Ed Gainey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ed Gainey
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| 61st Mayor of Pittsburgh | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Bill Peduto |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 24th district |
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| In office January 1, 2013 – January 3, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Preston Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Martell Covington |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 19, 1970 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Michelle Coburn |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Morgan State University (BA) |
Edward C. Gainey (born February 19, 1970) is an American politician. He served as the 61st mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Before becoming mayor, he was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. In November 2021, Ed Gainey made history. He became the first African-American mayor of Pittsburgh. He took office on January 3, 2022. He ran for a second term in May 2025 but was not re-elected in the Democratic primary.
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Early Life and Education
Ed Gainey grew up in Pittsburgh. He was raised by his single teenage mom and his grandmother. When he was very young, his family moved to the South Oakland neighborhood. They were one of the first Black families to live on their street.
When he was seven, his family moved to the East Liberty neighborhood. He went to Peabody High School there. He played basketball and graduated in 1988. After high school, he attended Norfolk State University for a short time. He then returned to Pittsburgh and went to the Community College of Allegheny County. Later, he studied at Morgan State University. In 1994, he earned a Bachelor's degree in business management.
Early Career in Public Service
Ed Gainey started his career helping people in government. For six years, he worked for Pennsylvania State Representative Joseph Preston Jr.. He also worked for Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy. In this role, he helped improve the economy in the East Liberty area.
Later, Gainey worked for the City of Pittsburgh under Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. He focused on community development. In 2010, he became a leader in the city's Democratic Party.
Serving in the Pennsylvania House
Ed Gainey ran for a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives several times. He finally won in 2012 on his third try. He defeated his former boss, Joseph Preston Jr., in the Democratic primary. Gainey represented the 24th District from 2013 to 2022. This district included many neighborhoods in Pittsburgh with a large Black population. These areas included Homewood, East Liberty, and East Hills.
While serving in the state legislature, Gainey also joined the board of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA). This agency helps with economic development in Pittsburgh. He eventually became the vice chair.
Becoming Mayor of Pittsburgh
In January 2021, Ed Gainey announced he would run for mayor of Pittsburgh. He ran against the current mayor, Bill Peduto. Many important people supported Mayor Peduto. However, Gainey received support from various labor groups. He also won the endorsement of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee.
Gainey spoke about how he believed the city could be better. He talked about improving police and community relations. He also discussed getting fair tax payments from large organizations.
In May 2021, Gainey won the Democratic Primary election. He then became the Democratic candidate for mayor. On November 2, 2021, he won the general election with over 70% of the votes. Ed Gainey officially became the 61st mayor of Pittsburgh on January 3, 2022.
Key Appointments as Mayor
During his time as mayor, Gainey made important appointments. He appointed Kyle Chintalapalli as the Chief Economic Development Officer for the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh. He also appointed State Representative Sara Innamorato to the URA. Olga George became his press secretary.
Personal Life
Ed Gainey lives in the Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood of Pittsburgh. He lives there with his wife, Michelle, and their three children.
Important Policies and Plans
Ed Gainey focused on several key policies as mayor. He cared about climate change and the environment. He promised to pass rules about lead in water. He also worked with environmental groups to create plans for climate change.
He also supported better public transportation. This included advocating for faster train options. He also supported inclusionary zoning. This means that new building projects would need to include some affordable housing.
2024 Budget Plan
On September 29, 2023, Ed Gainey shared his administration's budget plan for 2024. The total budget was $155.5 million. This plan focused on finishing city projects that were already started. It did not propose many new projects. The budget included more money for bridge management. It also increased funding for traffic improvements.
