Meet County Executive Rich Fitzgerald
County Executive Rich Fitzgerald
Rich Fitzgerald has served as County Executive since 2012. In that role, he has focused on helping to grow our economy and create good jobs, strengthening the county's finances and making government more efficient while improving the quality of life for everyone in Allegheny County.
Economic Development & Job Creation
Rich has worked to foster collaboration between government, communities and private companies to help develop our region's economy and create good jobs and new opportunities. During his time in office, our economy has grown by more than two percent each year, we're seeing more job creation and lower unemployment which has attracted new companies and talent, and we've earned a reputation as a national leader in innovation. Rich has also worked to make sure that the county supports and encourages smart economic growth, focusing on improving our airport, making our public transit system more reliable, sustainable, equitable and accessible, and investing in workers so that our workforce is prepared to compete for the best jobs and careers in the 21st century economy.
Fiscal Responsibility
As County Executive, Rich has maintained investments in critical programs and services like transportation and infrastructure while also supporting clean energy and sustainability, affordable housing, and health care -- and has done so while significantly improving the county's financial health, maintaining balanced budgets, and holding the line on property taxes. Allegheny County's credit rating has been upgraded five times in the last six years and is now the highest it's been since 1983 -- helping to save tax dollars on long-term investments, the county's stability has signaled to companies that it continues to be a stable community and a great place to live, invest and do business.
Fighting for Fairness & Equality
Rich has long been a vocal and visible supporter of the LGBTQ community. He believes that diversity, equality and inclusion are not only matters of justice and fairness but are critical to our region's economic future. While serving as a member of County Council, Rich supported legislation to create the county's Human Rights Commission, and as County Executive, has worked to increase diversity in the county's workforce, leadership, and appointments. He has ensured that county employees in same-sex relationships had health care coverage before the Courts mandated it and has implemented a policy providing paid parental leave to county employees.
In 2013, Allegheny County was one of the inaugural members of the Welcoming America campaign to celebrate inclusive communities and the impact that immigrants and internationals have on our communities and as key contributors to our economy. A national leader, the county is serving as co-host of Welcoming America's national conference in 2019 along with the City of Pittsburgh and All for All.
Pittsburgh Born and Raised
In 1999, Rich was elected to serve as a member of County Council representing District 11, which includes communities in the City of Pittsburgh's East End as well as the Boroughs of Homestead, West Homestead and Munhall. He served on County Council from 2000-2011 and was elected Council President four times before running for County Executive in 2011.
Born and raised in the Bloomfield-Garfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Rich attended Central Catholic High School and went on to study mechanical engineering and business at Carnegie Mellon University, where he paid his tuition by driving a cab and was a member of the Teamsters Union. After graduation, he briefly took a job outside of Pittsburgh before returning to start his own business, marry his college sweetheart, and start his family. Rich, 59, and his wife, Cathy, a pharmacist, are the proud parents of eight children. They reside in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh.