By David Gerber, Contributing Writer

The Allegheny County Executive race continues to boil with election right around the corner. Here is what’s been going on over the past few days.

Democrat Rich Fitzgerald’s campaign is airing another negative ad this week against Republican opponent D. Raja for lawsuits that his company, CEI of America, filed against former employees. The 30-second spot lays it on thick, citing a report by the Pittsburgh City Paper.

“Raja sued 84 of his own workers, even one tyring to care for his cancer-stricken mother.”

http://youtu.be/7vn2cUBjJXk

“It’s not enough for Raja to make millions outsourcing jobs overseas or to deny people the minimum wage, but he also seeks to punish workers who decide they want to work elsewhere,” said Fitzgerald campaign manager Mike Mikus.  “Most employers would show empathy when they learn a new hire’s mother had to have cancer surgery, but Raja decided he could make $5,600 off this poor guy’s unfortunate circumstance.  It is truly appalling.”

Raja’s campaign has dismissed these allegations as lies.

Calling these alleged allegations “desperate claims from a desperate politician,” the Raja campaign says that Fitzgerald has sunk to a new low in politics by launching untrue attacks on Raja’s company.

“This race isn’t about Rich Fitzgerald’s deceptive claims about Raja’s company. It is about Fitzgerald’s utter failure as leader of our county,” said Raja campaign manager James Genovese.  “Since he can’t run on his record, he needs to lie about Raja.”

“These types of personal attacks are why many good people don’t run for office,” Genovese continued. “Fitzgerald’s poll numbers are sinking and he had to use this type of ad. It’s shameful.”