Candidate for
Commissioner; Township of Mount Lebanon; Ward 1; Democratic Party

My wife, "Ange," and I have lived on Arden Road in Mt. Lebanon for 16 years. We have three children + one at Mt. Lebanon High School, one at Jefferson Middle School and one at Lincoln Elementary. Like most Mt. Lebanon parents we are grateful to live here and are involved in many of our children's activities at school and in the community.

Coaching is one of my favorite ways to spend time with my kids and to meet many wonderful Mt. Lebanon families. For the last 11 years, I've been coaching baseball or basketball, and I've enjoyed every minute.

In addition to my personal experience as a Mt. Lebanon resident, my professional background has prepared me to serve as Commissioner. I have extensive experience in community banking, project financing, community planning, and housing and economic development.

John's Qualifications:

• Twenty-two years in community development with the Federal Home Loan Bank Pittsburgh and a private consulting firm specializing in planning, project financing and advising local governments

• Manages programs that have resulted in 26,000 units of housing and created or retained 5,000 jobs

• Currently serves on nine regional and state-wide boards and committees

• Developed and implemented a community leadership initiative that resulted in more than $121 million of new investments

• Masters' degree in public administration from University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor's degree in business administration from St. Vincent College

FHLBank Pittsburgh is a cooperative (owned by local financial institutions) that provides a steady stream of low-cost funding to local lenders in support of housing finance and community and economic development. The bank is privately funded and capitalized and uses no taxpayer dollars. As of September 30, 2010, the bank had 314 banks in its cooperative and approximately $55 billion in assets.

My group at the FHLBank Pittsburgh manages several self-funded, foundation-like products:

The largest is the Affordable Housing Program (AHP). AHP provides funds for banks to invest in housing for persons with special needs, the elderly, victims of domestic violence and families with limited incomes. Over the past 20 years, the Federal Home Loan Bank Pittsburgh has committed more than $164 million in AHP dollars, helping to build 26,000 units of affordable housing and supporting more than $2.9 billion in total development.

Since 2000, FHLBank Pittsburgh has partnered with local banks to offer the Banking On Business (BOB) program, which is designed to spur economic development and create jobs. BOB supports small businesses starting up or expanding. Since the program's inception, BOB has provided more than $40 million to more than 400 businesses, creating or preserving more than 5,000 jobs in the region.

My team has also created new initiatives to assist communities, banks and residents. In 2005, the FHLBank Pittsburgh launched the Blueprint Communities and My Money, My Life+two programs I am particularly proud to be involved with.

• Blueprint Communities is a revitalization and leadership initiative that serves as a catalyst for creating sustainable communities. The objectives for Blueprint include fostering strong local leadership, collaboration and development capacity; serving as a catalyst for revitalization based on sound local and regional planning; and encouraging coordinated investments by public and private funders. The FHLBank Pittsburgh's investment of approximately $1 million in Blueprint (2005-08) has leveraged more than $121 million of public and private investments in a variety of community development activities in the 41 participating communities.

• My Money, My Life is a successful partnership that provided financial literacy education to 1,000 young adults, 16-19 years old, in Allegheny County over a five-year period.

I received a Master of Science degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from St. Vincent College (Latrobe, PA).

In 2010, I was honored to receive the HOPE Award from Homes Build Hope in Westmoreland County.

In February 2011, I attended the Contemplating Governing course offered by the Local Government Academy.

I am active in the community and serve on numerous boards and committees:

• Appointed by Governor Rendell to the PA Housing Advisory Committee

• Appointed by Governor Rendell to the PA Governor's Advisory Council on Rural Affairs

• Residential Resources, Inc. (served four years as Board Chair)

• Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, currently Vice Chairman of the Board

• Commonwealth Cornerstone Group

• Chairman of Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation's Pennsylvania Steering Committee

• West Virginia Interagency Housing Council

• Landmarks Community Capital Corporation

• Allegheny County Vacant Property Review Committee