27 Facts About Bob Cranmer

Bob Cranmer is the author of the horror novel The Demon of Brownsville Road.

The son of a retired military officer, Cranmer graduated from Brentwood High School in 1974 and received a bachelor of science degree in secondary education and history from Duquesne University in 1978.

In 1991 Bob Cranmer ran for a seat on Brentwood council stating that he would bring a new grocery store to the community.

Bob Cranmer gained the attention of the national media in 1993 when he challenged the operating practices of the media giant TCI Cable.

Bob Cranmer claimed that this was done as a ploy to entice viewers to subscribe while subjecting all viewers to the adult content, including children.

Bob Cranmer called the Republican candidate, Congressman Rick Santorum, "Forrest Gump with an attitude" and labeled him much too conservative for Pennsylvania.

Bob Cranmer's letter helped him gain notoriety, as it was seen as emblematic of the betrayal felt by State Republicans.

Bob Cranmer, who had been at odds with the Brentwood police as a councilman, denounced the police conduct and when pressured leveled accusations that Brentwood had a history racist incidents.

Bob Cranmer went on to be elected County Commissioner in November 1995 in a landmark election and was thought to be a firebrand conservative.

Bob Cranmer was heralded as a "traitor" to Republicans by commissioner Dunn, who subsequently, switched parties and became a registered Democrat to run for county controller in 2003.

Bob Cranmer led an effort to establish home rule in Allegheny County, which created the position of county executive and county council after coming to the conclusion that a new structure of government was needed.

Bob Cranmer initiated the creation of the Allegheny County Airport Authority to manage the Pittsburgh International Airport in a more effective, professional manner.

Bob Cranmer worked for several firms after leaving office and in July 2009 he established "Cranmer Consultants", a government and legislative affairs company.

In 2000, Bob Cranmer was inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution after he traced his lineage back to Noadiah Bob Cranmer who fought in the American Revolutionary War, and served as president of the Pittsburgh chapter for two years.

The lone Republican, Bob Cranmer's support was seen as key for the plan to succeed.

Bob Cranmer initially stated that he would not use tax money to build stadiums but later clarified his position to mean revenue collected from "property taxes".

When Baker made clear his opposition to the plan, Bob Cranmer asked for his resignation.

Bob Cranmer was both praised and reviled for his role in Plan B with much of his other work going unnoticed by the general electorate.

In 1999 Bob Cranmer did not agree to a similar deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team which guaranteed that a funding plan would be in place by 2002 to build a new hockey arena.

Bob Cranmer maintained that there would be no money to support such a financial plan without a tax increase and was against committing the future government to such a financial responsibility.

Bob Cranmer's 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.

Bob Cranmer asserted that his actions were in self-defense, and that his son suffered from bipolar disorder which caused him to become violent.

In November 2003 Bob 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 Bob Cranmer and his family were undergoing counselling.

In 2009, it was reported that Bob Cranmer was expected to testify in a lawsuit against the county by former county recreation manager Mike Diehl.

The lawsuit claimed that Bob Cranmer fired Diehl for political reasons.

In February 2009 Bob 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.

Bob Cranmer ordered that Diehl and the three employees who were living in the houses be dismissed as a result.