Gainey's New Challenger For Pittsburgh Mayor Is Old Opponent

PITTSBURGH, PA — Republicans couldn't find a candidate to run for Pittsburgh mayor in the May primary, but they have one now for the general election in November. Retired city police officer Tony Moreno, who ran as a Democrat in the primary, has accepted the GOP nomination for mayor.

Moreno, a retired city police officer from Brighton Heights, will face state Rep. Ed Gainey in November. Moreno finished a distant third in the Democratic primary, garnering 7,742 votes to Gainey's 24,479 and current Mayor Bill Peduto's 22,406.

Moreno said he made a ceremonial gesture and registered as Republican.

“The Republican party voluntarily selected me as their nominee, while the Democratic party establishment decided to reject my campaign for another career politician that wants to divide this city,” he said in a news release.

Moreno said that changing his party registration from Democrat to Republican doesn’t impact what he stands for or the change he plans to champion as mayor.

“Make no mistake, the political banner that I will be running under will never change who I am – it doesn’t change my vision and plan for this city,” he said. “It merely reflects the letter next to my name on the ballot. The Republican voters and the Democrats who voted for me in the primary are united in our frustration with our city government. From day one, my principles, my platform, and my plan have been only to serve everyone in this city.

“That will not change, even though my party registration has changed.”

Moreno faces a large uphill battle to win the election. Democratic voters outnumber Republicans by about a 5-1 margin in the city, and Pittsburgh has not had a Republican mayor in nearly a century.

Gainey, 51, of Lincoln-Lemington, has represented the 24th Legislative District since
2013. The district includes his neighborhood as well as Homewood, East Liberty, East Hills and
Wilkinsburg, which is just outside the city border.

Gainey is a former aide to Joe Preston, his predecessor as the district's representative. He also worked for the city in a community and economic development position.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Gainey campaign said that he "welcomes Mr. Moreno to the race, and looks forward to a positive general election campaign in which he'll continue to talk
about his vision for uniting our City and building a Pittsburgh for all."