Pittsburgher for HDCC director?

The Democratic plan for winning back the state House after the 2010 election left the party in the lopsided minority may be orchestrated by a young Pittsburgh operative, reports PoliticsPA this afternoon.

The online publication, citing unnamed sources, says Ethan Smith has been chosen as the House Democratic Campaign Committee’s executive director for the upcoming election cycle.

Smith is a relative newcomer. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2009, and most recently served as deputy campaign manager for Allegheny County executive-elect Rich Fitzgerald. There, he managed the day-to-day operations of the campaign as well as Fitzgerald’s primary endorsement by the Allegheny Dems.

Prior to that, he worked as a regional field director for Dan Onorato and as GOTV director for Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. He also worked briefly on Jack Panella’s 2009 bid for Pa. Supreme Court.

Sources indicate that Fitzgerald and others lobbied the Pittsburgh-centric House Dems’ caucus leadership on Smith’s behalf.

A call to HDCC headquarters in Harrisburg was not answered. 

Smith would be working with Rep. Brendan Boyle, a second-term lawmaker representing northeast Philly, on the caucus' recruiting and campaigning arm.