Fitzgerald Elected Allegheny County Executive

Democrat Rich Fitzgerald will be Allegheny County’s next county executive. Fitzgerald, 52, of Squirrel Hill, easily defeated Republican D. Raja, 46, of Mt. Lebanon, picking up 63 percent of the vote compared to 37 percent for his GOP challenger. 

Fitzgerald promised supporters at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers hall on the South Side that he would work tirelessly. “You’re going to have my effort, you’re going to have my best work, you’re going to have my heart," he said.

Raja told supporters at the Radisson Hotel in Green Tree, “This is not the party we planned, but I love the company. Although we did not reach our goal, the county is better off with our debate.” 

He also issued a challenge to Fitzgerald.

“We saw a tough and aggressive side of the man who will run Allegheny County,” Raja said. “I hope he will use that same energy to run the government. Despite the relentless and vicious attacks, we are all Pittsburghers and we will reach new heights together.” 

Raja, like any Republican in Allegheny County, faced an uphill battle where Democrats outnumber the GOP by a better than 2-1 margin. “We had a huge Democratic disadvantage,” Raja said. “I was hoping more people would cross party lines.” 

Raja thanked all of his supporters, his family and the Indian community.

“Now is the time to stay active in politics,” he said. “Stay involved so the same dream is available for all of Allegheny County’s children.” 

As for Raja's future, he told the crowd that gathered for him, "I'm not going away." 

He later told Patch that it was a "long and exhausting race." He plans to spend time with his family and get back to his business. 

Fitzgerald’s victory means there will likely be no attempt to repeal the county’s 7-percent poured alcohol drink tax. If elected, Raja had promised to eliminate the drink tax in his first budget. During the campaign, Fitzgerald said the drink tax was a necessary evil used to leverage state matching dollars for mass transit and a way to prevent a property tax increase. 

Fitzgerald also supports statewide standards for property assessment. He has pledged to refuse to send out the new certified assessment numbers early next year unless the Legislature adopted statewide standards for valuing properties.

It was a clean sweep for Democrats in the other countywide races. 

State Democratic Rep. Chelsa Wagner, 34, of Brookline beat Republican Robert Howard, 61, of Marshall, to become Allegheny County controller. Incumbent Mark Patrick Flaherty did not seek a third term. 

Democrat incumbent John Weinstein, 47 of Kennedy, easily defeated Republican Ned Pfeifer, 78, of Shadyside to win his fourth term as Allegheny County treasurer. 

And incumbent Democrat District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. faced no opponent in seeking his fourth term. 

In the city of Pittsburgh, voters overwhelmingly approved a .25 mill property tax increase to raise more than $3 million dollars for the 19-branch Carnegie Library system. The new revenue will replace a loss of $2 million in state funding.

Related Topics: Allegheny County Poured drink tax, Property Taxes, Rich Fitzgerald, allegheny county executive, and d. raja