Pittsburgh's North Side has new city council representative

Residents of Pittsburgh’s North Side will have a new city council representative in January for the first time in 13 years.

Democrat Bobby Wilson of Spring Hill, who ousted longtime Councilwoman Darlene Harris in the May primary, won a three-way race for a District 1 seat. With 37 of 39 precincts reporting, Wilson had collected 59.8% of votes counted, according to unofficial Allegheny County election results.

Wilson could not be reached for comment.

Chris Rosselot, 39, of Spring Garden, who was running as an independent, received 35%. Socialist Workers Party candidate Malcolm Jarrett, 49, of East Allegheny, garnered 4%.

Rosselot, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, said he could not overcome Wilson’s heavy support from organized labor and Mayor Bill Peduto.

“He had the backing of labor. He had the backing of the administration,” Rosselot said. “I think at the end of the day it was a little overwhelming. We weren’t even supposed to compete, and the fact that we competed hard and ran a hard race, I’m pretty proud of that.”

He vowed to remain active in the district despite the loss.

“In a strange way I feel energized,” he said.

It was Wilson’s third attempt to win the seat. The medical researcher lost to Harris, 66, of Spring Hill, in the past two primaries. Harris, a former council president, had occupied the seat since 2006.

Wilson has said he would work to bring more affordable housing to North Side neighborhoods through public-private partnerships and to collaborate with Peduto on improving conditions in his district.

In other city contests, two incumbent council representative won reelection and two were unopposed.

Council President Bruce Kraus, 65, a South Side Democrat, won a fourth term in District 3 by defeating Jacob Nixon, 28, of Oakland. With 39 of 41 precincts reporting, Kraus received 69% of the vote compared to Nixon’s 30%, according to unofficial election results. Nixon ran as an independent.

In District 9, Councilman Ricky Burgess, 62, of North Point Breeze overcame challenges by three independents to secure a fourth term. Burgess won with 41% of the vote. Randall Taylor of East Liberty received 28% of the votes counted, while B. DeNeice Welch of East Hills collected 26% and Barbara Daniels of Homewood got 4.5%.

Councilwoman Deb Gross of Highland Park and Councilman Corey O’Connor of Swisshelm Park, who were running unopposed, won reelection to their respective District 7 and 5 seats.

Council members serve four years and are paid $68,066 in 2019.

City Controller Michael Lamb also won reelection in an uncontested race.