By Jamie Kelly, Bulletin editor
There are two Democrats and two Republicans running for Pittsburgh Mayor in the May 20 Primary Election. We asked all four candidates the same questions about their plans for the city. Their answers are presented below.

Name: Ed Gainey
Political Affiliation: Democrat
Current position: Mayor
What is the biggest opportunity for Pittsburgh in the coming years?
Pittsburgh’s greatest opportunity lies in reversing our population decline and building a stronger, more inclusive city. We have tremendous assets to build on””world-class education, medical, and tech institutions; natural beauty and outdoor recreation; and a livable climate. But to fully realize our potential, we must invest in these strengths in ways that support young people educated here, long-time residents facing displacement, and new neighbors seeking a place to call home.
Housing is central to that effort. We know that one of the biggest factors influencing whether someone stays in or leaves a city is whether they can find housing that fits their needs. While Pittsburgh has delivered more attractive market-rate options that help raise median income, we’ve fallen short on affordable choices for lower-wage workers and families. That’s why we’ve made affordable housing a central focus””including preservation, which not only maintains affordability but also helps fight vacancy and blight. We’ve also updated our zoning code to support greater density and walkability, features that are especially important to younger residents who increasingly don’t own cars. The Keep Pittsburgh Home initiative is designed to address the needs of both ends of the spectrum.
At the same time, we’re investing in business attraction and construction projects to bring jobs into the city, while modernizing workplace and procurement policies to ensure those opportunities are accessible to all Pittsburghers. We’re encouraged by recent data showing that Pittsburgh is leading the region in job creation””and we’re just getting started.
What is the biggest challenge facing the city?
We’re facing two major challenges: one immediate, and one systemic.
In the short term, we must confront the urgent threat posed by Donald Trump””a wanna-be dictator whose actions are already harming Pittsburghers. His administration has attacked our First Amendment freedoms, terrorized our immigrant neighbors, threatened critical federal funding for research and infrastructure, and proposed deep cuts to benefits our residents have earned. Every elected official, at every level of government, should be fighting relentlessly to protect our people and help organize toward a national leadership change.
But we can’t lose sight of the deeper, long-term challenge: the widening divide between the haves and have-nots. For much of our history, Pittsburgh has been a city shaped by inequality””built by workers but dominated by robber barons whose fortunes came at the expense of everyday people. That legacy has carried into the present as working-class residents are left behind in access to housing, education, healthcare, and good jobs. These broken promises have fueled disillusionment and disengagement, weakening our collective fight against extremism.
That’s why the work of my administration has focused not just on protecting rights, but on rebuilding opportunity. We’re creating pathways to stable housing, living-wage jobs, and stronger communities. Because when people are secure, they’re empowered. And empowered communities are the foundation of a just, resilient democracy.
How does your vision for the city differ from your opponent’s?
My opponent is offering a vision of returning to a past Pittsburgh, while I am trying to do the work of pushing us forward. That difference in vision shows up in many policy arenas, but I’ll share two examples.
First, I’m fighting to ensure that every neighborhood in this city has affordable housing. This is critical to make sure developers pay their fair share and to ensure people can STAY in the neighborhoods they live in. My opponent would allow neighborhoods to opt out of providing affordable housing, which would force many working Pittsburgh families out of their homes.
Second, I want to make UPMC pay its fair share in taxes, and I’ve taken them to court to fight their tax-exempt status. If they use our roads, bridges, infrastructure, and city services, they should pay taxes to help the city and their neighbors. My opponent does not believe that we should be taking legal action to get UPMC to pay taxes to fund critical city services.
There is still work to do, but I would be honored to keep fighting for the city we all deserve in a second term.
How do you propose dealing with the coming “fiscal cliff” of falling tax revenue?
The city’s finances are in strong shape. I’ve been clear-eyed about the lean years ahead””and thanks to smart, disciplined management, despite everyone predicting a deficit, we closed 2024 with a $4 million budget surplus and are on stable footing for the years to come.
Independent bond rating agencies have improved our bond rating and outlook in my time as Mayor, and we just closed on a $60 million bond deal where PNC bank is investing in Pittsburgh, because they see the strength of our region and the strength of our city government.
Pittsburgh’s finances are strong because we’ve managed them effectively and because we’ve strengthened our regional economy. The city has seen 19% job growth over the past decade, wages going up, and the lowest unemployment in Southwest Pennsylvania. That job growth has meant increased revenue from income taxes, further bolstering our financial outlook. I firmly believe that the strength of our city’s economy is the biggest determinant of our inbound revenue and investing in that economy is the path to long term fiscal health.
We have also taken proactive steps to grow revenue to support basic services, including: building new housing, which generates property tax revenue; reactivating vacant land; and supporting development downtown, where we landed a huge $600M investment deal with Governor Shapiro last year.
I’m confident in our city’s finances because we’ve planned for the future.

Name: Corey O’Connor
Political Affiliation: Democrat
Current Position: Allegheny County Controller
What is the biggest opportunity for Pittsburgh in the coming years?
I believe that Pittsburgh and its residents are primed for meaningful economic development that delivers for communities across the city. We cannot look at economic development simply as something that happens in Downtown or Oakland. Instead, we need to spur investments all across Pittsburgh so that everyone can benefit from it. Residents should feel that we value the economic success and vibrancy of a neighborhood business district as much as the Golden Triangle because their community’s success is just as important.
Pittsburgh’s local economy must deliver for its people. Communities have to be vibrant with strong business districts, giving entrepreneurs the chance to succeed and neighbors access to mixed-use amenities, goods and services where they live, and the power to support small businesses.
I believe that economic development and community development are inherently linked. That is why my vision is for everyone to be able to walk around their neighborhood and see a safe, clean, and vibrant community. Right now, too many of our neighborhoods are plagued by vacant properties, overgrown lots, and buildings with code violations. This reflects a failure of accountability on the part of the city. Residents take pride in their neighborhoods, and the city should, too. Each resident, regardless of neighborhood, deserves to have a city that actually takes their quality-of-life concerns seriously.
I am confident that Pittsburghers are ready to collaborate as we work together to rebuild our city and strengthen our communities. I believe that the willingness to invest in our neighborhoods, support our neighbors, and work toward a shared opportunity agenda is the greatest asset and opportunity for Pittsburgh.
What is the biggest challenge facing the city?
The city is sleepwalking toward a fiscal crisis and our budget is barely held together by string and band-aids. Without serious reform, real leadership, and a Mayor willing to face the hard truths about our financial standing, Pittsburgh’s finances will collapse, and every neighborhood will suffer for it.
The budget may appear balanced, but only on the surface. PAYGO funding is set to be slashed going forward, leaving the city more reliant on borrowing money and taking on debt. Next year alone, debt service obligations are set to jump by nearly $4 million. The city is pinning its hopes on revenue from the so-called “Jock Tax,” which is likely to be struck down in court. And leadership has resigned itself to accepting that real estate tax revenue, the lifeblood of our budget, will decline over the next five years with no plan for how to recuperate.
There is a staffing crisis in public safety, and the city has grossly underestimated overtime costs for EMS and police. The Parks Tax, meant to improve our parks, is being used to cover existing employee salaries just to plug budget gaps.
The city’s bond rating is not proof of success. But, all a bond rating does is show your ability to repay a debt. It doesn’t matter if you have to raise taxes, slash services, or defund critical projects to do it. A bond rating doesn’t measure your ability to keep ambulances running, remove snow from our roads, or invest in our families and children.
The city’s budget shows that it is disinvesting in core services as it zeroes-out funding for small business support, public safety equipment, and more in its five-year plan. Without a change in course, the city will be forced to take drastic action to balance its books, and those results will fall hardest on our low-income neighbors, whose communities need city services the most. Pittsburgh will be forced to institute harsh reductions in the City services on which our communities rely as it struggles to pay its bills.
We will see fewer blighted properties remediated. We will see fewer overgrown lots cut. We will see fewer parks maintained and upgraded. We will see fewer streets paved and fewer potholes filled.
The City Council Budget Office estimates that the city needs an additional $75 million to $100 million in revenue each year just to move back into a healthy financial position. The latest city budget predicts declines in the local services tax, signaling that the expects fewer and fewer people to be employed in Pittsburgh. With revenues decreasing, the city’s current plan is to just borrow more and more. That means more money going toward paying off debt and less money going into our neighborhoods.
Pittsburgh is burning through its one-time federal COVID relief money and the city plans to pilfer its rainy day fund and savings just to cover day-to-day expenses with no strategy for sustainable revenue growth. The city claims that there is a surplus, but that is only because it took money from its fund balance. That is like withdrawing $100 from your long-term savings account and saying that you are now suddenly $100 richer.
Pittsburgh desperately needs strong fiscal management to avert the looming budget crisis on the horizon.
How does your vision for the city differ from your opponent’s?
We need a Mayor who is going to get serious about the city’s core obligations to residents. As we have seen, right now, we have a Mayor who is putting off capital projects that are important to neighborhoods and residents. We have a Mayor who scoffs at the idea of cleaning up our neighborhoods, making sure that we have enough vehicles to plow our streets and respond to emergency calls, and figuring out who the next Chief of Police will be.
The people of Pittsburgh want a Mayor who takes their concerns seriously. Our residents do not know if they will get an officer on the line when they call 911 when they need help or if an ambulance that responds to a heart attack will even make it to the hospital without breaking down. They do not know if they will be able to make it to work or school when it snows or if they will ever even be able to get a simple permit to work on their own home.
Enough is enough. It is time for a change. I am ready on day one to be a Mayor for everyone in Pittsburgh. I want the people of Pittsburgh to know that their concerns and their priorities will be my concerns and my priorities. We do not have time for petty politics. Our neighbors cannot keep being made to wait for a better Pittsburgh.
We must get back to consistently and equitably delivering city services. I will not let your zip code determine what you are owed: a city that works, a city that is transparent, and a city that is growing to meet the future.
How do you propose dealing with the coming “fiscal cliff” of falling tax revenue?
As Mayor, I will work to put the cty back on stable financial footing, and be honest with residents about the challenges that we are facing.
First, we need to take a hard look at City operations and organizational structure. I will reduce the size of the Mayor’s office so that that funding can be freed up for better use by more critical departments and agencies. We need that money going toward the work that people can see in their neighborhoods and communities, not pricey consultants and administrative bloat in the executive office.
Second, I will secure an agreement with Pittsburgh’s major nonprofits and negotiate a lasting, durable partnership with our major nonprofits. I believe that by aligning the nonprofits’ mission with specific budgetary needs, we can successfully broker a deal. For example, to ease strain on our capital budget, hospitals can support our acquisition and maintenance of ambulances. Universities whose students enjoy our parks system can contribute capital funding toward their improvement. The money that we receive will free the City to better use its budget to invest in critical infrastructure, fleet and equipment modernization, public safety resources, youth and families, and neighborhood development.
Third, we must grow. I will work every single day to grow this city. I am tired of losing residents and tax dollars to the suburbs, and I am tired of us producing less housing and fewer places to live than cities like Cincinnati, Cleveland, St. Louis, and even Harrisburg. Pittsburgh’s growth depends on expanding housing, supporting and investing in our small businesses, and creating job opportunities while attracting new businesses. Growth will bring us more residents and strengthen our tax base, reversing our decline. Therefore, we need to make it easier to build abundant housing, succeed in our main street neighborhood business districts, find good jobs with family-sustaining wages, and show that Pittsburgh is once again ready to be a competitive city.
We can and should grow while ensuring that everyone who wants to can call Pittsburgh their home. Whether you are a longtime resident or new to Pittsburgh, you should be able to make one of our neighborhoods your home. You should be able to open a business here and achieve your dream. You should be able to find your career here. But, none of that will be possible if we stay on our present course toward financial chaos and show current, future, and prospective residents that we cannot even properly fund and carry-out our basic City services because we mismanaged our finances.
These changes, combined with my commitment to making Pittsburgh a welcoming and inclusive city for all, will help ensure long-term success and prosperity for both residents and businesses alike.

Name: Tony Moreno
Political Affiliation: Republican
Current position: Retired police detective/mayoral candidate
What is the biggest opportunity for Pittsburgh in the coming years?
Responsible AI, Data storage, bitcoin mining
What is the biggest challenge facing the city?
public education (I will take care of public safety immediately. This is not a challenge for me as is the housing issue)
How does your vision for the city differ from your opponent’s?
AMI & inclusionary zoning with the land bank and URA are preventing affordable housing to be built where people can afford to live. I will promote and enable housing development that people in their community can afford.
O’Conner defunded the police training budget in 2020 and initiated a hiring freeze to prevent the police an academy training of officers. This action was reinforced by mayor Gainey reducing the 900 officer requirement to 750 while staffing 50+ less than the new lower requirement.
I will make Pittsburgh’s police force competitive financially, recruit from areas of service and create a leadership program aimed and retaining officers and bring them back to living in Pittsburgh. Public safety and affordable housing will start to improve business development and school performance.
How do you propose dealing with the coming “fiscal cliff” of falling tax revenue?
Immediate and visible improvements in public safety which brings business development, growth and manufacturing which brings employment which brings city living and home ownership which brings families which repopulates schools and brings our education performance up. All things fall into place after these basic necessities. Overhaul licensing and permits office from the enforcement arm of city development and creating a safe process to fast track growth.

Name: Thomas West
Political Affiliation: Republican
Current position: Entrepreneur
What is the biggest opportunity for Pittsburgh in the coming years?
If we end the era of voting just on party lines or last name, and demand a change, we can truly be a city of the future. We have a chance to be competitive not just on a state level, but nationally, and internationally. To do that, we need new ideas, and a new way of taking on our issues. We need to bring the tens of thousands of city residents who have been silenced, back to the table. When we do that, we can finally start living up to our full potential on all fronts
What is the biggest challenge facing the city?
We need to change course and focus on growth. We’ve lost 400,000 people since 1960, and we continue to lose out on business growth because city government doesn’t focus on being competitive. We can’t become a third tier city. That means our population dropping below 300,000. We have to focus on both population and economics because we’re facing a crisis on both fronts. We must also focus on public safety because without it, we won’t have investments or families moving back. Everything is interconnected. The era of empty promises from politicians have to come to an end. I’m a small business owner who understands we have to be competitive as a city to grow. We have to bring economic vitality back to every neighborhood, and no neighborhood should be left behind.
How does your vision for the city differ from your opponent’s?
I believe in growing this city again with new ideas that will bring families and businesses back. We need to focus on public safety as a top priority, but we also need to use our strengths to transform neighborhoods. That means including entrepreneurs, families, and organizations who have a history of success, in finding solutions to our many issues. I am an entrepreneur who believes our best days as a city are ahead, if our city government lessens its grip.
How do you propose dealing with the coming “fiscal cliff” of falling tax revenue?
We must focus on growth, both population and in business. We will not be able to move away from the financial cliff, if we don’t get serious about it. We also need to refocus our budget. We need to take care of the core functions of a city from public safety to infrastructure, and scale back in other budgetary areas. We also have to have transparency when it comes to the budget so voters can understand all aspects, and hold elected officials accountable. We need to work with our non profits with PILOT (payments in lieu of taxes) programs to help us move ahead. We also have to get the best minds around to get our budget back on track. For far too long, we’ve been using the same policies that have gotten us to be a stagnant city at best.