The South Hills will have a new representative on Allegheny County Council following Republican incumbent Sue Means’ loss to Democrat Tom Duerr on Tuesday.
“I have really enjoyed serving the people of the Fifth District, and I really am hopeful that my successor, opponent, Tom Duerr will transition to serve the people well,” said Means, 68, of Bethel Park.
Means has served on council since 2013.
As she closes out her term, Means said she plans to continue working on legislation she introduced in September to ban certain conversion therapy treatments. She will also work with Duerr to hand off oversight of road repair projects.
Duerr, 24, of Bethel Park, won the race with 59.8% of the vote, picking up 14,803 votes to the 9,928 garnered by Means, according to unofficial results.
Means attributed her loss to straight-party votes, noting that Democrats outnumber Republicans in her district.
District 5 includes Bethel Park, Bridgeville, Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair.
“I am looking forward to working to represent the people of my district and I am committed to continuing the same type of outreach I’ve sustained through my work and this campaign so that people in my district always know they have a voice on county council,” Duerr said in a statement Wednesday.
He could not be reached for further comment Wednesday afternoon.
Duerr grew up in Bethel Park and is a Democratic campaign staffer by trade.
Speaking with the Trib in October, he said he plans to focus on public transportation, maintaining election security, ensuring that polling places are accessible and banning conversion therapy in Allegheny County.
Members of Allegheny County Council are paid $9,000 per year.
District 6 incumbent John Palmiere, a Democrat from Pleasant Hills, won his race against challenger Michael Freedman, a Republican also from Pleasant Hills.
District 2 incumbent Cindy Kirk, a Republican from McCandless, also beat her challenger — Christine Allen, a Democrat from Sewickley.
Unofficial results for uncontested county council races show that Bethany Hallam, of Ross, won the Democratic at-large seat and Sam DeMarco III, of North Fayette, won the Republican at-large seat.
Other candidates running unopposed for their county council seats included Democrat Nicholas Futules of Oakmont, Democrat Paul Zavarella of Plum, Democrat DeWitt Walton of Pittsburgh’s Hill District, Democrat Paul Klein of Pittsburgh’s Point Breeze neighborhood and Democrat Olivia Bennett of Pittsburgh’s Northview Heights.
