Pittsburgh City Council members raise concern about city officials' involvement in Gainey re-election campaign
A group of City Council members is raising concern that one of Mayor Ed Gainey's top aides is coordinating political messaging for the mayor's campaign with a network of outside groups and city politicians.
The three council members called it "deeply troubling" that Deputy Mayor Jake Pawlak used a group chat with dozens of Mr. Gainey's supporters "to coordinate messaging and talking points" for the campaign. The chat, created by Mr. Gainey's campaign manager, included leaders of a group that has paid for advertising to support Mr. Gainey's bid for a second term.
"As you know, coordination between a campaign and an independent expenditure is legally prohibited," the council members wrote in a letter to the mayor Monday morning.
City Council members Bob Charland, Theresa Kail-Smith and Anthony Coghill wrote two joint letters that were sent Monday morning. All three have endorsed Mr. Gainey's opponent, Allegheny County Controller Corey O'Connor.
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2025/04/28/pittsburgh-gainey-election-mayor-politics-jake-pawlak/stories/202504280051