In a year of transition, the Allegheny County Democratic Committee’s endorsement meeting could provide some insight into the direction the County may take over the next year.

The ACDC’s 2023 Municipal Election Endorsement vote will be held on Sunday, March 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the IBEW Local #5 on the Southside. All eligible Allegheny County Democratic Committee Members who bring their endorsement card to the meeting will be eligible to vote to endorse countywide candidates and for those candidates who have filed for the ACDC Endorsement for those offices in the committee members district.

The biggest race is the one to replace the term-limited Rich Fitzgerald as County Executive. There are seven Democrats in search of the seat:

• Olivia Bennett, 44, County council member
• Dave Fawcett, 64, Attorney
• Sara Innamorato, 36, State representative
• Michael Lamb, 60, Pittsburgh controller
• Erin McClelland, 47, Project Manager, County Dept. of Human Services
• Will Parker, 41, Entrepreneur
• John Weinstein, 59, County treasurer

Weinstein entered 2023 with approximately $481,000 cash on hand to lead the pack. Two large regional PACs – Steamfitters Local 449 and Western PA Laborers’ – gave $102,000 and $50,000, respectively. Charles Hammel of Pitt Ohio Trucking gave the largest individual contribution at $100,000.

Fawcett is the second-best-funded candidate in the race with $308,000 on hand to begin the year. Almost half of his funds came from contributions of $250 or more and he also loaned his campaign an additional $150,000.

Innamorato started off the New Year with a shade over $100,000 in her coffers. Unlike Weinstein, she has brought in over 39 percent of contributions at $250 or less, although she did receive one five-figure check – $15,000 from SEIU 32BJ.

Lamb has gathered $167,000 despite losing some support to Weinstein. McClelland had $8,174 cash on hand to start the year, while Bennett showed $2,500 in the campaign account. No filing is available from Parker.

It should be noted that the region’s last two Democratic primaries saw mayoral and congressional candidates lose despite spending more than their opponents. However, money does certainly help with name recognition and the ability to broadcast TV and digital ads.

We won’t see more campaign finance totals until 11 days before the May 16 primary election.

In the race for District Attorney, incumbent Stephen A. Zappala is facing a challenge from the County’s chief public defender, Matt Dugan.

Zappala, 65, is in his sixth term as the County’s top prosecutor. He was sitting on a war chest totaling over $161,000 at the start of January.

Dugan, who began his career in the Office of the Public Defender in 2007, was appointed to his current position in 2020. He had $10,570 on hand entering 2023.

The following offices will also have endorsements:

Countywide

• County Controller
• County Treasurer
• County Council – At Large

County Council Districts

• Districts 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13

City of Pittsburgh & Pittsburgh Public Schools

• Pittsburgh Controller
• Pittsburgh City Council Seats: District 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
• Pittsburgh Public School’s Board of Directors for Districts 2, 4, 6, 8

There are also Common Pleas and Magisterial Court positions open for endorsement as well.