The man with connections

[Bravo Zulu]

Patrick Risha
Former superintendent Patrick A. Risha worked repeatedly with contractors whose relationships have included business and political aspects.

When electrician Thomas Kostovny met Patrick A. Risha in the parking lot of West Mifflin Area High School, he lost part of his livelihood.

Mr. Kostovny was changing bulbs outside the school a few years back when a black SUV pulled up beside him.

A man got out, said Mr. Kostovny, "And he said, 'Who are you, and what are you doing?' "

Mr. Kostovny, who had done electrical work for the district in which he lives for two decades, told the man that he was changing bulbs.

"And he said, 'We'll see about that!' and drove away," said Mr. Kostovny.

The man was Superintendent Risha, Mr. Kostovny later learned, and the next day a school official told him that Kostovny Electric's bulb-changing engagement was over. Another firm, Canova Electrical Contracting, started getting the bulk of the district's contracted electrical work. Eventually, Canova Electrical of East McKeesport reaped six-figure contracts from the district, sometimes through unusual procedures.

During a decade as superintendent of three school systems -- South Allegheny, McKeesport Area and West Mifflin Area, from which he retired in November -- Mr. Risha, 59, worked repeatedly with contractors whose relationships have included business and political aspects. Sometimes, those contract awards spurred protests by competitors, and one led to a three-year, ongoing court fight. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, since April, has obtained and examined those contracts, documentation of award processes and resulting payment histories through requests under the Pennsylvania Right-To-Know Law.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10248/1085219-28.stm#ixzz0yijYmyeY

[Bravo Zulu]

1. risha kicked the bucket!

Mr. Risha, 59, of Rostraver, who became superintendent in 2006 and abruptly retired in November, was under investigation by the state Ethics Commission. The basis of that probe, as reported by the Post-Gazette in April, was a report from a private investigative firm hired by the school board that said district maintenance workers were ordered in 2008 and 2009 to perform work, on district time, at the homes of Mr. Risha, his son and a school director.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10296/1097628-100.stm#ixzz13DqO5BcC

[MikeMc]

2. I could have sworn Risha

was involved in kick-backs on bridge-painting bids in Allegheny County, less than 4 years ago. If it wasn't him, do you know who the crooked official was?

[chemenger]

3. How Conveeeenient !!!

Oh well ... probably saved us taxpayers a sizable sum.