Corey O'Connor to run for Pittsburgh council

Corey O'Connor, son of the late Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor, is running for his father's City Council seat, he said Wednesday night.

"I have such a passion for this place. The people of Pittsburgh have been so loyal to myself, my friends and my family through our most joyous times and our most difficult times that I feel the need to give back. By me serving, I hope I'm fulfilling that," said O'Connor, 26, of Squirrel Hill.

Bob O'Connor represented the 5th District from 1991 until he resigned to work for former Gov. Ed Rendell in 2003. He won 49 percent of the vote in a seven-candidate field in the Democratic mayoral primary in 2005, and won the general election with 67 percent of the vote.

Just seven months into his term, O'Connor was hospitalized with cancer and died in September 2006, sending the city into mourning.

His former aide, Councilman Doug Shields, represents the district. Shields could not be reached but expressed uncertainty in previous conversations about whether he intends to run for re-election. Corey O'Connor said Shields was among those who encouraged him to run.

O'Connor worked for four years as a community development representative for U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills. He is taking an unpaid leave of absence to run for the council seat.

As Doyle's representative, he said he brought federal grants and heating and energy assistance to the area.

"I really believe I have the ability to not only deal with constituent issues, but to bring new ideas" to city government, O'Connor said.

He plans to kick off his candidacy with a 10-neighborhood tour of the district, starting about 10:30 a.m. and ending with an open house at his campaign headquarters at 6:30 p.m.