By Abhinav Parameshwar, Contributing Writer

By the time half the precincts had reported, it was clear D. Raja was pulling comfortably away in the race for Allegheny county’s chief executive position. As the polls came to a close last night, Raja boasted 32,468 of the votes in this two horse race, a 71 to 28 percent win over Chuck McCullough’s 12,210 votes.

Raja’s statewide support and available funds, not to mention McCullough’s ethical problems, seem to have been too much for the former county councilman to overcome.

“This race is not about Democrat or Republican, but about what is best for Allegheny County,” said Raja to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Raja does not have too much time to rest on his laurels as he will need to begin preparations to face off against Democratic nominee winner and County Council President Rich Fitzgerald in November’s election. Indeed, Raja has already begun advertising for the fall.

The winner of that race will have to deal with the county’s structural deficit of about $50 million, a cash strapped transit system and the Supreme Court order with regards to property reassessment.

“The voters will have a clear choice in Novembe,” said Raja. “Make no mistake about it. It’s a choice between an outsider who has spent his life creating jobs and solving problems and an insider who represents the politics of the past.”