(News, Politics)

Allegheny County's chief executive picked up another endorsement in his campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

But while city Mayor Jim Brewster was endorsing Dan Onorato, Onorato stopped short of endorsing Brewster's proposal for sharing Marcellus shale revenue between the state and local municipalities.

"I think we agree that Marcellus shale is an important opportunity, and we'll work out the details together," said Onorato following a Thursday afternoon press conference Downtown, where he received Brewster's enthusiastic support.

"There's an awful lot Dan has done for this city," Brewster said, adding that he was confident Onorato would continue to remember the Mon-Yough area "once he's elected."

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Earlier this month, Brewster suggested a 50-50 split of drilling royalties and revenues collected statewide between cities, townships and boroughs and the state's general fund. His proposal is getting serious consideration from two local legislators.

Onorato is suggesting that Marcellus shale revenues instead be parceled out through the state, including a fund that would support an "impact fund" for infrastructure improvements and other development financially stressed municipalities.

"It's definitely different from the mayor's proposal," Onorato said.

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Yet both Democrats agree on far more than they disagree. Indeed, Brewster on Saturday will host a rally on Onorato's behalf at the Palisades, Downtown, beginning at 6 p.m.

"Unless we get the right man as governor, a lot of communities like McKeesport are going to have a hard time surviving," Brewster said.

The mayor blasted the likely Republican nominee for governor, state Attorney General Tom Corbett, for saying that he would have rejected federal stimulus money.

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Brewster accused Corbett of pandering and said the city has benefited from the stimulus package by being able to the hire police officers and purchase public safety equipment.

The pending construction of a flyover ramp into the industrial park on the old U.S. Steel National Works site is also a benefit of the stimulus, the mayor said.

"We're a grateful city," Brewster said.

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For his part, Onorato praised Brewster's six years as mayor of the county's second-largest city, which he called a "classic example" of the problems that face other former manufacturing centers statewide.

"Mayor Brewster is one of the examples of a mayor who gets things done with the limited resources he has," said Onorato, who added that if elected he will provide financial incentives to municipalities that consolidate or share services.

Pennsylvania can hold onto and even expand its manufacturing base, he said, if the state reforms its corporate tax laws, invests in rail and road infrastructure and streamlines state agencies.

"I think America can make things again," Onorato said. "We need to have sites that are shovel ready, and we need to be willing to work with companies to expedite permits. Let's let everybody know that this state is open for business."

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In an interview afterward, Onorato admitted he may have a hard time getting cooperation from Republicans in the state General Assembly, who have fought current Gov. Ed Rendell, also a Democrat, on many of his signature issues.

But Onorato pointed out that other Democrats fought him on such issues as consolidation of row offices, closing 911 centers and cutting 600 jobs from the county payroll.

"I'll get push-back from the General Assembly, like I did with the row offices," he said. "But I had the public at my back. The system in Harrisburg is broken. We all know that, and the culture needs to change."

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Recent polls suggest that although Onorato has an edge on his rivals for the nomination, up to two-thirds of state Democrats have yet to decide who they'll vote for.

Also seeking the nomination are state Auditor General Jack Wagner, a former state senator and Pittsburgh city councilman; Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, a former U.S. congressman; and state Sen. Anthony Williams. The state's primary is slated for May 11.