Dan Onorato

Dan Onorato
Dan Onorato's official head shot
Allegheny County Chief Executive
Incumbent
Assumed office January 2, 2004[1]
Preceded by	Jim Roddey
Succeeded by	Rich Fitzgerald
Allegheny County Controller
In office January 4, 2000 – January 2, 2004
Preceded by	Frank Lucchino
Succeeded by	Mark Flaherty
Member of the Pittsburgh City Council from the 1st District
In office January 6, 1992[2] – January 4, 2000[3]
Preceded by	Bernard Regan
Succeeded by	Barbara Burns
Personal details
Born	February 5, 1961 (1961-02-05) (age 50)
Political party	Democrat
Residence	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Alma mater	Penn State University University of Pittsburgh School of Law
Website	http://www.voteonorato.com

Daniel "Dan" Onorato (born February 5, 1961)^[4] is the current Chief Executive of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, Onorato won a crowded four-way primary to become the Democratic nominee for governor.^[5] He lost to State Attorney General Tom Corbett in the general election.^[6]

Early life, education and family

A life-long resident of Allegheny County, he attended Penn State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1983. He worked several years as a Certified Public Accountant before continuing his education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, earning a Juris Doctor in 1989. Onorato and his wife Shelly reside in Pittsburgh's Brighton Heights neighborhood with their children: Kate, Emily, and Danny.^[7]

Political career

Onorato marches with Senator Hillary Clinton in Pittsburgh's 2008 St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Onorato practiced as a private attorney until he was elected to the Pittsburgh City Council in 1991, when he defeated first district incumbent Bernard Regan in the primary election.^[8] He served two terms on the council before being elected Allegheny County Controller in 2000. In 2003, he defeated Jim Roddey for the position of Allegheny County executive. He was named runner up for the 2003 Politician of the Year by the political website PoliticsPA, who noted his youthful energy and his fundraising power.^[9]

Allegheny County drink tax controversy

In late 2007 Allegheny County received permission from the Pennsylvania General Assembly to pursue increased taxation of poured alcohol and rental cars to subsidize the Port Authority of Allegheny County.^[10] Members of the Allegheny County Council and Onorato believed that such a tax was preferable to increasing county property taxes. After the 10% tax on poured alcohol passed, Allegheny County bar and restaurant owners protested the new tax, claiming that it would hurt that business.^[11] A lawsuit by the bar and restaurant owners challenging the legality of the drink tax was thrown out by the courts, but they sought a referendum overturning the tax in the November 2008 general election.^[12] Onorato subsequently withheld the funds raised by the drink tax from the Port Authority, demanding that the transit agency first restructure its labor costs.^[13]

2008 Presidential election

He announced his endorsement of Senator Hillary Clinton in her presidential bid on March 14, 2008, saying, "Hillary Clinton has the experience and the determination to clean up the mess in Washington and deliver results."^[14]

2010 Gubernatorial campaign

Main article: Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2010

Onorato won the Democratic nomination in the 2010 election for Governor of Pennsylvania on May 18, 2010.^[15] Onorato had more than $4 million for a campaign left over from his re-election bid. He also received media attention when the G-20 Summit was held in Pittsburgh. He defeated State Senator Anthony Williams, Auditor General Jack Wagner, and County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel. He was defeated by Republican Tom Corbett in the general election.

See also

• Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

References

1. ^ The Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette
2. ^ The Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette
3. ^ The Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette
4. ^ "Dan Onorato's Facebook page url=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dan-Onorato/95368733976". 
5. ^ AP: Onorato wins 4-way Pa. Dem primary for governor
6. ^ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131158449
7. ^ "Dan Onorato Official Biography". Official Website of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. http://www.alleghenycounty.us/welcome/onorato.aspx. Retrieved 2007-12-30. 
8. ^ The Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette
9. ^ "Politician of the Year". PoliticsPA. 2003. Archived from the original on 2004-04-05. http://web.archive.org/web/20031220015911/http://www.politicspa.com/FEATURES/pol_of_the_year03.htm. 
10. ^ Rujumba, Karamagi (March 1, 2008). "Drink tax passes first test - compliance". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08061/861750-85.stm. 
11. ^ Twedt, Steve (July 10, 2007). "Restaurant owners vow to fight drink tax". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07191/800603-46.stm. 
12. ^ Rujumba, Karamagi (February 21, 2008). "Drink tax challenge could go on ballot". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08052/859217-46.stm. 
13. ^ County exec witholds [sic] funds, demands ATU concessions
14. ^ "HillaryClinton.com - Media Release". 2008. Archived from the original on 2010-04-10. http://web.archive.org/web/20080402225902/http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=6526. 
15. ^ http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation/elections/gubernatorial/20100518_ap_onoratowins4waypademprimaryforgovernor.html

External links

Media related to Dan Onorato at Wikimedia Commons

• Office of the Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato official government site
• Dan Onorato for Governor official campaign site
• Biography, interest group ratings, public statements, vetoes and campaign finances at Project Vote Smart
• Campaign contributions at FollowTheMoney.org
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs

Political offices
Preceded by Jim Roddey	Chief Executive of Allegheny County 2004–Present	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Frank Lucchino	Allegheny County Controller 2000–2004	Succeeded by Mark Flaherty
Preceded by Bernard Regan	Member of the Pittsburgh City Council from the 1st District 1992–2000	Succeeded by Barbara Burns
Party political offices
Preceded by Ed Rendell	Democratic nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania 2010 (lost)	Succeeded by Most recent

Persondata
Name	Onorato, Dan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 5, 1961
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death