Allegheny County Manager William McKain leaving for private sector

The manager of Allegheny County’s government for the past 12 years is moving on.

The county announced Monday that Manager William McKain will be leaving his post on Feb. 3 to take a job in the private sector. He has served as county manager since his appointment in July 2012.

McKain has served nearly the entirety of Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald’s three terms. Fitzgerald said that McKain has worked tirelessly to manage county government’s day-to-day operations and always had the residents’ best interest at heart.

“We have been extremely fortunate to have had (McKain’s) leadership in this county,” said Fitzgerald. “He has set an example for what a county manager should be.”

Allegheny County managers are appointed positions who handle budget planning, policy creation and assist county departments and their directors.

With Fitzgerald term-limited at the end of 2023, McKain becomes the second major departure from the Fitzgerald administration this year. Earlier this month, former Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen left to become the Pennsylvania’s acting Secretary of Health.

McKain is a graduate of Robert Morris University and is a Certified Public Accountant with over 30 years of experience. The county did not specify what private sector job McKain will be taking, but said it will be releasing more information about that in the coming days.

Fitzgerald credited McKain with several fiscal achievements over the past 10 years, including avoiding increases in county property taxes while increasing the county’s reserves and playing a role in the county boosting its bond ratings from credit agencies.

He also praised McKain for his stewardship through the pandemic, as well as bringing more technology to county government and increasing transparency through publishing county data publicly online.

McKain also was praised for his work on the rehabilitation projects of Pittsburgh’s three sister bridges and the successful move of Allegheny County Emergency Services to its new home in Moon Township.

Fitzgerald’s chief of staff Jennifer Liptak said McKain helped to leave the county in the best position it has been in the past 25 years.

“In all my time in government, I don’t think I’ve met another public servant quite like (McKain),” said Liptak. “His dedication, intelligence, work ethic and just plain hustle put him a cut above the rest.”