Former Democratic Allegheny County council President Rich Fitzgerald will face Republican entrepreneur D. Raja of Mt. Lebanon in the general election for Allegheny County Executive.

Fitzgerald, 52, of Squirrel Hill, defeated county Controller Mark Patrick Flaherty 56 percent to 44 percent to win the Democratic nomination.

In his acceptance speech, Fitzgerald promised, “to unify the party and region, and streamline county government.” He also pledged to develop “an energy policy that makes sense for the region.”

For his part, Flaherty told reporters he was proud of the race he ran, and hinted that the day’s rainy weather may have played a factor in his defeat.

Raja, 45, of Mt. Lebanon, easily dispatched attorney Chuck McCullough 72 percent to 28 percent for the Republican nomination.

Raja, a computer software entrepreneur and Mt. Lebanon commissioner told reporters the “slow decline in Allegheny county” points to a need for “transformational leadership” to create jobs.

For the Democratic nomination to succeed Flaherty as controller, state Rep. Chelsa Wagner, 33, of Brookline won a three way race over Allegheny County Real Estate Department Manager Valerie McDonald Roberts and former County Clerk of Courts George F. Matta II.  

Wagner told supporters Tuesday night in Beechview that she was “excited by the victory and looking forward to running a strong campaign in the fall. “ 

Wagner will face Republican Robert Howard, a former North Hills School Director, who was unopposed in the primary.

For the Republican county council at-large seat, attorney Heather Heidelbaugh of Mt. Lebanon defeated Edward J. Kress of Shaler.  She told Patch she was “very humbled by the support she received throughout Allegheny county and very enthusiastic about starting her new position and working on the deep problems in the county.”

She will join John P. DeFazio, the Democrat’s at-large member on county council.