Letter to the Editor: Win-Win in 37th District Race

To the Editor:

The 37th State Senatorial District, which includes my community of Upper Saint Clair, enjoys an unusual phenomenon in the upcoming election, the candidacies of two accomplished, fine, and decent men.

I have supported Republican D. Raja in his last two bids for office, confident that he would bring the good, common sense and financial acumen of a skilled, successful entrepreneur to state government, a perspective which is sorely needed in a body which – like the federal government, the Upper Saint Clair School Board and Board of Commissioners – has consistently demonstrated the proclivity to overtax and overspend.

Despite the slanderous and despicable intra-party campaign waged against him in this year's primary election, Mr. Raja has been a great American, providing a multitude of jobs for individuals both here in the United States and in his native India. He has achieved the American dream not through simply being "fortunate," as many liberals characterize the prosperous, but through hard work, intelligence, education, and talent. He and his family are precisely the type of individuals whom we need to attract and welcome to our country.

I have come to know Democratic challenger Matt Smith personally and consider him a valued friend. He has reached out to me, demonstrating respect and deference to me and my concerns. We have met to discuss issues and are often in contact by e-mail.  He is an intelligent, astute, dignified, reasonable hard-working person, a middle of the road Democrat who works with those on both sides of the aisle.

Rep. Smith had the courage and decency to do the right thing in calling for the resignation of then-Speaker House member H. William DeWeese at a time when doing so posed great risk to him and his District in the eyes of those that wield power and who have the ability to cut off a House member from appropriations. Multiple felon DeWeese, of course, is currently cooling his heels in jail along with another former Speaker and multiple felon, fake Republican John Perzel.

I will be monitoring the Raja and Smith campaigns for accuracy and decency. Knowing what I do of both men, I am hopeful and optimistic that their bids for this important seat will bring honor to them.

However the race for the State Senate in the 37th District plays out, the voters will be represented by someone of whom they may be proud!

Oren Spiegler
Upper St. Clair