'Dr. No' Casts Last Votes on Ross Board

After serving 20 years on the Ross Township Board of Commissioners,

Kinross  to newcomer John Sponcer, who will join the board at its next meeting Jan. 3. The loss was by 11 votes. Kinross was the second-longest serving member of the board. 

Tuesday night, his colleagues and other elected officials from the area, including Allegheny County Councilman Matt Drozd, U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, State Rep. Dom Costa, and State Sen. Jane Orie, honored his service on behalf of his Ward 3 constituents. 

Describing him as contrary and frugal — no one could remember a time he voted in favor of any of the township budgets — the commissioners, in turn, thanked him for his  commitment and efforts to make them all better leaders. 

"For those of who have been around for a couple of years, like we have been, Commissioner Kinross' original nickname was 'Dr. No' because he voted no for everything," said Commissioner and board vice chairman Grant Montgomery. 

Commissioners also described Kinross as a go-getter at the polls and diligent in his duties as commissioner, very rarely missing a meeting in all his years of service. 

"You did a tremendous amount of work for your residents," said Commissioner Dan DeMarco. "You should feel proud." 

"It's been an interesting 12 years on the board," said Commissioner Gerald O'Brien, who has often clashed with Kinross. "It's been a lot of fun, 'Dr. No.'"

Kinross said any honor he was being given should really go to the people who did the "real work," such as the township department heads. 

"I didn't do anything more than ask for the work to be done," he said. 

Referring to the close race in November, Kinross also said the election process is something to respect, and that voters are right "most of the time." 

"I wasn't looking forward to losing the election," he said. "But I'm not all that disappointed I did. Twenty years is a long time."