George Matta, a former county clerk of courts, has declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination to succeed Controller Mark Flaherty, a spot opened with Mr. Flaherty’s decision to run for county executive.

Mr. Matta, of White Oak, is a former mayor of Duquesne and now works as director of business development and community relations for the Rivers Casino.

“As fortune would have it, a door of opportunity has opened for me to return to public life in a position in which I am uniquely qualified to fill and deeply motivated to pursue,’’ Mr. Matta wrote in a letter to members of the Democratic county committee.  “With Mark Flaherty’s decision to seek the nomination for Chief Executive, I am excited to announce that I am pursuing the nomination for County Controller.’’

Mr. Matta, a graduate of Penn State University, was clerk of courts for eight years until the office was abolished in 2008 in the consolidation of county row offices.

Valerie McDonald Roberts, manager of the county’s real estate office, has also announced plans to run for the controller’s spot as has state Rep. Chelsa Wagner, D-Beechview.  Reps. Nick Kotik, D-Robinson, and Matt Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, have also said they are considering the race, but neither has announced a final decision.