T. Corbett backs D. Raja

Republican candidate D. Raja said Wednesday that Gov. Tom Corbett has endorsed him for Allegheny county executive.

Mr. Raja, 45, a current Mt. Lebanon commissioner and CEO of CEI, mentioned the endorsement during an interview about his candidacy with the P-G's Kaitlynn Riely.

He posted the news on his Twitter feed later in the day.

Mr. Raja has already received endorsements from other Republican leaders, including Sen. Pat Toomey.

His opponent for the Republican nomination is former Allegheny county councilman Chuck McCullough.

And in the Democratic executive race, Corbett's opponent, Dan Onorato is about to line up behind the candidacy of his longtime ally, Rich Fitzgerald, the former county council president who is running against Controller Mark Patrick Flaherty.  Mr. Onorato, who has been publically silent on his choice of successor so far, is headlining a fund-raising reception for Mr. Fitzgerald next week.  Mr. Onorato, belived to be considering the possibility of a run for state auditor general next year, chose not to seek a third term as executive.