Dan Onorato has made a career of standing up to the political establishment and demanding change. From his first campaign for City Council against an entrenched politician in 1991 to his grassroots-driven victory against an incumbent County Executive in 2003, Dan Onorato has taken on the status quo – and defeated it.
Dan is running for Governor because the culture in Harrisburg needs to change. In 2010, Pennsylvanians will have a unique opportunity to elect new leadership to shake up the old system. As Governor, Dan will create the new jobs we need, drive down the cost of health care and higher education, and bring real reform to government.
As Chief Executive of Pennsylvania’s second largest county, Dan has shown that change and reform are more than campaign slogans – they’re principles for governing. By putting principles over politics, Dan has established a record of cutting through red tape to help create next-generation jobs, reform government and give more Pennsylvanians hope for the future.
Pennsylvania's families are tightening their belts during these tough economic times, and government should do the same. As Governor, Dan will find new and innovative ways to be smarter and more efficient. As AlleghenyCounty Executive, and before that as Allegheny County Controller, Dan did just that – eliminated waste, consolidated government services and saved taxpayers millions of dollars each year. He took on members of his own party to reform the county’s political system by consolidating positions previously held by elected officials.
Click here to read more about Dan’s record of taking on the establishment and reforming government.
Click here to read "The Onorato Plan to Reform Pennsylvania's Government."
As Pennsylvanians struggle during this national recession, it is critical for our next Governor to understand how to stimulate economic growth and create the jobs of tomorrow. Dan has received national praise for helping to transform Western Pennsylvania – once a symbol for America’s declining manufacturing sector – into a hub for 21st-century jobs. Dan helped create an environment where next-generation jobs could be created – jobs in new energy solutions, the health care industry, technology and higher education. He has also supported programs to help women and minority-owned businesses succeed and grow.
In 2008, amidst the national economic crisis, Time Magazine called the region the “one economic bright spot on Main Street,” while the unemployment rate in Allegheny County remains below both the state and national average. As Governor, Dan will continue to find ways to make Pennsylvania a leader in the new economy by creating the jobs of the future.
Click here to read more about Dan’s record of creating next-generation jobs and economic growth.
Click here to read "The Onorato Plan to Protect and Grow Pennsylvania's Agriculture."
Dan has also received national attention for his continued focus on “green” initiatives to promote energy efficiency, environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. He strengthened clean-air programs, established the Green Action Team, promoted green building practices and redeveloped old industrial sites in an environmentally-friendly way. Under Dan’s watch, the region has become a leader in LEED-certified buildings.
Dan believes that every child in Pennsylvania – no matter where they live – must get a quality education, because that is the key to achieving the American Dream. That's why, as Allegheny County Executive, Dan has helped strengthen the region’s education system – from early childhood education to our institutions of higher learning. As Governor, Dan will support our teachers and advocate for comprehensive education partnerships between teachers, students, parents and communities to make sure our children are prepared to compete in the new economy.
Our next Governor must understand the needs and concerns of everyday families, who are getting squeezed from all directions. Health care costs are too high, a college education is moving out of reach for middle-class families and property taxes in many parts of the state are out of control. As County Executive, Dan has cut property taxes twice and changed the system to prevent unfair reassessments in the future. Allegheny County is one of only a handful of counties that has not raised property taxes in the past seven years.
Dan lives with his wife, Shelly, and their children in the same working class neighborhood where he grew up. Dan understands the challenges that Pennsylvania's families face every day, and as Governor, Dan's new, fresh ideas will change the culture in Harrisburg.
