Candidates in local elections took the stage Tuesday night to introduce themselves and pitch Pittsburgh voters their policy priorities in a final push before Tuesday’s primary.
The event was hosted by the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh and the Black Political Empowerment Project and held at the Letter Carrier’s Hall in California-Kirkbride.
Here are some highlights:
City Controller
With incumbent City Controller Michael Lamb running for county executive, the office soon will have new leadership for the first time in 15 years. Three Democrats are on the ballot: Mark Depasquale, Rachael Heisler and Tracy Royston. No Republican is running.
The controller is the city’s independently elected auditor and fiscal watchdog, but doesn’t have authority to set government policy — though that didn’t stop candidates from pushing some priorities that would be outside their control.
Mr. Depasquale, a project manager for the city’s Department of Public Works, said that if elected, he would focus on the city’s “fiscal responsibility.” His said his other priorities as controller would include assisting minority-owned businesses in getting contracts from the city and auditing the land bank.
Ms. Heisler, the current deputy controller, said her top priority would be maintaining the city’s financial health.
“We absolutely must make sure that the city can pay its bills [and] honor our commitment to our workers and retirees,” she said.
Ms. Heisler said her other priorities would be ensuring city funds are spent equitably across all neighborhoods and that “large employers contribute to the direct operations of city government” — seemingly referring to UPMC and the city’s other nonprofit giants that enjoy tax-exempt status.
Ms. Heisler also touted endorsements from supporters that include the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, the umbrella labor group SEIU 32BJ, and the Pittsburgh firefighters’ union.
Ms. Royston, who works in the Allegheny County controller’s office, outlined three priorities she would pursue: building a stronger connection with Pittsburgh Public Schools, keeping the city’s budget well-funded when federal COVID-19 relief funding expires and ensuring that tax-exempt properties contribute more to the city through what’s known as payments in lieu of taxes.
“The one thing that distinguishes me from my opponents is my chutzpah,” she said. “I’m not afraid to stand up to anybody, and I’m not afraid to stand up for anybody.”
Ms. Royston also highlighted her experience as deputy county controller and acting county controller, and said she wants to “take governing off of Grant Street” and into the communities.
City Council
Five of the nine City Council seats are up for election this year, and four of those races – Districts 1, 5, 7 and 9 — have contested primaries.
In District 1, which includes North Side neighborhoods and the Strip District, incumbent Councilman Bobby Wilson is facing off against tax accountant Steven Oberst. Mr. Oberst focused his remarks on violence prevention, which he said would be something he’d “like to conquer” if elected.
“We need to look at the whole picture to stop the violence in the city,” he said. “We need to have more police presence. We need to interact with the police, and we need to do better as a community to keep everybody safe.”
Mr. Wilson discussed his record on City Council. That includes legislation that let restaurants use sidewalks when indoor dining was limited at the outset of the pandemic, and a law that established bereavement time for people who experience pregnancy loss.
“It’s been an honor to serve, and I’m really looking forward to the challenges ahead,” Mr. Wilson said. “I’m working with [Mayor Ed Gainey’s] administration on several bills to accomplish many different things.”
Over the last year, Mr. Wilson has been working on regulations for short-term rental properties, after the Airbnb shooting in his district over Easter 2022.
In District 5, which includes Greenfield, Hazelwood and parts of Squirrel Hill, recently elected Councilwoman Barb Warwick is facing political newcomer Laura “Lita” Brillman.
Ms. Warwick won office in November in a special election and is running again on a similar platform. She was part of a coalition of neighborhood groups that stopped the Mon-Oakland Connector project from running through Schenley Park, and has helped expand parks and add new sidewalks in the district.
“Since being elected, my team and I are continuing that [kind of] work,” she said.
She’s also working on legislation to ban development in city-owned parks that “doesn’t directly relate to public enjoyment.”
Ms. Brillman, a University of Pittsburgh graduate student, said she would focus on fair housing, racial equity, social services, data-driven traffic safety and protecting “our trans and queer neighbors.”
She previously worked in Councilwoman Erika Strassburger’s office on issues including lead safety and the city’s plastic bag ban.
“I meet people where they are during the campaign, and that’s also how I’ll govern,” she said Tuesday night.
Neither candidate for District 7, incumbent Councilwoman Deb Gross nor Jordan Botta, a former analyst at an autonomous driving technology company, attended the event. District 7 includes Bloomfield, Lawrenceville and Highland Park.
In District 9, which includes Homewood, Lincoln-Lemington and parts of Regent Square, activist Khari Mosley and financial broker Khadijah Harris seek the seat held by the Rev. Ricky Burgess since 2008. Mr. Burgess is not seeking re-election.
Mr. Mosley, who leads the social-justice nonprofit 1Hood Power, said the city is “in a very transformative time.”
“While we’re transforming the external community around us, we’re transforming ourselves,” he said. “If we’re willing to do that, we can make this place a city we can all be proud of for generations to come.”
Mr. Mosley, who’s been endorsed by a number of labor unions and the county Democratic Party, has focused his campaign on priorities including “people-centered public health and safety” policies, and promoting equitable and sustainable development.
Ms. Harris was not at the event Tuesday night.
Hallie Lauer: hlauer@post-gazette.com
First Published: May 10, 2023, 2:36 p.m.
Updated: May 11, 2023, 12:10 p.m.
