Pittsburgh Mayoral Candidate Ed Gainey Pledges Fight With UPMC

PITTSBURGH PA — State Rep. Ed Gainey is vowing to resume Pittsburgh's fight with UPMC over the medical conglomerate's nonprofit status if he is elected mayor.

Gainey, who is challenging Mayor Bill Peduto in the May 18 Democratic primary, released an economic plan that focuses squarely on challenging the nonprofit status to ensure that UPMC pays its fair share toward city services. The city dropped a legal challenge to the status in 2014.

"Years of negotiations to establish a voluntary payment in lieu of taxes have gotten nowhere and would allow UPMC to dictate how and where its contributions are allocated," the plan states. "The region's most profitable corporation should pay taxes like anyone else, and decisions about how those funds - our dollars - are spent should be made in the City Council chamber, not the UPMC boardroom."

Gainey also pledged to support UPMC workers and those of other major employers in exercising their right to unionize and fight for living wages, safe working conditions and decent benefits.

Gainey, 51, of Lincoln-Lemington, has represented the 24th Legislative District since 2013. The district includes his neighborhood as well as Homewood, East Liberty, East Hills and Wilkinsburg, which is just outside the city border.

Gainey is a former aide to Joe Preston, his predecessor as the district's representative. He also worked for the city in a community and economic development position.

Also seeking the Democratic mayoral nomination are retired city police officer Anthony Moreno and North Side businessman Will Parker.