Steelers, Penguins Executives Back Gainey For Pittsburgh Mayor

PITTSBURGH, PA — Top executives of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins were among those who recently made donations to State Rep. Ed Gainey's mayoral campaign. With the Nov. 2 election looming, Gainey has a huge fundraising edge over Republican mayoral candidate Tony Moreno.

Penguins President David Morehouse donated $2,900 to Gainey's campaign, as did Kevin Acklin, the team's chief operating officer and general counsel. Acklin formerly served as chief of staff to outgoing Mayor Bill Peduto, whom Gainey defeated in the Democratic primary in May.

Steelers president Art Rooney II donated $2,000 to Gainey's campaign.

According to campaign finance reports, Gainey received $525,176 in contributions between June 8 and Oct. 18 and had $211,000 to spend in the campaign's waning days. Moreno's most recent report showed him with $35,582 in contributions and slightly over $1,000 to spend.

Moreno ran as a Democrat in the primary, finishing third behind Gainey and Peduto. He faces an uphill battle to defeat Gainey and not just because of the legislator's huge fundraising edge. Pittsburgh has not had a Republican mayor since the 1930s.

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