Allegheny County executive candidate Sara Innamorato proposes 'gift ban' for county employees

State Rep. Sara Innamorato, D-Lawrenceville, said Tuesday that the Allegheny County executive and all county employees should be banned from receiving gifts as part of their government duties.

Innamorato is a Democratic candidate for Allegheny County executive, the county’s top elected office, and her announcement comes on the heels of allegations that another candidate, John Weinstein, participated in backroom deals in order to maintain power and position on the county’s Alcosan board.

Weinstein has denied these allegations and called them “deliberate smear tactics.”

Innamorato said she got into politics because there was a lack of trust between the people the government represents and their institutions. She said she feels a gift ban could help rebuild that trust.

In addition to a gift ban, Innamorato proposed a “blackout period” to ensure that the county executive’s office and appointees have professional separation when companies are bidding on county contracts.

“They shouldn’t take a backroom deal or dinner meeting to help get a bid through,” Innamorato said. “A good quality bid should stand on its own and happen out in the public process.”

Innamorato didn’t mention Weinstein by name on Tuesday. When asked about the allegations made against him, she didn’t address him directly. Instead, she said her focus is on expanding “co-governance” efforts, where decision making isn’t just done with leaders, policy efforts and advocates, but also community members.

She said that “pay-to-play” politics are the reason the county is seeing rising rents, increased homelessness and environmental issues from polluters. Innamorato said the county has seen an influx of real estate conglomerates that have bought up single-family homes with the intent to increase profits, and the results are limiting the supply of affordable housing.

Innamorato said her time in Harrisburg showed her that there are as many oil and gas lobbyists as there are legislators, and that has made it difficult for the state to adopt regulations suggested by a 2020 grand jury report.

“Big corporations and developers have too much say in our government,” she said.

She said she supports the county adopting campaign finance limits that align with the City of Pittsburgh’s rules. She and urged her competitors to join her and disclose their donor list openly on their campaign websites.

She also said she would increase transparency around the county budgeting process and increase community engagement sessions on the budget.

“We have that all the time with developers, business leaders and advocacy groups, but we should have that with regular people, too,” Innamorato said.

Six Democrats and one Republican are running for Allegheny County executive.

Innamorato and Weinstein are facing off in the Democratic field against Pittsburgh Public Schools board member Theresa Sciulli Colaizzi, former County Councilman Dave Fawcett, Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb and activist William Parker of Garfield.

Joe Rockey, a retired PNC chief risk officer, is the lone Republican running for county executive.

Jane Fonda Climate PAC endorses Innamorato

On Tuesday, Innamorato was also endorsed by the political action committee of actress and activist Jane Fonda, the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, which praised Innamorato for being a “climate champion” and for “standing up fossil fuel corporations.”

Jane Fonda has endorsed in the Allegheny County executive race pic.twitter.com/x6Wo7lssRD

— Charlie Wolfson (@chwolfson) March 21, 2023

Fonda has a history of political activism and has endorsed progressive candidates like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the past.

The primary election will be held on May 16.