Allegheny County Candidates
November 7, 2023 - Municipal Elections
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Allegheny County Government

Several key positions in the Allegheny County government are up for election in 2023. Allegheny County has an annual budget of about 3 billion dollars, employs 6000 people, and provides services ranging from road maintenance to public health to law enforcement for the county's 1,200,000+ residents.   

Learn more on our  Allegheny County Government page.

2023 Election Information 

Which County officials are up for election?

What does the Ballot Question mean?
Learn more about these positions, and find candidate guides for:
  • Chief Executive - incumbent, Rich Fitzgerald, is term-limited and cannot run.
  • 9 County Council members    (districts 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, and both at large positions.


Download our graphic explaining which positions you will see on your ballot in county, municipal and school board races. --->

Municipal Elections 2023 - Who's Running

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Allegheny County Government Candidates 
Executive Branch - County Executive and Row Offices
Allegheny County Executive

Candidates

  • Democratic: Sara Innamorato

  • Republican:  Joseph E. Rockey

The County Executive is the highest elected official in the county and heads the executive branch of Allegheny County government.  The county executive is responsible for representing the county in meetings and negotiations, controlling and being accountable for departments, enforcing ordinances and law, submitting a comprehensive fiscal plan, making appointments, negotiating and signing contracts, appointing a county manager and solicitor, submitting legislation, declaring states of emergency, calling special meetings, and giving quarterly addresses and an annual state of the county report to council.


The county executive is elected to a 4-year term, with a term limit of 3 consecutive terms.  

Candidate Mini-guides
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County Executive Candidate Guide
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County Executive Debate

Recorded Live on WTAE-TV
Tuesday, October 3rd



wtae logo         

County Controller

Candidates

  • Democratic:  Corey O’Conner
  • Republican:  Bob Howard

The County Controller maintains proper accounting records and processes, pays county bills, manages payroll and retirement benefits, performs internal audits for departments, and prepares the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

County Controller Candidate Guide

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District Attorney

Candidates

  • Democratic:  Matt Dugan
  • Republican:  Steven Zapalla

The District Attorney is the Chief Law Enforcement Office for the county, accepting and prosecuting criminal charges from more than 100 active police departments, as well as approving complaints filed by private citizens.

District Attorney Candidate Guide

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 www.lwvpgh.org/docs.ashx?id=1231993
Treasurer   

Candidates

  • Democratic:  Erica Rocchi Brusselars
  • Republican:   Herb Ohliger

The Treasurer receives, invests, disburses and safeguards the monies of the county; the office collects real estate tax, the alcoholic beverage tax, the hotel room rental tax, and the vehicle rental tax, and administers the Senior Tax Relief Program.

County Treasurer Candidate Guide

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Legislative Branch - County Council
County Council
Allegheny County Council is made up of 15 members, and functions as the legislative branch of Allegheny County government.  13 county council members are elected by district, and 2 are elected "at large" (county-wide.)


County Council is a part-time position.  Regular meetings are held twice a month in the evenings.  Members do not receive a salary, or funding for an office or staff.  Instead they receive a stipend of about $11,000.   Members typically hold a different full-time job.


At Large Candidates
(choose 1)

  • Democratic:  Bethany Hallam
  • Republican:  Sam DeMarco

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District Candidates
(choose 1 for your district)


District 2 Candidates

  • Democratic:  Todd Hamer
  • Republican:   Suzanne Filiaggi

District 5 Candidates

  • Democratic:  Dan Grzybeck 
  • Republican:   Mike Embrescia

District 6 Candidates

  • Democratic: John F. Palmiere 
  • Republican:   Sean McGrath

District 7 Candidates

  • Democratic:  Nick Futeles

District 10 Candidates

  • Democratic:  DeWitt Walton
  • Independent: Carl Redwood

District 11 Candidates

  • Democratic:  Paul Klein
  • Republican:   Eileen Lo Cunningham
  • United We Stand: Robert McCune

District 13 Candidates

  • Democratic:  David Bonaroti
  • Independent:   Sam Schmidt
2 Members are Elected at Large

Allegheny County Council's two at large members must be from different political parties.  In the municipal election, any political party may nominate a candidate for an at large seat.  Voters may vote for one, and the top two vote-getters are elected. 


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13 Members are Elected by District
Allegheny County is divided into 13 districts, each represented by one County Council member.  In 2023, the seats in districts 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 13 are up for election.  The remaining district seats will be up for election in 2025.  County Council members are elected for 4-year terms.

What County District do You Live in?  See the map here:  County Council District Map


Candidate Mini-guides

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County Council Mini-guide
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Allegheny County Ballot Question
     All Allegheny County residents will see the following question on their ballot:
ALLEGHENY COUNTY PROPOSED ORDINANCE SPECIAL ELECTION QUESTION
Shall Article III, Subsection 7(a) of Allegheny County’s Home Rule Charter be amended to provide Council members with an annual salary of $10,939, to be increased no more than 5 percent every 5 years? 
Explanation

What would the proposed ordinance do?

The proposed ordinance, if adopted

  • would pay the members in the form of a salary instead of a stipend.
  • would not increase the annual amount paid to County Council members.
  • would not change the timing or amount of allowable pay increases.

The change from a stipend to a salary is meant to recognize that County Council members are being compensated not only for their regular meeting attendance, but also for County Council duties performed outside of the meetings.

Background

County Council members are currently paid $10, 939 per year as a per-meeting stipend.  According to the Home Rule Charter, the annual stipend total may be increased by no more than 5% every 5 years. 

When the Allegheny County Home Rule Charter was adopted in 2020, the original annual cap on the stipend was $9,000.  Since then, it has been raised by 5% every 5 years resulting in the current cap of $10,939.