Fitzgerald, Raja Emerge As Leaders for Allegheny County Chief Executive Post

With 64 percent of the precincts counted, former Allegheny County Council President Rich Fitzgerald continues to lead county Controller Mark Patrick Flaherty 57 percent to 43 percent in the race to be the Democratic nominee for Allegheny County Executive.

On the Republican side, D. Raja has pulled to seemingly insurmountable lead of 72 percent to 28 percent over Chuck McCullough.

For the Democratic nomination to succeed Flaherty as controller, state Rep. Chelsa Wagner, 29, of Brookline leads a three way race with 52 percent of the vote. Allegheny County Real Estate Department Manager Valerie McDonald Roberts, 55, of Churchill is a distant second with 29 percent of the vote and former county Clerk of Courts George F. Matta II, 54, of Duquesne trails the pack with 20 percent of the vote.

For the county council at large seat, two Republican attorneys are seeking the nomination. With 64 percent of the vote counted, Heather Heidelbaugh, 52, of Mt. Lebanon leads Edward J. Kress, 39, of Shaler 58 percent to 42 percent.