Twenty years ago, Bob O’Connor crafted a sign that read “Thank you Pittsburgh” and held it up during morning rush hour to show his appreciation for the voters who helped him achieve his lifelong dream of becoming mayor.

On Wednesday, his son Corey O’Connor carried on the legacy.

Standing on a busy Squirrel Hill street corner, the mayor-elect held up signs with the same message after Pittsburgh overwhelmingly decided Tuesday he should inherit the office his father once held.

O’Connor will become Pittsburgh’s 62nd mayor after securing a dominant victory over Republican Tony Moreno in Tuesday’s general election.

In a nod to his father, O’Connor — joined by his wife, Katie, their kids, Emmett, 2, and Molly 4, and his brother, the Rev. Terrence O’Connor — stood at Murray and Forward Avenues, waving to passing cars and holding thank-you signs.

“It’s a way to honor his memory, but also it’s a great way to thank people because we wouldn’t be here without the people of Pittsburgh,” O’Connor said.

Bob O’Connor served less than a year as mayor in 2006 before dying of brain cancer.

The O’Connor family donned matching “Corey O’Connor for Mayor” shirts Wednesday morning as the mayor-elect shook hands with supporters, posed for photos and jogged into the street to greet people in their cars.

Holding Emmett on his hip, O’Connor told reporters he was feeling “a lot of emotions” after his decisive election night victory.

O’Connor said the whole family enjoys the tradition of thanking the city after an election, something he had also done in May after securing a primary win over incumbent Mayor Ed Gainey.

Emmett — named after O’Connor’s father, whose middle name was Emmett — was delighted by trucks honking as they drove by.

“We’re feeling a lot of energy in the city. I think that’s great,” O’Connor said. “We know the work starts today.”

O’Connor currently serves as Allegheny County controller. He previously spent a decade on City Council.

Unofficial election results show he won over 85% of votes Tuesday, defeating Moreno, a former police officer who lost to Gainey in his previous mayoral bid four years ago.

O’Connor said he plans to name some of the people who will take top posts in his administration in the coming days.

His nominee for police chief — a position that has been filled by five different people during Gainey’s four-year tenure — will come next month.

Other priorities, O’Connor said Wednesday morning, include bolstering economic development and “selling Pittsburgh” to the millions expected to tune in to the 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held in the city in late April.

“If you present a good, clean, safe city, people are going to want to move back to Pittsburgh,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor on Wednesday morning also launched a mayoral transition website.

A community listening survey on the site asks Pittsburghers to share their ideas for the future of the city. People also can submit resumes for open job listings and volunteer opportunities with the city.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)