Bob Howard secures Republican nomination for Allegheny County Controller

Allegheny County will have a competitive General Election for the county’s top fiscal watchdog, thanks to a successful write-in effort by a Marshall Republican.

Former PPG controller and accountant Bob Howard secured 10,097 write-in votes during the Republican primary election and has accepted the GOP nomination.

He will face Corey O’Connor, a Democrat from Squirrel Hill, who is currently serving as Allegheny County Controller after being appointed to the position last year.

Allegheny County Controller is an elected position that is responsible for performing financial and performance audits of county agencies and county-related organizations. O’Connor was appointed by the state legislature after former Controller Chelsa Wagner resigned after winning an election for Common Pleas Judge.

Howard, 73, is now retired and has more than three decades of experience as controller and accountant for PPG. He is also a former North Allegheny School board member and the chair of the Marshall Republican Committee.

“The voters should really have a choice,” said Howard during a June interview on WJAS 1320 AM.

He said he was proud to receive the write-in votes and was glad there will be a two-person race for Allegheny County Controller.

Allegheny County Councilman Sam DeMarco, who is chair of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County, praised Howard during the WJAS interview and said he is a “solid conservative and a business professional.”

Howard said it is important to have an independent voice in the controller’s office, and he will ensure county departments and programs are performing well and remain cost effective.

“I think I am positioned where I will be an independent watchdog,” he said. “I don’t have a political career in mind, I am not from a political family. I am not from the establishment. I will be able to audit and say what needs to be said.”

Howard ran unsuccessfully for controller in 2011, losing to Wagner.

Republicans have a tough race ahead of them, especially for countywide seats like controller. Democrats have a 2-1 voter registration advantage in Allegheny County and Republicans haven’t held the controller’s office in several decades.