GSPC Qs and As

=Source of Questions: GSPC=
* Gertrude Stein Club web site
==1. What is the office sought?==
Pgh city council, district 3.
== 2. Give your name, address, phone, fax, and e-mail address.==
Mark Rauterkus
108 South 12th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
voice: 412 298 3432 NO FAX
Mark@Rauterkus.com
==3. What is your experience in government, politics, and public issues?==
Ran for Mayor, City of Pittsburgh, 2001 GOP primary, because I hated
what Tom Murphy was doing to our city.
Ran for PA Senate, May 2005, special election.
Board member for City of Pgh GOP party for 3 years, appointed by
chairman, in early 2000s.
Elected at-large Allegheny County Libertarian Party Board member in 2005.
Vice-Chair Libertarian Party of Allegheny County in 2006.
Called public hearing for city council starting in 1999 regarding the
closing of Pitt Stadium and the move into South Side for football
practice facility owned by nonprofit UPMC and rented to the Steelers.
That was my first public scrum with the system's status quo.
Called a public hearing to de-rail Peduto's campaign finance reform
measure in 2004 as he mounted a campaign for Dem endorsement vs. Bob
O'Connor. His measure was then tabled, with support of League of Women
Voters and Common Cause. Later invited to the campaign finance reform
task force by Bill Peduto. Our work product has not seen the light of
day, despite my continual objections.
Part of the City of Pittsburgh Aquatic Task Force. Such a joke. City
would then close all pools at end of 2003.
Pushed hard with SOS efforts (Save Our Summer), 2004. Made a TV show
for PCTV 21.
Released a 100-page position paper on the formation of a Pittsburgh
Park District in 2004. Asking for a government model like Illinois.
One of the key leaders in the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network's
(PIIN) Youth Task Force and called Mayor Murphy to allow us to, at no
cost to the city, install 6 computer labs each with 4 PCs into rec
centers around the city. This request was denied in 2002, before a
full house in a church in the Hill District. This was PIIN's first
public demands of politicians.
Helped with the Great Race Alternative -- after the City of Pgh Great
Race was cut by Mayor to create a bigger crisis.
Saved the Swim Team in 1999 that had a long-term lease at Oliver Bath
House and Highland Park Pool -- with city. Team later moved to
Schenley H.S. and now operates at the Kingsley Assn pool.
Board member and long-time coach at Citipark's Market House, and the
Childrens' Athletic Assn. Coached dozens of teams for nearly 10 years.
Started the swim team at Phillips Elem School in 2005 with the P.E. teacher.
Board member of Green Tree Swim Team, summers. Also a volunteer coach
for 4 years.
Board member of Carlynton Swim Team, winters. Also a paid coach, part
time, for 2 years.
Organized meetings about the now closed indoor ice rink on the South Side.
Active blogger and organizer on many fronts with many citizens and
groups about local and regional political issues.
http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com
My political blogging is greater than all that of other politicians
and candidates in SW PA combined.
Publishes the Platform.For-Pgh.org/wiki/ now more than 300 pages of
technical content about solutions and issues to help Pittsburgh.
Helped with many Ground Zero efforts, including a writer and actor
with The Art of News, and helped by suggesting the Depot at the Flux
events, performer at Making a Scene, and drank beer or two at The
Chart Room on Thursday, trying to save Pgh one beer at a time.
Worked on the Downtown Pgh Collaborative, plan A, B, C, and D.... (I
think). Sala's meeting were then broken down into marketing and other
issues, and I attended most of those public meetings.
Visible against the arrival of Act 47 and other overlords into
Pittsburgh's landscape.
Worked on SOS (Save Our Stadium) with many old-timers of Pitt Football.
Hosted a 9-11 concert and performance, TV filmed at Club Cafe.
Hosted other community concerts and workshops including one where a
2004 presidential candidate spoke to in Mt. Washington. Byron Davis, a
black Olympic swimming hopeful came to the citiparks' championship
swim meet because of my involvement.
Spoke to PA House Committees and Allegheny County Council -- on many
instances including the end of eminent domain abuse and the frail
voting machines.
Spoke to the Pgh Public School Board on many instances including the
right-sizing plan, the need to not sell South Vo Tech, the wish to
phase out school closings (including South Vo Tech), the end of the
Gifted Education program and the need to have our city kids play
day-to-day within the WPIAL vs. suburban schools.
Webmaster for many years at my Unitarian Universalist faith community,
Sunnyhill.org. Helped in publishing that newsletter for prior years
too.
Worked at many school districts (Fox Chapel, Plum, Canon Mac, New
Trier, Evanston) and private universities, (Bradley Univ, Harvard
Univ), religious university (Baylor Univ), public universities (Ohio
Univ.), public organization (Peoria Park District) and other
nonprofits (Carnegie Library of Homestead, Swim Clubs). Plus, I've got
a large list of consulting efforts for gratis (Netscape, Adobe) and
I've been a worker in many private companies, including my own (for 10
years). I have a wide range of work experiences in the private and
public sector with middle and upper management responsibilities.
== 4. In approving appointments and/or staff hiring, do you support a policy of nondiscrimination toward sexual minorities?==
YES.
== 5. Do you support the enactment of laws amending anti-discrimination statutes to protect the rights of sexual minority people? If so, what specifically would you be willing to do to secure their passage, implementation, and enforcement?== 
Freedom, Liberty and Justice for ALL matters greatly. It is perhaps,
one of my most frequently stated expressions in this campaign. We got
T-shirts last week that say, "Liberty XL, One size fits all.
Pittsburgh, 2006."
We need to keep precious every one's rights. Liberty is very important
to me -- as I'm a Libertarian.
To secure liberty, now, we need to focus on it. Now, our focus is on
things that government should NOT be doing, like building downtown
malls, hockey arenas, gambling casinos, and other silly big-ticket
projects that won't help our city.
Diversity is a by-product of freedom. Government has a duty to defend
and protect freedoms, not give-a-ways to political friends, including
neighborhood groups.
==6. Do you support domestic partnership benefits?==
Yes.
==7. What is your position on civil marriage for same-sex couples?==
Marriage is a religious sacrament -- and I'm a Unitarian Universalist.
So, I've been to and support the notion of same sex marriage, as a
religious event. A Catholic can't do the same, by any stretch of the
imagination.
== 8. What is your position on the right of sexual minority people to be considered on their individual merits in custody and adoption matters?==
We need to give a lot of extra care to our youngest folks. We are
failing our kids. I am one who wants to focus on the kids and
children, more so than anyone on Grant Street has ever done in the
past. I'm glad you ask about kids. This is the 2nd precious priority
of mine -- beside Liberty. Kids and Liberty are where I'm the
strongest.
So, I have no problems with anyone who is a good and willing parent to
adopt a kid, including sexual minority people.
== 9. What is your position on bullying among young people and do you see any judicial remedies?==
The young people need to be coached. Good behaviors must be learned
and taught -- in many different avenues. Our Rec Centers are not doing
the job at all. Our schools and kids need more community support. Same
too with the judicial remedies. But, more challenges in other areas
would end the silliness with the kids.
I don't mind gangs with our kids -- if they are gangs that we control.
I know that a kid with a 6 am swim practice and a goal of going to
states isn't going to be out past 10 pm causing trouble on the
streets.
Kid's with spray paint cans, or other markers, are not given enough
canvas in life, say on the internet, to express themselves in creative
ways. We can't crack down with punishments and expect to fix things.
We need more creative outlets for the kids, supervised as necessary.
But, these are creative, volunteer fixes that teach people how to play
well with others.
Our city is HORRID at playing well with others. And, that is the root
of the problem for Pittsburgh -- and I dare say -- the root of the
challenge put forth with the GSPC too. If we just played well with
others -- things would be smooth. And, peace would result. And, this
is HARD WORK to wage peace. Libertarians know that you don't drop
bombs onto your customers.
You know, our asphalt playgrounds (research proves) at our schools
help to encourage the bully-like behaviors. I nearly published a book
on playgrounds and this question you ask -- when I was a book
publisher with my own company. We did publish a book for
hearing-impaired kids to get them out for their scholastic sports
teams. So, I've done high-level advocate work that has had national
impacts.
== 10. Do you favor government support for AIDS prevention programs, including needle exchange?== 
YES. This was a part of my statements back in 2001.
== 11. Do you support access to insured medical care for transgendered persons, including hormone therapy and sexual reassignment surgery?==
I'm not an insurance executive. But, I've got a better solution. Let's
get behind the Ferlo sponsored single payer PA bill now introduced in
the PA Senate. We don't need to have health care linked to employment.
That hurts our businesses, our people, our hospitals and our state's
economy. We need state-wide single payer programs, and this is not
going to work on a national level.
== 12. What is your position on preserving a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion?==
I think that we should keep the rights that are there today as they are.
== 13. What measures would you support aimed at the elimination of rape and domestic violence?== 
Should we issue a news release that the heat in hell is going to due
for an increase due to global warming?
I'd rather not fund Lord & Taylor and Lazarus (pun) department stores
-- and instead be sure that we have safe houses, computers in those
safe places for kids to do their homework, and other humanistic
helping efforts that government should do for its citizens in times of
dire need.
As we "lay the shovel down" on the big ticket silliness, like the
tunnel under the river to the lower North Side to serve the stadiums,
then we'll be able to give the focus to the things that I -- and you
at GSPC -- care about most.
== 14. What is your position on pay equity and comparable worth?==
My wife is a professor, Ph.D researchers, director at UMPC -- and a
mom. I have four younger sisters. I've been a stay-at-home dad. This
topic is near and dear to me. No others will be as strong on this
topic as I am.
== 15. What is your position on affirmative action to combat racism and sexism?==
I stood with the Black Trade Unions as ground was broken on the North
Side as PNC Park building began. The pass-through contracts to
black-owned and women-owned building contracts was a joke under Mayor
Murphy. This was a serious problem and I put up some serious
objections to those prior practices.
None of the others in this race for city council lifted a finger on
these matters.
The B-PEP folks have a good understanding of the struggle in the
schools too. I care that the kids in The Hill have a good chance to
get to school in a safe setting, and such. Westinghouse and Peabody
should be turned into single gender schools, and I said this at Rev.
Monroe's church when they hosted meetings in recent months.
The poor in Pittsburgh, mostly the black poor, have been given a bad
deal. Same too for their kids. I want to give them computers, wireless
networks, and challenge them with open-source software, youth
technology summits and opportunities to learn how to play well with
others -- even in the suburban schools too.
We should not be excited to do subsidized housing for rick folks
downtown, or at Sommerset at Frick. That's wrong when we are doing so
little for the most affordable levels of housing. I understand the
needs of the free summer lunch program and the efforts at Just Harvest
-- and that's what should be the focus of city government.
I'm a LIBERTARIAN and a UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST -- both in name and
acts. I have a history of work in the community, of defending freedoms
and with the most vulnerable in our community, especially the kids.