2011 Results: Fitzgerald, Raja Win Nods in Race for Allegheny County Top Job

Former Democratic Allegheny County Council President Rich Fitzgerald will face Republican entrepreneur and Mt. Lebanon Commissioner D. Raja in the general election for Allegheny County chief executive.

Fitzgerald, 52, of Squirrel Hill, won 46 percent of the votes cast to win the Democratic nomination over county Controller Mark Patrick Flaherty, who drew 44 percent of the votes.

In his acceptance speech, Fitzgerald promised “to unify the party and region and streamline county government.” He also pledged to develop “an energy policy that makes sense for the region.”

Flaherty, who conceded at about 10 p.m. Tuesday, told reporters he was proud of the race he ran and hinted that the day’s rainy weather might have played a factor in his defeat. County officials estimated the turnout at about 28 percent.

Raja, 45, quickly amassed a big lead and easily dispatched attorney Chuck McCullough, 72 percent to 28 percent, to win the Republican nomination.

Raja, a computer software entrepreneur, said the “slow decline in Allegheny County” points to a need for “transformational leadership” to create jobs.

During his primary campaign, Raja won endorsements from several key Republicans, including Gov. Tom Corbett, Allegheny County GOP Chairman Jim Roddey and House Majority Leader Mike Turzai of Bradford Woods. If elected, Raja has pledged to make Allegheny County friendlier to start-up companies, such as his 300-employee custom software business, CEI, which he launched from a spare bedroom in 1992.

McCullough, who was heavily outspent in the primary, faces trial in September on charges he misspent $200,000 from the estate of an elderly dementia patient he represented. McCullough maintains his innocence and notes that companion accusations were dismissed in an Orphan’s Court lawsuit three years ago.

McCullough was elected to county council in 2007 and promised to eliminate the county’s 7-percent poured drink tax if elected. He did not seek endorsements from politicians, telling Patch: "You start asking for endorsements and their baggage becomes your baggage."

Fitzgerald, 52, a married father of eight who runs his own energy- efficiency firm, promises if elected not to raise property taxes and not to allow Marcellus Shale drilling in residential areas of the county.

Flaherty, 49, is a lawyer and the son of a former county commissioner and nephew of former Pittsburgh Mayor Pete Flaherty. He had promised to tap into the natural gas deposits under Pittsburgh International Airport and to convert the county’s vehicles and buildings to natural gas fuel.

In the Democratic contest to succeed Flaherty as controller, state Rep. Chelsa Wagner, 33, of Brookline, won a three-way race over Allegheny County Real Estate Department Manager Valerie McDonald Roberts and former County Clerk of Courts George F. Matta II.  

Wagner told supporters Tuesday night in Beechview -- the neighborhood that long has been a stronghold of her politically active family -- that she was “excited by the victory and looking forward to running a strong campaign in the fall. “

Wagner will face Republican Robert Howard, a former North Hills school director, who was unopposed in the primary.

For the Republican county council at-large seat, attorney Heather Heidelbaugh of Mt. Lebanon defeated Edward J. Kress of Shaler, who was appointed to council to serve out McCullough's unexpired term after he entered the county executive race.

Heidelbaugh told Patch she was “very humbled by the support she received throughout Allegheny County and very enthusiastic about starting her new position and working on the deep problems in the county.”

She will join John P. DeFazio, the Democrat’s at-large member on county council. DeFazio ran unopposed.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. was unopposed in the Democratic primary, and no Republican candidate entered the race.

Republican C. Edward Peifer and incumbent Democrat John K. Weinstein were unopposed in the primary races for county treasurer. 

Allegheny County Chief Executive
Republican (Vote for 1) - 100 percent precincts reporting