Kendrick running on people power
In a Pittsburgh mayoral race in which campaign spending is expected to top $1 million, Louis "Hop" Kendrick isn't trying to raise money for his candidacy.
He doesn't yet have a committee to help elect him. Kendrick, 73, of East Liberty, said he entered the seven-candidate Democratic field Tuesday as "a candidate for the people."
"I care because somebody has to," he said. "If everybody takes the same attitude, then nothing changes, and all we do is continue to complain and criticize. One of the first things we have to do is restore faith to people in government."
Three leading Democratic contenders for mayor -- former City Council President Bob O'Connor, Allegheny County Prothonotary Michael Lamb and City Councilman William Peduto -- already have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to advertise themselves to voters.
Kendrick said he can't compete with fund raising at that level, but said he will get his message across to city residents at neighborhood meetings, in candidate debates and on radio and television talk shows.
"I saw the tremendous sums of money the candidates have been able to raise, a lot of it from out of town," Kendrick said. "It's obvious to me it's an investment and (contributors) are looking for a return on their investment. That means that the people once again are being ignored.
"I decided that the people need a voice in the mayor's race, and they can look for a return from me; they can make an investment in me."
Kendrick, who grew up in Lawrenceville, took over his father's trucking business in 1954 and operated it with his brother until 1987, when he began a second career in government.
He was an investigator for both the city and Allegheny County, and was director of the county's Office of Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise from 1996 to 2000. Fired when former county Chief Executive Jim Roddey took office and brought in his own administration, Kendrick later lost a wrongful dismissal lawsuit. In 2003, he served an interim appointment on Allegheny County Council.
Kendrick now has a two-year, $56,000 consulting contract with the county Department of Administrative Services. His job primarily is to find opportunities for minorities to take part in government, said Ashley Henry, spokeswoman for Chief Executive Dan Onorato.
Kendrick said he doesn't want to be identified solely as "the black candidate for mayor" with a history of activism in politics and civil rights.
"We working class people need to recognize we've all got a common problem," he said. "If candidates can raise a million dollars, it's not for the benefit of working families."
Kendrick said he will answer questions about specific issues facing the city when he formally kicks off his campaign March 17. But he said he opposes privatization of garbage pickup, fearing it would "put the city at the mercy of one or two companies that would bid on the job."
He also opposes a combined city-county government, but supports merging some government functions for efficiency.
The city's financial problems won't be solved by state-appointed committees unless residents also play a role, Kendrick said. The city's neighborhoods have been neglected, he said.
"Someone has to give people the initiative to want to be part of solving our problems," Kendrick said. "I would (try to) change the mindset of working class people to believe that all things are possible."
Additional Information:
Details
Louis 'Hop' Kendrick
Residence: East Liberty
Age: 73
Family: Wife, Gloria; daughters, Toni, Kim and Jerri; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren
Education: Fifth Avenue High School, Pittsburgh
Job: Consultant, Allegheny County Department of Administrative Services
Salary: $56,000, two-year contract
Experience: Operated family trucking business,1954-1987; investigator with City of Pittsburgh's Office of Professional Responsibility, 1988-1991; investigator, Allegheny County Public Defender's Office, 1991-1996; director, Allegheny County Office of Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, 1996-2000; County Council member, 2003.
