Patti Weaver Announces Withdrawal as Candidate for Allegheny County Chief Executive

March 23, 2011 – PITTSBURGH, PA – Patti Weaver announced her withdrawal as a candidate for Allegheny County Chief Executive for the upcoming Republican Primary on May 17, 2011 in the following statement:

“I, like many people in the county and across the nation, came forward to reign in out-of-control spending and begin restoring fiscal sanity to government at all levels under the Tea Party movement.  We are keeping alive what Thomas Jefferson referred to as the ’spirit of resistance to government’ that is vital to our democracy and rooted in ending our borrow-and-spend addiction.

“I know from experience that making change is hard, and it takes leaders who have the determination and strength to fight for it.  Allegheny County government is in need of reform that focuses on reducing spending, streamlining services and providing better oversight to public projects.  After being asked to consider running for County Executive, I talked to a lot of people to get their ideas about how to implement the reforms our region needs to advance – not simply to continue to manage decline.

“Winning this office takes a formidable combination of the right ideas, a strong grassroots organization, and, yes, the necessary financial resources in order to run an effective campaign.  I am honored at the tremendous support my candidacy has received from Tea Party members, local Republican leaders and concerned citizens, but the financial support has been slow to follow and is severely lacking.

“Therefore, I am ending my candidacy and withdrawing my name from the race.  Continuing without the ability to share my message or confront my opponents in the marketplace of ideas harms the movement and reforms that brought me to the race.

“I remain grateful and humbled by those who placed their confidence in me; and I will continue to find other ways to fight for the kind of change that will bring stability and prosperity to the hardworking taxpayers of Allegheny County.

“My highest priority has always been the needs and concerns if my family.  I entered this race with their full support, but going forward without the ability to wage an effective campaign is not the right course for them at this tine.

“Going forward, I will pledge my support for those candidates who believe in fiscal responsibility, free markets, and a constitutionally limited government; which is why I want to encourage everyone to work to support Bob Howard for County Comptroller, and Ned Pfeiffer for County Treasurer.  They are exceptionally well-qualified and possess the integrity and moral fiber necessary to best serve the people of Allegheny County.”

Friends of Patti Weaver | PO Box 38811 | Pittsburgh, PA 15238