In an unusual move, Mayor Bill Peduto provided his stamp of support for Pittsburgh City Council challenger Bobby Wilson — a slap in the face to incumbent Darlene Harris that precedes Sunday’s Democratic Party endorsements.
With local primary elections a couple months away, Mr. Peduto expressed his support for Mr. Wilson Thursday, after five labor unions also backed the challenger last week in the campaign to represent Pittsburgh City Council District 1, which covers most of the North Side.
“Bobby Wilson has proven himself as a dynamic, qualified community leader in our North Side neighborhoods,” Mr. Peduto said in a press release. “After earning his master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, he began working as a technologist at the University of Pittsburgh Emphysema and COPD Research Center. He volunteers his time as the president of the Spring Hill Civic League and a board member of the Northside Leadership Conference (NSLC). He represents the NSLC on the Breathe Project, fighting for clean air in Pittsburgh.”
Also running against Ms. Harris are Quincy Kofi Swatson, 27, of East Allegheny, and Chris Rosselot, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Bob Casey in Pittsburgh who announced his candidacy in December.
Ms. Harris is known for asking confrontational and unwavering questions in council. Among constituents, she has long been able to count on a strong base of support, but she also has critics who are bent on seeing her 12-year reign on council come to an end.
Ms. Harris said she was not surprised by Mr. Peduto's public endorsement of Mr. Wilson.
“You’ve never seen a mayor come out and do something like this during an election, but that’s Bill,” Ms. Harris said. “He’s still upset because I haven’t supported him, so I guess this is his way of getting back at me. He actually told me that he wouldn’t support me for [city council] president or anything else because I didn’t support him.”
Ms. Harris, who is endorsed by the Allegheny County Labor Council, said she will continue to focus on her work, and noted that Mr. Wilson had been supported by Mr. Peduto in 2015.
“I think it’s great [the mayor is] coming out publicly this time, but you know anybody can run for city council,” she said. “Bobby ran last [time] and he’s running again. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing, and hope people remember the things that I have been doing.”
Mr. Peduto joins the Laborers’ District Council of Western Pennsylvania, Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ; Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 24M/9N; Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees Chapter 20-15; and the International Association of Professional Paramedics Local 1, in supporting Mr. Wilson.
He also expressed admiration for other candidates who are running for city council.
“I know that there are several good candidates in this race, and I appreciate all that they continue to do with the city of Pittsburgh,” Mr. Peduto said in a press release. “My endorsement for Bobby Wilson is based on his values, his character, his experience, and his ability to win.”
Mr. Rosselot called Mr. Peduto's endorsement of Mr. Wilson "not surprising.”
“It’s just more of the establishment propping up their candidate," he said.
He urged voters not to choose "a mayoral puppet."
Pittsburgh City Council District 1 consists of the North Side neighborhoods of Allegheny Center, Allegheny West, Brighton Heights, East Allegheny, Marshall-Shadeland, North Shore, Northview Heights, Observatory Hill, Perry North, Spring Garden, Spring Hill-City View, Summer Hill, and Troy Hill, with parts of Central Northside, Fineview, and Perry South.
The Allegheny County Democratic Committee will endorse on Sunday, and the deadline for submitting petitions to appear on the ballot is March 12. Local primary elections will take place May 21.
Lacretia Wimbley: 412-263-1510, lwimbley@post-gazette.com or follow @Wimbleyjourno on Twitter.
First Published: March 7, 2019, 7:19 p.m.
Updated: March 7, 2019, 8:04 p.m.
