Brendan Schubert runs in Feb. special election

‘ ‘ ‘ Brendan Schubert likes to stand out. ‘ ‘ ‘ Schubert, a Pitt alumnus running for… ‘ ‘ ‘ Brendan Schubert likes to stand out. ‘ ‘ ‘ Schubert, a Pitt alumnus running for Pittsburgh City Council District 2 in a special election Feb. 3’ said he likes to take the opposite stance on what a lot of politicians do and say. He said he enjoys, for example, going door-to-door to hear people’s concerns about his district, which include Crafton Heights, Duquesne Heights and other areas. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I [also] have the ability,’ said Schubert, ‘to realize that we as politicians have to tell people how we’re really going to solve their problems, which is something that so many administrations sorely lack.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Schubert, who graduated from Pitt in 2006, is running to serve the area where he grew up: District 2. He runs against Democrat Theresa Smith, Republican Chris Metz and a Democrat running as an Independent, Georgia Blotzer. ‘ ‘ ‘ Schubert, 25, ran in the Democratic primary for the position, but Smith defeated him. Schubert said he’s now running under the party he created, Schubert for Council. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I love where I come from, and I think it’s about time that people get involved and stop sitting on the sidelines,’ said Schubert. ‘ ‘ ‘ Schubert said he believes his experience working as the city’s zoning code administrative officer gave him the tools he needs to be a successful city councilman. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘As you can see, the city’s issues are right in my background,’ he said.’ ‘I’m working on improving the city every day already.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Schubert said that, if elected, he would concentrate on the economy. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘The economy is one of the most important issues I’ll have to deal with as a city councilman,’ he said. ‘We will re-invest excess funds into commercial and housing real estate, which I think could create great financial gain in Pittsburgh.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Schubert added, ‘We need to evaluate taxes on a case-by-case basis and figure out how we can get people to believe in Pittsburgh government again.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Schubert said he began working on campaigns when he was in high school. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I worked with my dad, who was a trial lawyer, with grassroots campaigns and also helped several state legislators become elected,’ said Schubert. ‘ ‘ ‘ When he was in college, he became a member of Pitt’s College Democrats and Judicial Board. Both experiences, he said, have led him to where he is today. ‘ ‘ ‘ But he said his classes and professors inspired him even more. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I loved my history of the European Union class taught by Bernard Hagerty,’ said Schubert. ‘The subject didn’t particularly pique my interest at first, but I got to know Professor Hagerty and found out that he had worked in politics in Washington, D.C., for 20 years, which really encouraged my political aspirations.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Schubert said that Hagerty introduced him to politicians working in Pittsburgh and throughout Pennsylvania, people with whom he now has friendships. ‘ ‘ ‘ Another of Schubert’s professors, Nello Giorgetti, remembers him fondly. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘While Brendan was in my class, he was already thinking about running for a political position,’ said Giorgetti.’ ‘He was definitely one of my better students, and although he’s facing an uphill battle against Theresa Smith, who is running as a Democrat, I’m glad to see he’s sticking to his convictions.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ The connections Schubert made weren’t limited to the classroom. ‘ ‘ ‘ John Kennedy, a Pitt senior who’s friends with Schubert, said, ‘Brendan and I have both always been interested in politics. I told him I wanted to be mayor of Pittsburgh one day, so we plan to run against each other.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Kennedy added that Schubert ‘has always been passionate about making Pittsburgh an even greater city.’