Oakmont Attorney Dave Fawcett Enters Allegheny County Executive Race

PITTSBURGH, PA — One current Allegheny County council member and a former one have announced their candidacies for Allegheny County executive next year.

Former councilman Dave Fawcett and current Democratic councilwoman Liv Bennett have entered the race, joining the lone previously declared candidate, Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb. The trio are running to succeed outgoing Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who will finish his third term next year and is prohibited by law from seeking a fourth.

Fawcett, of Oakmont, served two terms as a Republican county councilman, but now is a Democrat. He is a trial attorney for the Reed Smith law firm. He also renders pro bono legal services for the Pennsylvania Innocence Project and other nonprofit organizations. Fawcett holds a bachelor's degree in English and economics from Carnegie Mellon University and received his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Bennett, of Northview Heights, represents the county's 13th council district and chairs council's public safety committee. She graduated magna cum laude from Carlow University with a bachelor's degree in business management and a minor in information technology. She attends the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, where she studies public policy management.

Lamb, who announced his candidacy last month, has served as city controller since 2008. He is known for advocating that Pittsburgh’s large non-profits pay their fair share for city upkeep and has been a leader in the fight against privatizing public assets.

To ensure more transparency in city government, he created Open Book Pittsburgh - a
website that allows people to search and view all city contracts, and campaign contributions and expenses of all candidates running for office in Pittsburgh.