Months before Corey O’Connor entered the race for Pittsburgh mayor, rumors started circulating that he would try to unseat incumbent Ed Gainey.

The idea wasn’t far-fetched. O’Connor had built a career in public service, first as a Pittsburgh councilman like his father, Bob O’Connor, then as Allegheny County controller.

He had name recognition. He had a legacy. And he had a good story. Bob O’Connor, popular and affable, became mayor in 2006 but died after less than a year in office. Would the son follow in his father’s footsteps?

It turned out the rumor mill was far ahead of O’Connor. He said he didn’t know for certain he would run until just a few weeks before his December announcement.

O’Connor knew being mayor of a fiscally strapped city would bring a demanding workload, one difficult to juggle on top of his duties as a dad of two toddlers.

He talked it over with residents, friends, other elected officials and — most importantly — his wife.

“She was the champion to go for it because you never know when you’re going to get a chance,” O’Connor said.

Katie O’Connor vividly remembers the advice she gave her husband.

“Corey,” she told him, “I think this might be your time.”

Honor thy father

Katie O’Connor said she pushed her husband to run because she feared the city was moving in the wrong direction.

Pittsburgh wasn’t attracting enough development. Downtown was struggling to rebound after the covid-19 pandemic. Core city services — including snow removal, functioning water fountains and maintenance of aging vehicles — were not being delivered efficiently.

What if their kids — 2-year-old Emmett and 4-year-old Molly — grew up and didn’t think Pittsburgh was an attractive enough city to stay in? What if they didn’t want to raise their own families there?

“I’m worried that we’re not headed on a trajectory that this is going to be a viable place for our kids to come back,” she said. “I think we have to change that.”

That message became a cornerstone of O’Connor’s campaign.

When he announced his mayoral bid, O’Connor pitched a vision of economic growth, fiscal responsibility and improved city services — all areas in which he believes Gainey failed. Throughout his campaign, O’Connor has vowed to make Pittsburgh a city where people want to raise their families.

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