The Pittsburgh area may be getting its first Tea Partier in local government.

Just less than 6 months until primary election day, GOP attorney and Tea Party speaker (and vocal ACORN critic) Heather Heidelbaugh announced her candidacy for the at-large Allegheny County Council seat currently held by fellow attorney Chuck McCollough. McCollough won the seat in 2007 (over then-Republican-pick Kevin Acklin) despite getting entangled in a case regarding his handling of $200,000 of an elderly woman's money. (His theft trial has been pushed back to Jan. 31.)

"I believe that the Republican At-Large position has been underutilized since its creation several years ago. It is imperative that this position provide opposing viewpoints to the Democratic-controlled County Council. I intend to be the voice of the loyal opposition, offering sensible solutions to the problems that face Allegheny County taxpayers," Heidelbaugh said in a statement.

A full press release is after the jump:

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Heather Heidelbaugh is pleased to announce her candidacy for the Republican At-Large Council seat on Allegheny County Council. Heather has been a practicing attorney in Pittsburgh since 1988 and has been an active member of the Republican Party for 32 years.

"I believe that the Republican At-Large position has been underutilized since its creation several years ago. It is imperative that this position provide opposing viewpoints to the Democratic-controlled County Council. I intend to be the voice of the loyal opposition, offering sensible solutions to the problems that face Allegheny County taxpayers," said Heidelbaugh.

Heather is probably best known as a legal advocate for fair elections. Most notably, Heather served as lead counsel in a lawsuit filed against ACORN in 2008. Heather's work exposed a massive voter fraud operation throughout the Commonwealth and the United States. It was her work on this case that caused the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties to request her testimony on this issue, which she gladly provided. Heather's experience as a skilled legal advocate makes her the right candidate for this position.

"I take this responsibility seriously. Allegheny County is currently on a path that is unsustainable and it's time for Allegheny County Council and the County Executive to enact reasonable laws that will help stimulate economic growth in this region. The At-Large Council Member plays an important role in this equation. I believe that my experience as a litigator provides the appropriate background for me to advocate for the rights of Allegheny County taxpayers just as I have always been an advocate for my clients," said Heidelbaugh.

Heather is currently a shareholder in the Litigation Services and Intellectual Property groups of Babst, Calland, Clements and Zomnir, P.C. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Heather has a long list of accomplishments outside of her advocacy for fair and clean elections. She was honored with the Allegheny County Bar Association's Pro Bono Award for her work in forming a legal clinic for the homeless in Allegheny County. Heather is also Vice-President of the National Republican Lawyers Association; she was recently selected as a Fellow to the Litigation Counsel of America, and has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer. But, her most important achievement is being the mother of a womderful son and daughter.