Mayor of Pittsburgh
Mayor Bill Peduto deserves the nomination for a second term. Falsely pegged by critics as a “dreamer” with only bicycles lanes to tout, he has in fact presided over a cultural change in city hall, modernizing government and preparing Pittsburgh for a promising future. As a city councilman for over a decade, he appreciates the nuts and bolts of constituent service, but he’s also a skilled diplomat and representative for Pittsburgh on the national and international stage. We expect that his Democratic opponents, Councilwoman Darlene Harris and the Rev. John C. Welch, will continue to provide watchdog roles – an important task in city with a oneparty system.
City Council
With Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak choosing not to stand again, District 4 voters fortunately have two strong candidates on the ballot. We picked Anthony Coghill over Ashleigh Deemer, Ms. Rudiak’s chief of staff. Ms. Deemer demonstrates competence and a firm grasp of the issues; let’s hope the 34-year-old stays involved in public affairs. Mr. Coghill, a roofing contractor, is running on a “Back to Basics” platform that conjures memories of the late can-do Mayor Bob O’Connor. He’s not a political outsider, however, having run for the seat three times previously and serving as the 19th Ward chairman.
Pittsburgh School Board
The city schools will be well served if District 3 voters elect Sala Udin. The former city councilman and longtime Hill District activist, 74, has a track record of integrity and passion, winning credibility with citizens and city power brokers alike. His opponent, James Myers Jr., 37, is a bright voice we would like to hear more from. In District 5, incumbent Terry Kennedy has a long record of involvement in the schools as a parent before joining the board and has proved a willingness to take difficult
Sheriff William P. Mullen has kept on the straight and narrow for the past 10 years, cleaning up an office foundering from corruption, and deserves a third term. His challenger is city police Detective George Satler, 49, an enthusiastic candidate with much promise. Yet we are not ready to push the 70-yearold incumbent out the door, believing his pledge to serve out the fouryear term.
Court of Common Pleas
Six candidates are running for two openings. We endorse Judge David Lee Spurgeon, a former county prosecutor and deputy district attorney who was appointed to the bench last year to fill a vacancy, and Rosemary Crawford, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee for U.S. District Court, who has worked as a mediator and arbitrator. Both received “highly recommended” ratings from the Allegheny County Bar Association, as did attorney Patrick Connelly, an arbitrator and former chairman of the city Ethics Hearing Board who ran for the bench in 2013. Mary McGinley, with a “recommended” rating, has extensive experience in civil law and Orphans Court and the makings of a good judge.
Commonwealth Court
Two seats are open for the court that hears cases involving state agencies and municipal government entities. The two Republican candidates (Paul Lalley of Upper St. Clair and Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon of Delaware County Common Pleas) are unopposed for their party’s nominations. Among the six Democrats, we endorse Judge Joseph Cosgrove, now serving on Commonwealth Court on an interim basis, and Philadelphia County Common Pleas Judge Ellen Ceisler.