Pitt employees win primary elections

  • Bobby Wilson, 36, a technologist at the Pitt’s Emphysema COPD Research Center, defeated long-time councilwoman Darlene Harris in the Democratic primary for District 3 of Pittsburgh City Council, which represents the North Side. The Post-Gazette reports that Wilson will likely face challenges from two independent candidates: Chris Rosselot, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, and Quincy Kofi Swatson.

  • In Allegheny Council Council District 13, Democrat Olivia Bennett, 40, of Northview Heights, defeated incumbent Councilwoman Denise Ranalli Russell, 52. Bennett is an administrator at the Pitt Cancer Institute. District 13 includes much of the city of Pittsburgh, from Morningside through Downtown and south to Beltzhoover, and the whole North Side, plus Bellevue. Currently, there is no Republican challenger for the seat in the fall election.

  • Pitt computer science student Chris Kumanchik, 25, failed in his bid to unseat City Council President Bruce Kraus in the Democratic primary. Kraus represents District 3, which includes most of Oakland and the South Side.