediately.