Pittsburgh mayoral endorsements start to roll in as candidates begin drive for signatures

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto has the support of four City Council members and several labor unions in his bid for a third term.

But Peduto, 56, will not be seeking the endorsement of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee. Two of the candidates challenging Peduto will seek the party’s endorsement, state Rep. Ed Gainey, 50, of Lincoln-Lemington, and retired police officer Tony Moreno, 51, of Brighton Heights.

Another candidate, Will Parker, 41, a North Side businessman, has quietly been campaigning since December.

Tuesday was the first day candidates could circulate petitions, a process that continues through March 9. The election is May 18.

Gainey and Moreno are paying the $10,000 fee the county’s Democratic committee charges to be considered during the endorsement process. The committee will announce its endorsements March 7.

Peduto, along with several other Democrats, is declining to seek the committee’s endorsement after the party’s 2020 endorsement of Heather Kass for the 36th District state House seat. Kass was questioned about old social media posts that opposed the Affordable Care Act, mocked drug addiction and gun control and supported former President Donald Trump. Jessica Benham won the June 2020 Democratic primary and went on to win the seat in November.

After that endorsement, Peduto said he called for the 2020 primary to be an “open primary,” meaning without party endorsements.

“Changes were promised, but none were implemented,” Peduto said in a statement. “While I have been endorsed by the committee in the past, it would be hypocritical of me to call for an open primary in other races, but seek it (the endorsement) for myself.”

Instead, Peduto detailed his plans to use the $10,000 to support the 32 Democratic ward committees in the city to support the party’s campaigning work in the city, he wrote in a Feb. 4 letter sent to committee members.

The move was questioned by Moreno, who said the incumbent mayor was seeking the party’s support without being a part of the endorsement process.

Gainey and his campaign didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.

On Jan. 28, Gainey picked up the endorsement of the community activist group One PA.

“This is it. PGH is ready for meaningful change. Be part of making history!! OnePA members are endorsing the one and only Gainey for Mayor! For Education Environmental and Economic Justice!” the group wrote on its Facebook page.

Peduto has been endorsed by city council members Ricky Burgess, R. Daniel Lavelle, Erika Strassburger and Corey O’Connor. He also has the support of Laborer’s District Council of Western Pa., Laborers Union Local 1058 and Local 373, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 and the Fraternal Association of Professional Paramedics Local 1.

During the public comment portion of Tuesday’s city council meeting, mayoral candidate Parker called out Burgess and Lavelle for supporting Peduto when two Black candidates — Parker and Gainey — are in the running. Burgess and Lavelle are Black. Council members generally do not respond to residents who speak at council meetings.

Parker said he was “livid” about the endorsements and said they amounted to an effort to “settle for less” by supporting Peduto.

In an interview last week, Parker said he’s “running for mayor because I have the courage to confront a lot of these issues that are holding us back.” He said he has released few details about his campaign thus far because he wants to use an “element of surprise” as part of his mayoral run.

“What sets me apart is I don’t have any ties to any special interests. I don’t have any ties to any special society,” Parker said. “And I’m not a career politician.” Parker is a nephew of Pirates baseball great Willie Stargell.

The Democratic primary generally decides the race for Pittsburgh mayor, as the party holds a majority of registered voters and the Republican Party has little foothold in the city.