Ed Gainey campaign chief, Pittsburgh political activist nearly come to blows at political event

Pittsburgh mayoral candidate Ed Gainey’s campaign manager and a Democratic activist who is critical of Gainey nearly came to blows during a dispute Saturday at a Duquesne Heights union hall parking lot.

The activist, Kierran Young, 28, of Stanton Heights, said he is considering whether to pursue criminal charges after what occurred at the Steamfitters Local 449 parking lot in Duquesne Heights.

Gainey’s campaign manager, Moses Nelson, called what happened a “spirited conversation.”

“I regret the incident and have reached out to Mr. Young and members of his family so that we can move forward on the issues that matter most to our city,” Nelson said in an emailed statement.

After they exchanged words, Nelson said, “Mr. Young and I briefly grabbed each other” in an attempt to de-escalate the conversation and move it away from the people who were signing petitions in the parking lot.

Young said he didn’t personally speak with Nelson on Monday, but said that Nelson apologized to his mother and brother.

A former candidate for Pittsburgh City Council, Young is one of Gainey’s constituents in the 24th Pennsylvania House District. Young said they have had their differences.

At the petition drive, Young said he approached Gainey to ask about his plans for helping the city’s Black community.

Young wouldn’t specify what Gainey said in reply, but characterized it as “disrespectful.”

Young and Nelson then argued and “Mr. Nelson grabbed me by the collar,” Young said. They went behind a vehicle and “I asked if he wanted to fight.”

Nelson let go and “I left,” Young said.

Gainey didn’t return messages seeking comment about what happened.

A five-term state representative who lives in Lincoln-Lemington, Gainey announced Jan. 19 that he would challenge Mayor Bill Peduto in the Democratic primary on May 18. Two other candidates are in the race: Tony Moreno, 51, a retired police officer from Brighton Heights, and Will Parker, 41, a businessman from the North Side.

Young ran in the May 2019 Democratic primary for the City Council District 9 seat, losing to incumbent Ricky Burgess. He came in second, receiving 29% of the votes in the five-person race.