When David L. Donahoe became executive director of the Allegheny Regional Asset District 20 years ago, there was no blueprint for the job.
The Legislature a year earlier had created the district, which allows Allegheny County to impose a 1 percent sales tax on top of the state’s 6 percent rate. Half of the money goes to the county and local municipalities, and the rest — doled out by RAD’s seven-member board — is allocated to regional cultural, educational and recreational institutions.
Mr. Donahoe, 65, of Stanton Heights said the goal was to do what the legislation intended — to provide a sustainable, predictable source of funding for assets utilized by all of Western Pennsylvania. RAD permitted that without relying solely on Allegheny County taxpayers.
He provided the level-headed, steady leadership and established the structure that transformed RAD from a bitterly contested idea into a successful program that has funneled $1.6 billion to both big organizations — regional parks, stadiums and the Carnegie Library system among them — and smaller arts and cultural institutions that might not have survived without RAD’s annual grants.
Mr. Donahoe’s professional demeanor and extensive experience in city, county and state government made him ideal for the job. The grandson of former Pittsburgh mayor and Pennsylvania governor David L. Lawrence, Mr. Donahoe’s resume included turns as state revenue secretary, county aviation director, head of Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority, executive secretary to the late Mayor Richard S. Caliguiri and treasurer for the city and its school district. He knew how to navigate bureaucracies in a transparent manner that earned bipartisan support.
He says he’s not finished. His resignation from RAD is effective June 30, and he is looking for “a new assignment.”
Given his prior successes, finding that new role likely will be easy. Given his performance, finding a worthy successor will be difficult.
First Published: January 15, 2015, 5:00 a.m.