Peter F. Flaherty
Encyclopedia
Peter Francis "Pete" Flaherty (June 25, 1924 – April 18, 2005) was an American
politician from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
.
He served as Assistant District Attorney
of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
from 1957 to 1964; a City of Pittsburgh Councilman 1966 to 1970; Democratic
mayor of Pittsburgh from 1970 to 1977; United States Deputy Attorney General
during the Carter administration
from 1977 to 1978, and County Commissioner of Allegheny County from 1984 to 1996.
Flaherty was born and raised on Pittsburgh's North Side. He served in the United States Air Force
during World War II
and used the G.I. Bill to become the first in his family to attend college. He graduated from Carlow University in three years, then graduated cum laude from Notre Dame Law School
and became a member of the Pennsylvania Bar. He developed his own legal practice which included the Pittsburgh Steelers
among his clients.
ticket when he was elected to City Council. Four years later in 1969
he easily won as "Nobody's Boy" against the Democratic Party machine candidate, Judge Harry A. Kramer, in the primary election. In the general election Flaherty beat the Republican, John Tabor
. Four years later, in the 1973 election
, Flaherty was re-elected by winning the Democratic primary and the Republican primary, the latter through write in votes. He was the only mayoral candidate to have achieved this feat in Pittsburgh's history; it would not be achieved again until by incumbent Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
in 2009.http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/election/s_628630.html He first campaigned for Mayor with the promise to return the Mayor's Office to the neighborhoods instead of the "special interests".
Flaherty became immensely popular as he focused on infrastructure instead of the large redevelopment projects which had been pursued over the previous twenty years. He also focused on the tax burden which had been increased every year from 1960 to 1970 by tax increases and the addition of new taxes each year. In his first full year in office he had to deal with a Blue Flu of the Police, a strike by telephone operators and in the beginning of 1971 a general strike of all City of Pittsburgh blue collar employees, including refuse collectors. He made national headlines by using rental trucks and his administrative staff to collect refuse during the strike to comply with a mandamus action by the Democratic machine County Commissioners.
During his seven years as mayor Flaherty reduced the payroll by almost one third, balanced the budget each year without a tax increase or any new taxes, reduced the taxes by two mils, eliminated the wage tax for three years, and left office with a substantial budget surplus and taxes lower than when he took office. He increased the amount of street repaving from less than ten miles in 1969 to more than 100 miles in his last year in office. This was accomplished in part by using City personnel and a City owned asphalt plant instead of continuing to contract out the work. In order to improve refuse collection, Flaherty cancelled the contract for the North Side of the City with Browning Ferris Industries and had the North Side pick up done by City employees under the City's supervision. In reaction to public demand Flaherty organized the first City wide emergency ambulance system using City employees.
Flaherty converted the City Zoo
, the Conservatory
and a number of fire stations from coal furnaces to gas heat in order to eliminate pollution and operate the systems more cost effectively. Flaherty put in a modern centralized water filtration and pump station system which dramatically increased the efficiency of the Water Department. Flaherty's City management brought accolades from David Rockefeller
and Fortune Magazine.
Flaherty was featured in a book on City governing called City Money by Terry N. Clark, a Professor at the University of Chicago
. Throughout most of his tenure as Mayor Flaherty successfully opposed the Early Action Program, a huge project which included a rubber tired transit vehicle called Skybus
.
At the end of his tenure the dispute over this program was resolved by a study performed through the agreement of Flaherty, the County Commissioners, representatives of labor and of City Council. The study recommended the abandonment of Skybus and the use, instead, of steel wheel on steel rail technology. This recommendation was adopted by the County transit agency, Port Authority of Allegheny County
. While he was Mayor the City of Pittsburgh through Flaherty's staff negotiated the first collective bargaining agreements in the City's history pursuant to State laws passed in 1968 for Police and Fire and in 1970 for all other employees. Despite the labor strife caused by cutbacks during the first year of his administration, there were only five grievances appealed to arbitration during the remaining six years that he served as Mayor and there were no more work stoppages or interruptions. While Flaherty was Mayor, the City adopted a home rule charter which he supported. In addition, the law was changed so that the Members of the Pittsburgh School District
Board of Directors were elected instead of being appointed.
and Boston Celtics
basketball
star Chuck Cooper, as Director of Parks and Recreation.
He also eliminated the Police Tactical Police Force unit which was associated by African Americans with racism during the late 1960s and especially the disturbances that erupted after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The City of Pittsburgh was the first major City in Pennsylvania to adopt a successful affirmative action program for minorities and women.
in Allegheny County. This became a reality in 1992 when a first class airport was opened and later named it's terminal in Foerster's honor. He also supported Foerster and served as Foerster's intermediary with the City of Pittsburgh to build a new County Jail to replace a facility which was designed by famous architect Henry Hobson Richardson
in the 1800s. The team of Foerster as Chairman and Pete Flaherty as the second Democrat on the three member Board of County Commissioners served together for three four year terms. Together they were also able to responsibly address the County's underfunded pension plan so that by the time they left office it had improved from being 30% funded to being almost 100% funded.
in the general election. Flaherty was also the Democratic Party's nominee for governor of Pennsylvania in 1978, losing in the general election to Republican Richard Thornburgh, who would go on to become United States Attorney General
under President Ronald Reagan and President George H.W. Bush. In 1980
, he again ran statewide as the Democratic nominee for United States Senate
. Flaherty was defeated by Republican Arlen Specter
, taking 48% of the vote.
in 1968
, Jimmy Carter
in 1976
and went to New Hampshire
to support Bill Clinton
in his first run for the presidency. His early support of Carter earned Flaherty his appointment as Deputy Attorney General of the United States in 1977.
. Jim Flaherty's son, Mark Patrick Flaherty, was elected Allegheny County Controller in 2004.
Tom Flaherty, who is no relation, was elected Pittsburgh City Controller and then Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
of Allegheny County. John Flaherty
, a lawyer and also no relation to Pete, was elected a Judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County and then Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
.
Pete Flaherty's son, Shawn
, was elected to succeed Jeff Habay
, for the remainder of Habay's term, after Habay was convicted of criminal activity and sentenced to jail in 2006.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
He served as Assistant District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
from 1957 to 1964; a City of Pittsburgh Councilman 1966 to 1970; Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
mayor of Pittsburgh from 1970 to 1977; United States Deputy Attorney General
United States Deputy Attorney General
United States Deputy Attorney General is the second-highest-ranking official in the United States Department of Justice. In the United States federal government, the Deputy Attorney General oversees the day-to-day operation of the Department of Justice, and may act as Attorney General during the...
during the Carter administration
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
from 1977 to 1978, and County Commissioner of Allegheny County from 1984 to 1996.
Flaherty was born and raised on Pittsburgh's North Side. He served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and used the G.I. Bill to become the first in his family to attend college. He graduated from Carlow University in three years, then graduated cum laude from Notre Dame Law School
Notre Dame Law School
The Notre Dame Law School, or NDLS, is the professional graduate law program of its parent institution, the University of Notre Dame. Established in 1869, NDLS is the oldest Roman Catholic law school in the United States. NDLS is ranked 22nd among the nation's "Top 100 Law Schools" by U.S. News &...
and became a member of the Pennsylvania Bar. He developed his own legal practice which included the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
among his clients.
Mayor of Pittsburgh
In 1965 Flaherty led the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
ticket when he was elected to City Council. Four years later in 1969
Pittsburgh mayoral election, 1969
The Mayoral election of 1969 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1969. The incumbent mayor, Joe Barr of the Democratic Party chose not to run for his third term.-Primary elections:...
he easily won as "Nobody's Boy" against the Democratic Party machine candidate, Judge Harry A. Kramer, in the primary election. In the general election Flaherty beat the Republican, John Tabor
John Tabor
John Bayless Tabor "J.B." was a 49er who crossed the plains to California shortly after the discovery of gold. He later settled in the Washington Territory and was one of the founders of Whitman County where he served as a County Commissioner. He had large holdings of fruit orchards and wheat...
. Four years later, in the 1973 election
Pittsburgh mayoral election, 1973
The Mayoral election of 1973 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1973. The incumbent mayor, Pete Flaherty of the Democratic Party chose to run for his second full term.-Primary Election:...
, Flaherty was re-elected by winning the Democratic primary and the Republican primary, the latter through write in votes. He was the only mayoral candidate to have achieved this feat in Pittsburgh's history; it would not be achieved again until by incumbent Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
Luke Ravenstahl
Luke Robert Ravenstahl is the current Mayor of Pittsburgh. In September 2006, he became the youngest mayor in Pittsburgh's history at the age of 26. He is among the youngest mayors of a major city in American history....
in 2009.http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/election/s_628630.html He first campaigned for Mayor with the promise to return the Mayor's Office to the neighborhoods instead of the "special interests".
Flaherty became immensely popular as he focused on infrastructure instead of the large redevelopment projects which had been pursued over the previous twenty years. He also focused on the tax burden which had been increased every year from 1960 to 1970 by tax increases and the addition of new taxes each year. In his first full year in office he had to deal with a Blue Flu of the Police, a strike by telephone operators and in the beginning of 1971 a general strike of all City of Pittsburgh blue collar employees, including refuse collectors. He made national headlines by using rental trucks and his administrative staff to collect refuse during the strike to comply with a mandamus action by the Democratic machine County Commissioners.
During his seven years as mayor Flaherty reduced the payroll by almost one third, balanced the budget each year without a tax increase or any new taxes, reduced the taxes by two mils, eliminated the wage tax for three years, and left office with a substantial budget surplus and taxes lower than when he took office. He increased the amount of street repaving from less than ten miles in 1969 to more than 100 miles in his last year in office. This was accomplished in part by using City personnel and a City owned asphalt plant instead of continuing to contract out the work. In order to improve refuse collection, Flaherty cancelled the contract for the North Side of the City with Browning Ferris Industries and had the North Side pick up done by City employees under the City's supervision. In reaction to public demand Flaherty organized the first City wide emergency ambulance system using City employees.
Flaherty converted the City Zoo
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
The Pittsburgh Zoo is one of only six major zoo and aquarium combinations in the United States. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Highland Park, the zoo sits on of park land where it exhibits more than 4,000 animals representing 475 species, including 20 threatened or endangered species.The...
, the Conservatory
Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is a complex of buildings and grounds set in Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States...
and a number of fire stations from coal furnaces to gas heat in order to eliminate pollution and operate the systems more cost effectively. Flaherty put in a modern centralized water filtration and pump station system which dramatically increased the efficiency of the Water Department. Flaherty's City management brought accolades from David Rockefeller
David Rockefeller
David Rockefeller, Sr. is the current patriarch of the Rockefeller family. He is the youngest and only surviving child of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, and the only surviving grandchild of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil. His five siblings were...
and Fortune Magazine.
Flaherty was featured in a book on City governing called City Money by Terry N. Clark, a Professor at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. Throughout most of his tenure as Mayor Flaherty successfully opposed the Early Action Program, a huge project which included a rubber tired transit vehicle called Skybus
Skybus
Skybus may refer to:*Skybus Airlines, an ultra-low-cost airline that operated in the United States between 2007 and 2008*Skybus Super Shuttle, an airport bus service in Melbourne, Australia...
.
At the end of his tenure the dispute over this program was resolved by a study performed through the agreement of Flaherty, the County Commissioners, representatives of labor and of City Council. The study recommended the abandonment of Skybus and the use, instead, of steel wheel on steel rail technology. This recommendation was adopted by the County transit agency, Port Authority of Allegheny County
Port Authority of Allegheny County
Port Authority of Allegheny County is the second-largest public transit agency in Pennsylvania and the 11th-largest in the United States. When considering that its service area is the 20th largest in the U.S...
. While he was Mayor the City of Pittsburgh through Flaherty's staff negotiated the first collective bargaining agreements in the City's history pursuant to State laws passed in 1968 for Police and Fire and in 1970 for all other employees. Despite the labor strife caused by cutbacks during the first year of his administration, there were only five grievances appealed to arbitration during the remaining six years that he served as Mayor and there were no more work stoppages or interruptions. While Flaherty was Mayor, the City adopted a home rule charter which he supported. In addition, the law was changed so that the Members of the Pittsburgh School District
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Pittsburgh Public Schools is the public school district in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and adjacent Mount Oliver.The combined land area of these municipalities is with a population of 342,503 according to the 2000 census. In August 2005, the superintendent became Mark Roosevelt. His tenure ends...
Board of Directors were elected instead of being appointed.
Minority community relations
Flaherty insured through his influence and appointments to the body which drew up the School Board electoral districts that African Americans in Pittsburgh would have equal and fair representation on the Elected School Board. Although he was criticized in the African-American community for opposing forced busing, his administration was a leader in recruiting minorities and women for top administrative posts and throughout the work force. One of his early appointments was former Duquesne UniversityDuquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
and Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
star Chuck Cooper, as Director of Parks and Recreation.
He also eliminated the Police Tactical Police Force unit which was associated by African Americans with racism during the late 1960s and especially the disturbances that erupted after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
The City of Pittsburgh was the first major City in Pennsylvania to adopt a successful affirmative action program for minorities and women.
Tom Foerster
As County Commissioner he was teamed up with perennial Democratic Commissioner Tom Foerster. He supported Foerster's long term goal of building a world class airportPittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...
in Allegheny County. This became a reality in 1992 when a first class airport was opened and later named it's terminal in Foerster's honor. He also supported Foerster and served as Foerster's intermediary with the City of Pittsburgh to build a new County Jail to replace a facility which was designed by famous architect Henry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson was a prominent American architect who designed buildings in Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and other cities. The style he popularized is named for him: Richardsonian Romanesque...
in the 1800s. The team of Foerster as Chairman and Pete Flaherty as the second Democrat on the three member Board of County Commissioners served together for three four year terms. Together they were also able to responsibly address the County's underfunded pension plan so that by the time they left office it had improved from being 30% funded to being almost 100% funded.
Senatorial and Gubernatorial elections
Flaherty was the Democratic Party nominee for United States Senate in 1974, losing to incumbent Republican Senator Richard SchweikerRichard Schweiker
Richard Schultz Schweiker is a former U.S. Congressman and Senator representing the state of Pennsylvania. He later was Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Cabinet of President Ronald Reagan.-Early life:...
in the general election. Flaherty was also the Democratic Party's nominee for governor of Pennsylvania in 1978, losing in the general election to Republican Richard Thornburgh, who would go on to become United States Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
under President Ronald Reagan and President George H.W. Bush. In 1980
United States Senate elections, 1980
The 1980 U.S. Senate elections coincided with Ronald Reagan's election to the Presidency. Reagan's large margin of victory over incumbent Jimmy Carter pulled in many Democratic voters and gave a huge boost to Republican senate candidates....
, he again ran statewide as the Democratic nominee for United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. Flaherty was defeated by Republican Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009...
, taking 48% of the vote.
Deputy Attorney General
He supported Hubert HumphreyHubert Humphrey
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
in 1968
United States presidential election, 1968
The United States presidential election of 1968 was the 46th quadrennial United States presidential election. Coming four years after Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson won in a historic landslide, it saw Johnson forced out of the race and Republican Richard Nixon elected...
, Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
in 1976
United States presidential election, 1976
The United States presidential election of 1976 followed the resignation of President Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate scandal. It pitted incumbent President Gerald Ford, the Republican candidate, against the relatively unknown former governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter, the Democratic...
and went to New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
to support Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
in his first run for the presidency. His early support of Carter earned Flaherty his appointment as Deputy Attorney General of the United States in 1977.
Family name
The Flaherty name helped a number of others get elected to public office, even when they were not related. Flaherty's brother, Jim, became a County Commissioner in Allegheny County and later a Judge on Pennsylvania's Commonwealth CourtCommonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania is one of two Pennsylvania intermediate appellate courts. The Commonwealth Court's headquarters is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Superior Court of Pennsylvania is the other intermediate appellate court in the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System...
. Jim Flaherty's son, Mark Patrick Flaherty, was elected Allegheny County Controller in 2004.
Tom Flaherty, who is no relation, was elected Pittsburgh City Controller and then Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas
The Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania .The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in the state....
of Allegheny County. John Flaherty
John Flaherty
John Timothy Flaherty is a television baseball broadcaster and a retired Major League Baseball player. Flaherty was a catcher, and last played in the major leagues for the New York Yankees.-Early life:...
, a lawyer and also no relation to Pete, was elected a Judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County and then Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the court of last resort for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It meets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
.
Pete Flaherty's son, Shawn
Shawn Flaherty
Shawn T. Flaherty is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 30th legislative district. He was first elected in a special election in 2006 to fill the remainder of Jeff Habay's term...
, was elected to succeed Jeff Habay
Jeff Habay
Jeffrey Earl Habay is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, who was elected to represent the 30th legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1994 at the age of 28...
, for the remainder of Habay's term, after Habay was convicted of criminal activity and sentenced to jail in 2006.
Death
Flaherty died at age 80 in 2005 and was interred in the Roman Catholic Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Electoral history
- 1969 Race for Pittsburgh MayorPittsburgh mayoral election, 1969The Mayoral election of 1969 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1969. The incumbent mayor, Joe Barr of the Democratic Party chose not to run for his third term.-Primary elections:...
- Pete Flaherty (D),65%
- John Tabor (R), 35%
- 1973 Race for Pittsburgh MayorPittsburgh mayoral election, 1973The Mayoral election of 1973 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1973. The incumbent mayor, Pete Flaherty of the Democratic Party chose to run for his second full term.-Primary Election:...
- Pete Flaherty (D), 100%
- Unopposed
- 1980 Race for U.S. Senate
- Arlen SpecterArlen SpecterArlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009...
(R), 51% - Pete Flaherty (D), 48%
- Arlen Specter
External links
- Obituary
- 2008 Election Central Guide
- Finding aid to the Peter F. Flaherty Papers at the Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh