April 26, 2019 Meeting
Rich Fitzgerald
Allegheny County Executive
Rich grew up in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield-Garfield neighborhood. He earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a business minor from Carnegie Mellon University. Rich then started a small business, Aquenef, which provided water treatment equipment and services for industry in the Western Pennsylvania. In 1999 he ran for one of the district council seats on the newly-formed County Council and was elected to represent a district that included suburban municipalities and city neighborhoods. He held the seat for twelve years and was elected as Council President four times before leaving to run for the office of County Executive. Rich won the election for County Executive in Nov. 2011 and was sworn in to Office on January 3, 2012.
As the County Executive Rich has focused on making our airport better, ensuring our public transit system is reliable and sustainable, and providing a climate where a skilled workforce is a key component of our growth. Rich’s interest in making government more effective and efficient began with the consolidation of row offices when he was on Council, has expanded to include a top to bottom review of county departments and functions by the County Manager and direction to make changes to ensure that county government is responsive to taxpayers and protects their interests. Rich’s interest in making government more effective and efficient began with the consolidation of row offices when he was on Council. His work also included a top to bottom review of county departments, functions by the County Manager and the direction of changes to ensure that county government is responsive to the taxpayers and to protect their interests.
He and his wife, Cathy, a pharmacist, live in Squirrel Hill. They have eight children.
“This is very short biography but given how the Allegheny County government changed under his Rich’s leadership, this should be an interesting presentation, so be sure to attend”.
Jesse Forquer
