Sam DeMarco leaving Allegheny County Council for role in Sen. Dave McCormick's office

Sam DeMarco is leaving his posts as an at-large Allegheny County councilman and chair of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County for a position in newly elected U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick’s office.

DeMarco told TribLive he will serve as Southwest Regional director for McCormick’s office.

In that position, DeMarco will oversee the local office, manage staff, handle constituent work and help coordinate McCormick’s travel in the southwest portion of the state.

“When this opportunity arose, I leapt at it, because I believe I will be able to do so much more for the people of this region advancing the senator’s aim and agenda than I could have on county council,” DeMarco said on Wednesday.

DeMarco intends to formally announce his departure from Allegheny County Council next week.

DeMarco, of North Fayette, was first elected to County Council in November 2015. As an at-large councilman, he is the only Republican to hold a countywide elected office.

He said he was proud of his efforts to advocate for the community on county council, despite representing the minority party.

He pointed to bipartisan efforts with former Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald to manage county finances to avoid tax hikes in prior years, a recent project that saw about 1,000 body-worn cameras delivered to police bureaus throughout the county and work to modernize Pittsburgh International Airport as among his top accomplishments in that role.

DeMarco said he believes the connections and experience he’s garnered from his roles on County Council and chairing the county’s Republican committee will help him in his new post.

DeMarco will publicly announce his exit from Allegheny County’s GOP committee this weekend.

He said he was stepping away from his role with the committee to focus entirely on the work he’ll be doing for McCormick’s office.

“I believe I owe it to the people I’m working for to be able to give them everything that I can,” he said.

DeMarco began working for McCormick’s office Friday.

DeMarco is at least the second person to resign from public office to work for McCormick. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster, last month left the state Legislature to serve as McCormick’s state director, overseeing the senator’s offices throughout the Keystone State.

McCormick, of Pittsburgh, in November defeated three-term Democratic incumbent Bob Casey for a seat in the U.S. Senate in a tight race.