title
An ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending the Administrative Code of Allegheny County, Article 301, entitled “County Council,” §5-301.06, entitled “Prohibitions.” to repeal §5-301.06.A. in order to eliminate reference to the “resign to run” requirement that formerly existed in the Home Rule Charter of Allegheny County.
body
Whereas, Article III, §6(b) of the Home Rule Charter of Allegheny County formerly prohibited all County Council members from seeking other elected office without first having resigned from County Council; and
Whereas, this broadly drafted restriction was unique to County Council members, and did not apply to any other elected official governed by the terms of the Home Rule Charter; and
Whereas, it was - and remains - the judgment of Council that imposing prohibitions upon the ability of members of Council to seek other elected office without first resigning serves no meaningful purpose, insofar as a member of Council seeking other office does not impair the function or operations of County government; and
Whereas, requiring the resignation of a Council member before he or she can seek other elected office on its face also functions to thwart the will of the voters who elected the Council member in question, rather than allowing the electorate to determine where an individual can best serve the needs of his or her constituents; and
Whereas, as part of its 2016 report, the Allegheny county Government Review Commission expressly recommended that the same provisions relating to seeking and holding other elected offices should apply to both the Chief Executive and Council members; and
Whereas, Article III, §6(b) of the Home Rule Charter was repealed via referendum question approved by the voters of Allegheny County on November 8, 2022; and
Whereas, it is accordingly the desire of Council to render the Administrative Code entirely consistent with the clearly expressed will of the people of ...
Click here for full text