UPDATED: Fitzgerald Elected Allegheny County Executive

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

Fitzgerald promised supporters at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 5 in Pittsburgh’s South Side area following the election that he would work tirelessly.

“You’re going to have my effort,” he said. “You’re going to have my best work. You’re going to have my heart.”

Raja told supporters at the Radisson Hotel in Green Tree Borough, “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 with Democrats outnumbering the GOP here by a more-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 that 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 his campaign, Fitzgerald said that 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 Pennsylvania Legislature adopted statewide standards for valuing properties.

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

State Democratic , 34, of Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood, beat Republican Robert Howard, 61, of Marshall Township, to become Allegheny County controller. Incumbent Mark Patrick Flaherty did not seek a third term. 

Democrat incumbent John K. Weinstein, 47, of Kennedy Township, easily defeated Republican C. Edward Pfeifer, 78, of Pittsburgh’s Oakland area, to win his fourth term as Allegheny County treasurer. 

And incumbent Democrat District Attorney , of Fox Chapel Borough, faced no opponent in winning his fourth term.

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