Allegheny County voters in the Nov. 8 election will choose one of two candidates to replace outgoing County Executive Dan Onorato, concluding a contentious campaign marked by increasingly sharp rhetoric in ads and in person.
A Democrat from the North Side, Onorato opted not to seek a third term after losing the Pennsylvania governor's race last year to former state Attorney General Tom Corbett, a Republican from Shaler.
Voters also will choose the winners in the races for County Controller, District Attorney, County Treasurer, County Council and Common Pleas Court.
They also will select candidates for the Pennsylvania Superior and Commonwealth Courts.
County Executive:
The Republican candidate:
- D. Raja, a township commissioner and co-founder of technology company CEI, of Mt. Lebanon. He defeated Chuck McCullough, a former county council member and attorney from Upper St. Clair, in the May primary. McCullough is awaiting trial on charges that he used an elderly woman's money to make contributions without authorization. He has denied the charges.
The Democratic candidate:
- Rich Fitzgerald, a county council member, former county council president and founder of a water-treatment equipment and services company, of Squirrel Hill. He defeated county Controller Mark Patrick Flaherty, a tax and investment attorney from Mt. Lebanon, in the May primary.
County Controller
The Republican candidate:
- Robert Howard, a former North Allegheny school director, of Marshall
The Democratic candidate:
- Chelsa Wagner, a business analyst and attorney and the state representative for the 22nd District in the South Hills, of Brookline. She won her spot on the ballot by defeating primary challengers George Matta, a former clerk of Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, of White Oak; and Valerie McDonald Roberts, a former Pittsburgh school board and city council member, former county recorder of deeds and former manager of the county real estate department, of Churchill.
District Attorney
The Republican candidate:
- None
The Democratic candidate:
- Incumbent Stephen A. Zappala Jr., an attorney, of Fox Chapel
County Treasurer
The Republican candidate:
- C. Edward Pfeifer, of Shadyside
The Democratic candidate:
- Incumbent John K. Weinstein, of Kennedy
County Council At-Large
The Republican candidate:
- Heather Heidelbaugh, an attorney who has been active in Republican causes, of Mt. Lebanon
The Democratic candidate:
- John P. DeFazio, a United Steelworkers of America official and Allegheny County Labor Council leader, a county council member and former professional wrestler, of Shaler
County Council District 2
This district includes Bell Acres, Sewickley Heights and Sewickley Hills, as well as Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, Hampton, Marshall, McCandless, Ohio Township, Pine, Richland and West Deer.
Running unopposed is Republican candidate and incumbent Jan Rea, of McCandless, who has been a member of county council since 2000.
Common Pleas Court
Two candidates are running on both the Republican and Democratic ballots for two seats on the bench:
- Alexander P. Bicket, an attorney and former teacher at Fox Chapel High School, of Mt. Lebanon
- Michael Marmo, a Common Pleas Court judge in the family division, a law professor, and a former attorney and special master for the county Board of Viewers, of Emsworth
In addition, five sitting Common Pleas judges are seeking retention. They include:
- David R. Cashman
- Kathleen A. Durkin
- Michael A. Della Vecchia
- Guido A. DeAngelis
- Randal Todd
