Allegheny County Councilwoman Barbara Daly Danko passed away Wednesday night due to complications from breast cancer, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office.
The 61-year-old Democrat first joined the council in April of 2011 when she was appointed to the seat vacated by Rich Fitzgerald, who left office to mount what would be a successful run for county executive. Danko was then elected to a full four-year term in November of that year.
Danko was running for a second term against challenger Caroline Mitchell.
According to the Allegheny County website, Danko was a native of Washington, D.C. who held degrees from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and the University of Texas at Austin. She also held a certificate in accounting from Robert Morris University. She and her family have lived in Regent Square since 1989.
Danko was a strong opponent of fracking on county lands and voted several times against leases at the airport and Deer Lakes Park.
Danko was not a career politician but did work for federal state and local governments and was active in politics. She was also an adjunct political science professor at the Community College of Allegheny County and the University of Pittsburgh.
