I am biased as I've been working with Sam to help him get elected to City Council but with the new endorsement of the Post-Gazette and the relative lazy attitude of our opponent towards campaigning. Might there be an upset brewing here? First Republican in 70 years+?

You can find out more about Sam at http://www.samforcouncil.org!

PPG Endorsement:
As to the special election to fill the remaining seven months of Judge Hertzberg's term, voters would be well-served by Samuel Berninger. A network administrator for U.S. Bancorp at Station Square, he makes a case for having a Republican on council -- someone who can show the Republican leadership in the Legislature that Pittsburgh is willing to change and is worth further support from the state.

He and Democratic nominee Deasy agree on the need for more policing in the district and a tougher line on absentee landlords, but Mr. Berninger's market-oriented solutions would put options before council that it rarely considers now. He believes the key to reviving the Fifth and Forbes corridor Downtown involves getting government out of the way of the private sector, and despite the need for city budget cuts he says it is imperative to reduce taxes to attract more businesses and residents.

Mr. Deasy, whose heart is in the right place, would be one of nine Democrats on council. But Samuel Berninger would be a fresh perspective and a voice for change, and he has the Post-Gazette endorsement.