The race is heating up for Pittsburgh's next mayor.
Pennsylvania State Representative Ed Gainey picked up a key endorsement in his bid for mayor of Pittsburgh.
It's shaping up to be a highly contested race for the Democratic primary. "Pittsburgh wants change and I understand why," said Gainey.
Gainey is in a field of at least 3 who plan to challenge incumbent Mayor Bill Peduto.
Gainey - who was just backed by the The Allegheny County Democratic Committee - says something that he sets him apart is his support for police - and police reform.
"We have some wonderful police officers. The police officers do a lot of great work, but we also know that there's another side of the equation. We've seen it live this year, whether it was in Pittsburgh or whether it was national, with some of the deaths of black and brown people at the hands of police," said Gainley.
If elected, one of Gaineys's priorities will be investing in public works so they can clean up blighted areas, including some 30,000 vacant properties in the city.
"When you ride throgh these communities, you can see the devestation of the vacant lots - you have weeds up to your hips, you've got bottles all in the middle of the lots. They haven't been manicured. They haven't been taken care of," explained Gainey. "You want your kids walking in safe neighborhoods."
This is the first time the committee has supported an African American candidate for mayor. Peduto did not seek the endorsement.
