Repub drops from Mt. Lebo race
The Republican candidate for D. Raja's former commissioner seat in Mt. Lebanon has abruptly pulled out of the Nov. 8 election. He's given no explanation but it comes on the heels of reports he was charged with assaulting a woman in 2008.
T. Michael Brown, the Republican candidate for Ward 1 commissioner in Mt. Lebanon, said Tuesday he has withdrawn from the race.
When reached by phone, Mr. Brown, 63, said he had no comment about why he chose to withdraw, effective one week ago.
Since he made his decision to drop out of the race after the Allegheny County Division of Elections Aug. 15 deadline to withdraw, his name will still appear on the ballot in November, next to Democratic candidate John Bendel.
His decision to stop his campaign came not long after an envelope containing court dockets with Mr. Brown's name on them was sent anonymously to several people, including a reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Some of the docket sheets were for speeding tickets, and others showed charges that had been withdrawn or dismissed.
One docket sheet showed Mr. Brown was charged with simple assault in May of 2008 in Mt. Lebanon.
According to an affidavit obtained from the Magisterial District Judge in Mt. Lebanon, Mr. Brown was on North Meadowcroft Avenue in Mt. Lebanon when he yelled at the car ahead of him to stop driving so slowly.
He exited his car, went to the other car, grabbed the female driver's right arm and pulled her from the vehicle. He then dragged her by her arms to the front of his vehicle, the affidavit said.
The woman yelled for help, and Mr. Brown released her when a North Meadowcroft Avenue resident approached the altercation.
A Mt. Lebanon police officer responding to the scene saw red marks that measured 10 inches in length on the woman's upper forearm and bicep.
Mr. Brown was charged via summons with simple assault.
The case went to Common Pleas court in September 2008 and Mr. Brown paid a penalty and on Aug. 28, 2009, he was admitted into an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for first time offenders.
Mr. Brown declined to comment on the incident when reached by phone Tuesday.