by Charlie Wolfson, PublicSource

A flurry of news reports and press conferences in the past month shifted corruption, transparency and ethics to the center of the crowded race for Allegheny County executive, a highly anticipated election campaign that was once expected to focus on policy issues like the environment, criminal justice and affordable housing. 

map of allegheny county collage

Executive Decision
The 2023 election to set Allegheny County’s course

Accusations of impropriety have flown between candidates, but regardless of who emerges from the seven-candidate field and takes Western Pennsylvania’s highest elected office, they will inherit a county government structure that itself has an imperfect record when it comes to transparency.

PublicSource surveyed the candidates for their stances on a set of policies — already in use in other local governments, such as the cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia — that would give the public a clearer view of how the county does its business. From the way the county awards contracts to campaign finance regulations to the executive’s own activities, the seven candidates nearly universally signaled that greater transparency awaits when a new county administration enters in January 2024. 

“There’s no question here, Allegheny County is standing out for these pretty substantial gaps in public integrity law,” said Pat Christmas, policy director at the Philadelphia-based good government group Committee of Seventy.

Amie Downs, the communications director for current County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, wrote in an email that the county has “made significant improvements to increase transparency” during his three terms, and cited websites allowing residents to view data on air quality, health inspections, COVID-19 cases and more.

Here is where candidates stood on nine potential transparency measures and what it could mean for the county going forward:

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