Rich Fitzgerald endorsed Joanna Doven in her run for the Democratic at-large seat on Allegheny County Council, saying the region would benefit from her experience in both private industry and government.
Fitzgerald, who has served as county executive since 2012 and will leave office later this year after completing his third and final term, said Doven was a leader “who can positively get things done.”
“I want to make sure that County Council — which I served on for 12 years, president of eight years and was so proud to do — has good people that are going to be doing things to get things done,” he said at a Wednesday morning news conference in Downtown Pittsburgh’s Market Square.
Doven, a public relations consultant who served in government as part of Luke Ravenstahl’s mayoralty, is running against incumbent Bethany Hallam, a North Side Democrat, in the May 16 primary. As part of the county’s home rule system of government, there is one at-large seat for each of the two major political parties, which is elected on a countywide basis. They, together with the county executive, are the three-member county elections board.
Doven said she was grateful to receive Fitzgerald’s endorsement, the first made in this year’s primary, and that people respect the work he’s done during his time in office.
“We are facing historic challenges in our region — COVID has hurt many cities,” she said. “We need leaders more than ever — on all levels of government, city government and county government — that are going to speak up for common sense and make sure that we’re doing what we can to attract investment.”
Fitzgerald said Hallam, a political foe of his, has “in many ways, been a damage to democracy.” He cited last November’s general election, in which Republican voters challenged the results of several precincts, and Hallam voted with Councilor Sam DeMarco, R-At Large, to halt certification until the courts had ruled on the challenges.
Fitzgerald said Hallam “voted with the MAGA crowd” by waiting to certify the results, but at least one election lawyer said state law requires the county elections board to “suspend any official certification” if challenges are filed.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether Fitzgerald would use some of his campaign war chest, which totaled to more than $2.2 million at the start of the year, to help Doven. He said there have been several fundraisers held for Doven, including one he helped host Tuesday evening.
“I’m glad to financially support candidates that I get behind. I have for many years,” he said.
Fitzgerald has yet to make an endorsement in the marquee Democratic primary to succeed him, with six Democrats vying to become the county’s next leader. He said to “stay tuned” about his potentially backing a candidate in the race.
“Let’s talk about this today, and see what happens in the days to come,” he said.
Jon, a copy editor and reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, is currently on strike and working as a co-editor of the Pittsburgh Union Progress. Reach him at jmoss@unionprogress.com.
