Flaherty, Peter F., 1924-

Peter (Pete) F. Flaherty was born on June 25, 1924 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, the son of Irish immigrants. He graduated from Allegheny High School and then entered the Army Air Corps in the midst of World War II. After serving as a navigator in the Pacific through the end of the war, Flaherty returned home and attended school first at Mount Mercy College (now Carlow University) and then Notre Dame Law School, graduating with his J.D. in 1951. Flaherty returned to Pittsburgh to practice law, securing a place as Assistant District Attorney of Allegheny County from 1957 to 1964. During this time, he became interested in politics, and was elected to be a City of Pittsburgh Councilman in 1966. Flaherty, critical of incumbent mayor Joseph Barr, ran for mayor in 1969 under the slogan "Nobody's Boy," a reflection of the estrangement he felt from the Democratic Party organization as a whole. Respected for his independence, charisma, and drive, Flaherty won with more than a 4 to 1 margin. He immediately went to work attempting to trim the city payroll and encouraged fiscal responsibility, a stance that got him into trouble with the Teamsters Union. Flaherty also gained a reputation as being anti-big business, as illustrated by his protracted battle to stop the Port Authority from implementing the expensive Skybus program. However, Flaherty remained popular with the people and easily won a second term in 1973. After his second term in Pittsburgh, Flaherty tried to translate his local success to the 1973 gubernatorial race, in which he was defeated. His attentions turned to Jimmy Carter, another party "outsider" with an emphasis on fiscal responsibility, and he was appointed Deputy Attorney General of the United States in 1977. He stayed only a year in Washington, not having any real power in the administration, and again ran for governor in Pennsylvania. He was defeated by Richard Thornburgh in 1978, and again by Arlen Specter in the 1980 race for the U.S. Senate position. In 1983, he returned from quietly practicing law to run as Allegheny County Commissioner. He was successful in his bid and had a productive career, initiating successful building projects such as new terminals at the Pittsburgh International Airport. He served in that position until his retirement in 1996. Afterwards, Flaherty continued to reside in Pittsburgh until his death from cancer in 2005.