Democratic candidates are taking early leads across three contested Pittsburgh City Council races.
Voters in the city’s West End neighborhoods are choosing a new council member for the first time since 2010, as Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith retires.
Her longtime chief of staff, Kim Salinetro, held an early lead Tuesday over Republican Erin Koper shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m.
Unofficial election returns counting mail-in and absentee ballots showed Salinetro with nearly 80% of votes compared to about 14% for Koper.
Elsewhere in the city, Councilmen Anthony Coghill, D-Beechview, and R. Daniel Lavelle, D-Hill District held commanding leads over Republican challengers based on mail-in ballot returns.
Councilwoman Erika Strassburger, D-Squirrel Hill, is seeking another term unopposed.
District 2: Kim Salinetro & Erin Koper
Salinetro, 59, of Banksville, is a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh’s District 2. She told TribLive she has a unique understanding of residents’ needs after working with Kail-Smith for about 15 years.
Koper, 44, of Elliott, is president of the Allegheny County Council of Republican Women. She drew attention last summer for lambasting Pittsburgh’s democratic leadership at the Republican National Convention.
Salinetro and Koper have both said hiring more police officers and reducing blight would be among their top priorities in office.
District 2 includes Banksville, Chartiers City, Crafton Heights, Duquesne Heights, Mount Washington, East Carnegie, Elliott, Fairywood, Oakwood, Ridgemont, South Shore, Sheraden, West End, Windgap and portions of Allentown, Beechview, Brookline, South Side Slopes, Brighton Heights, Chateau and Marshall-Shadeland.
District 4: Anthony Coghill & Tracy Larger
Democratic Councilman Anthony Coghill secured nearly 82% of mail-in votes, compared to about 10% for Republican challenger Tracy Larger.
Over 8% of mail-in ballots were cast for independent or write-in candidates.
Coghill, 59, of Beechview, took his seat on City Council in 2018 and chairs its public safety committee. He also sits on the boards of the Sports & Exhibition and Equipment Leasing authorities. Coghill is a vocal advocate for improving police staffing, being fiscally responsible and upgrading the city’s dilapidated vehicle fleet.
Larger, 59, of Brookline, is an advertising consultant launching her first political campaign. She told TribLive she wants to improve public safety, reduce blight and cut red tape for businesses.
District 4 includes Beechview, Bon Air, Brookline, Carrick, Overbrook and a portion of Mount Washington.
District 6: R. Daniel Lavelle & Jacob Dumont
Democrat R. Daniel Lavelle, who serves as city council president, recorded more than 90% of mail-in and absentee votes in his race.
His Republican challenger Jacob Dumont, 33, of Marshall-Shadeland, has secured less than 8% of votes.
Lavelle, on council since 2010, authored legislation decriminalizing marijuana in Pittsburgh. He also spearheaded the creation of the Housing Opportunity Fund and the Stop the Violence program, which funds the Office of Community Health and Safety and makes grants to independent organizations dedicated to violence prevention.
Dumont operates Northside Action Media, an online platform covering news in the area. He said he would prioritize reopening a grocery store in the Hill District, addressing landslides and curbing blight.
District 6 includes Perry Hilltop, the Hill District, Marshall-Shadeland, Uptown, Downtown, the North Shore, Manchester and California-Kirkbride.