Jump to content

Bob Cranmer

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 67.165.58.69 (talk) at 03:10, 6 March 2009. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Robert "Bob" W. Cranmer (born 1956, Brentwood, Pennsylvania) is a Pennsylvania businessman and politician, best known as a former Republican County Commissioner of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, from 1996 to 2000.

Career

Cranmer graduated from Brentwood High School in 1974 and Duquesne University in 1978. After service as a United States Army officer, He was elected to Brentwood Council in 1991, where he initiated an economic development corporation which rebuilt the community's primary business district creating "Brentwood Towne Center".[1] In 1994, he was elected Chairman of the Republican Party of Allegheny County and went on to be elected County Commissioner the following year.

As a Commissioner he made several significant changes to county government, reducing county taxes in excess of 50 million dollars per year, reducing county personnel by 18%, reorganizing county government from forty-one departments to six, creating the position of County Manager and a county 911 system, and forming a city/county economic development organization.[2] Being a member of the first Republican majority in Allegheny County government since the Great Depression, Cranmer subsequently split with his Republican running mate Larry Dunn,[3] and formed a governing alliance with Democrat Mike Dawida.[4]

He also led an effort to establish home rule in Allegheny County, which created the position of County Executive and County Council. He also initiated the creation of the Allegheny County Airport Authority to manage the Pittsburgh International Airport.[5]

He was followed in office by Jim Roddey, the first Allegheny County Executive.[6]

Plan B

The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Pirates sports teams shared Three Rivers Stadium from 1970 to 2000. After discussions over the Pittsburgh Pirates building a full-time baseball park, a proposal was made to renovate Three Rivers Stadium into a full-time football facility.[7] Though this met with negative reaction from Steelers ownership, the proposal was used as a "fallback position" that would be used if discussions for a new stadium failed.[8] Steelers ownership stated that failing to build a new stadium would hurt the franchise's chances of signing players who might opt to sign with other teams, such as the other four teams in the Steelers division who had all recently built new football-only stadiums.[9]

Originally, a sales tax increase was proposed to fund three projects: Heinz Field, PNC Park, and an expansion of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. After the rejection of this proposal in a referendum, Cranmer, Mike Dawida and Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy developed Plan B.[10] Similarly controversial, the alternative proposal was labeled Scam B by opponents.[11] The Steelers' pledge toward the new stadium was criticized for being too little, even after it was raised from $50 million to $76.5 million.[12][7] Other local government members criticized the $281 million of public money allocated for Plan B.[13][7] The plan also met with criticism and opposition from Fred Baker, a member of the Regional Assets District Board. When Baker made clear his opposition to the plan, Cranmer asked for his resignation.[14] After resigning, Baker ran for a seat on the new County Council in order to continue opposing Cranmer's plans.[15]

One member of the Allegheny Regional Asset District board called the use of tax dollars "corporate welfare".[16] The plan, totaling $809 million, was approved by the Allegheny Regional Asset District board on July 9, 1998, with $233 million allotted for Heinz Field.[16][17] Shortly after Plan B was approved, the Steelers made a deal with Pittsburgh city officials to stay in the city until at least 2031.[11] The total cost of Heinz Field was $281 million, with the Pittsburgh Steelers paying for all costs over the original budgeted amount.[18]

2003 arrest

On Sep. 14 2003, police were called to Cranmer's home in Brentwood at 11:30 pm by Cranmer's 14 year old son Charles, where Cranmer was arrested after a dispute with his 19 year old son Robert Cranmer Jr.[19] In an affidavit one arresting officer alleged that his son was "in a state of semiconsciousness to the degree that he could not reply to my questioning", and Cranmer admitted at the time to having punched his son in the face. His son was examined by paramedics and taken to Jefferson Memorial Hospital, and Cranmer was charged with simple assault, arraigned in Night Court by Senior District Justice Leonard Boehm and released on his own recognizance the following morning from the Allegheny County Jail.[19]

Cranmer's wife Lesa and son Charles gave statements to police alleging that Cranmer had assaulted his son, following a dispute over the use of Cranmer's bathroom by his son Robert. Cranmer asserted that his actions were in self-defense, and that his son suffered from bipolar disorder which caused him to become violent.[20]

In November 2003 Cranmer's court hearing on the assault charges were postponed for thirty days by the District Justice hearing the case, after the court was told that Cranmer and his family were undergoing counselling.[21] The charges were later dropped.[22]

Lawsuits

In 1998 former investigator in the county public defender's office Geary M. Conley sued Cranmer, his colleage Larry Dunn and Allegheny County, alleging that Cranmer and Dunn fired him in 1996 for political reasons.[23]

In 2009, it was reported that Cranmer was expected to testify in a lawsuit against the county by former county recreation manager Mike Diehl.[24] The lawsuit claimed that Cranmer fired Diehl for political reasons.[25] In February 2009 Cranmer testified at great length that Diehl was dismissed specifically for his mismanagement, in that county employees were living in county-owned homes at reduced rent rates or without paying any rent at all. (As officially reported by the office of the Allegheny County Controller.) Cranmer ordered that Diehl (a 25 year county employee) and the three employees who were living in the houses be dismissed as a result. Despite Cranmer's testimony that his action was in no way related to Diehl’s political affiliation the jury awarded Diehl $144,000 in compensatory damages for emotional distress, embarrassment, harm to his reputation and humiliation.[26]

Preceded by
Tom Foerster
Pete Flaherty
Larry Dunn
County Commissioners
 Mike Dawida
Bob Cranmer
Larry Dunn
County Commissioners
1996–2000 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ "Brentwood, county officials show plans for a new shopping center". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1999-05-15. Retrieved 1999-07-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ "Allegheny County Commissioner Bob Cranmer - Introductory Remarks". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1999-06-15. Retrieved 1999-07-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ "Cranmer, Dunn strengths vary". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1999-01-07. Retrieved 1999-07-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ "Former county commissioner enters county controller's race". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2003-02-15. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  5. ^ "Editorial: Cranmer's county". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1998-09-01. Retrieved 1999-07-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. ^ "Editorial: Cranmer's exit". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1999-01-07. Retrieved 1999-07-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ a b c Cook, Ron (1998-06-22). "Plan B flawed; option is worse". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-04-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ Barnes, Tom (1998-06-18). "Steelers sell bonds to help raise money for new stadium". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-08-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Bouchette, Ed (2001-08-24). "Heinz Field: Standing up to the competition". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-08-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "Plan B". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-04-05. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ a b Dvorchak, Robert (1998-06-21). "A TD for Plan B". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-04-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ Belko, Mark (1998-06-05). "Cranmer still optimistic on Plan B deal". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-08-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ "Team sale would trigger review of public stadium funding". NFL. ESPN.com. 2008-07-16. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  14. ^ "Editorial: Cranmer's leadership". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1998-06-04. Retrieved 1999-07-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  15. ^ "Plan B foe runs for council". 1999-03-04. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  16. ^ a b Barnes, Tom (1998-07-10). "Plan B approved: Play ball!". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-04-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Barnes, Tom (1998-02-11). "Arena won't be part of Plan B". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-04-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ Dulac, Gerry (2001-0-01). "Revenue from premium seating is the coin of the realm in the NFL". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-08-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ a b "Police accuse Cranmer of attacking son". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2003-09-16. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  20. ^ "Police stand by report". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. 2009-09-17. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  21. ^ "Cranmer's assault hearing postponed". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2003-11-26. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  22. ^ "Brentwood Cares -- but about what?". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 2005-04-07. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  23. ^ "County sued by fired investigator". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1998-01-27. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  24. ^ "County sacks 4 in rent dodge workers lived free in park homes". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1999-07-02. Retrieved 2000-08-05. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  25. ^ "Fired county supervisor blames politics". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  26. ^ "Former recreation manager wins $144,000 in lawsuit". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2009-02-19. Retrieved 2009-03-01.

Editorials authored

{{subst:#if:Cranmer, Bob|}} [[Category:{{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:1956}} 

|| UNKNOWN | MISSING = Year of birth missing {{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:}}||LIVING=(living people)}}
| #default = 1956 births

}}]] {{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:}} 

|| LIVING  = 
| MISSING  = 
| UNKNOWN  = 
| #default =

}}

Stub icon

This Pittsburgh-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Stub icon

This article about a Pennsylvania politician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Bob_Cranmer&oldid=275317149"