Q&A with Bob Charland, Candidate for City Council, District 3

This is Q&A number 20 in our 2023 series, a new record for us. We have several still outstanding. It is not too late to refer the candidates whose name you don’t see in our list at the end of this post.

In the time since Councilman Kraus’s first election, we have elected a number of out LGBTQ leaders, including Rep. Jessica Benham, who also represents a significant portion of District 3, as well as Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes and Rep. Abigail Salisbury and many more at the local level in Allegheny County. That level of representation was unimaginable even twenty years ago. But I’ve also learned that the LGBTQ community needs more than that–they need everyone–in elected office and not–fighting for the issues that most impact the community.

The next post in our 2023 primary election season series ‘Political Q&A’ with progressive candidates throughout Pennsylvania. Candidates can be anywhere in Pennsylvania running for any level of office. Please note that these are not necessarily endorsements, more of an opportunity for candidates to connect with the LGBTQ community, progressives neighbors, and others with an interest in Western Pennsylvania. If your candidate would like to participate, please contact us pghlesbian at gmail dot com. We welcome candidates at all levels of government across the entire Commonwealth.

By participating, candidates are saying that they

must be an LGBTQIA+ ally, specifically supporting equality and dignity for transgender persons
identify as pro-choice
must affirm that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election and that they accept the certified Pennsylvania’s election results

I cannot remember when I first met Bob, so I searched my email archive and realized our correspondence began in 2018. I’ve worked with him on several issues over the years and found him to be a good listener, resourceful, diplomatic, and willing to collaborate. I’ve asked every City Council candidate (who completed this Q&A) about replacing an out member with no out members. So of course I asked the candidate who is literally doing that and his response is a good one. I’m also hopeful his experience in the district office has prepared him to tackle the myriad of concerns surrounding the South Side.

Your Name: Bob Charland

Your Pronouns: He/Him/His

The Office You Seek: Pittsburgh City Council, District 3

How do you describe your identity? I am a white, straight, cis man

Tell us about your district. What is a hidden gem most people might not know about? Pittsburgh City Council District 3 contains Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Beltzhoover, Central Oakland, Knoxville, Mt. Oliver City, Mt. Washington, Oakcliffe, St. Clair, South Oakland, South Side Flats, and the South Side Slopes.

Bottle Rocket Social Hall is becoming a little less hidden, but one of the highest ranking Western PA electeds was telling me that their family took them there and they couldn’t believe how fun it was.

I am ready to do this job on day one–being a city council member is a complicated endeavor, with the need to balance a huge variety of interests, priorities, and stakeholders.

How has redistricting impacted your district?

Redistricting increased our population in District 3 by about 200 residents. It also increased diversity of the district, by increasing the number of Hispanic, Black, and Asian residents. Additionally, our district now includes the neighborhood of Oakcliffe, as well as McKinley Park, which has always served residents of our district. Our district lost a small piece of Mt. Washington along William Street and houses that are on the hillside.

Tell us about the first LGBTQ person you met and what impact they had on your life? Using initials or pseudonyms is fine.

The first LGBTQ person I met was my Dad’s best friend from work, Mark. Mark had a big impact on my life because with young parents, he was always around helping out. He was the best cook, had the coolest house to host parties, and always told stories that made all the grownups howl in laughter. It wasn’t until I was probably in high school that I realized Mark was gay. What was so profound about it was that it really wasn’t profound at all. Mark wasn’t any different from the rest of my family – except that his house was always stocked with the best smoked cheeses.

Everyone deserves a safe place in a thriving community. A major priority of mine is to bring in a business district manager for the South Side.

How has your familiarity with the LGBTQ community in your district and the region changed since you took municipal office?

I’ve been proud over the last five years to work for Councilman Kraus, who was one of the first openly LGBTQ elected officials in Western PA. That obviously has had a major impact on my understanding of the LGBTQ community in the region and particularly the way it has rapidly changed. In the time since Councilman Kraus’s first election, we have elected a number of out LGBTQ leaders, including Rep. Jessica Benham, who also represents a significant portion of District 3, as well as Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes and Rep. Abigail Salisbury and many more at the local level in Allegheny County. That level of representation was unimaginable even twenty years ago. But I’ve also learned that the LGBTQ community needs more than that–they need everyone–in elected office and not–fighting for the issues that most impact the community.

Based on this, what do you understand to be our top LGBTQ concerns and priorities for the City Council? How will you respond to those priorities?

A top LGBTQ concern is to strengthen the work of the LGBTQIA+ commission, where Sue and many community leaders honorably serve. City Council has codified laws surrounding LGBTQIA+ discrimination, but it’s important that we are constantly working to lobby our State partners to make sure that those protections do not end at our borders.

Please give an example of how intersectionality has informed your work.

By recognizing that people have multiple identities and experiences that interact and change each other, you can be more sensitive to the unique challenges and oppressions that they may face. An important experience for me was understanding how different life is for unhoused men vs. unhoused women and nonbinary folks, who are often survivors of sexual violence within 3 days of “living rough.” These experiences need to be considered anytime we talk about moving a camp, which will likely break up built in protections that may have existed in the current camp.

Please give an example of when another member of Council or other Council staffer has persuaded you to change or adjust your perspective on an issue.

To be clear, this is something that happens fairly regularly–I believe it is very important, particularly in government work, to always accept the possibility that you are wrong or under-informed. Early in my time at council, a fellow staffer increased my understanding around drug use and harm reduction. For example, harm reduction strategies, like a needle exchange, can increase the chances that a person using drugs attends treatment by five percent. This understanding helped lead to my advocacy for getting a Prevention Point site in South Pittsburgh.

It wasn’t until I was probably in high school that I realized Mark was gay. What was so profound about it was that it really wasn’t profound at all. Mark wasn’t any different from the rest of my family – except that his house was always stocked with the best smoked cheeses.

When Bruce Kraus leaves office, there will be no out LGBTQ members of Council, depending on this election cycle results. That’s a significant loss for our community in terms of representation. What will you do to ensure the LGBTQ community has a voice, not just cishet allies speaking for us?

I know that there is nothing like direct representation–that it is a significant thing for the LGBTQ residents of District 3 to see themselves reflected in their City Councilmember, as currently they do. However, I hope to do everything I can to make sure that the LGBTQ community is heard on City Council and in our broader community. I will specifically and intentionally seek out queer voices as I gather community input on all issues, not just those that are specific to the LGBTQ community. That will include at community meetings and at meetings before Council.

As a 52-year-old white queer woman, I don’t recognize the South Side any longer. One time it was the space other than the East End where I felt safe being out. Now, we rarely venture there and only during the day mostly for cultural events or maybe for lunch. A lot of queer folx will not go to the South Side bars, especially BIPOC. We miss the shops, the restaurants for dinner, but between COVID-19 and the volatile rightwing extremists, our experience of safe spaces has changed. What specifically will you do to connect or reconnect LGBTQ folx with the South Side businesses?

Everyone deserves a safe place in a thriving community. A major priority of mine is to bring in a business district manager for the South Side. As part of our continued efforts to revitalize the South Side business district, we need to invite diverse community voices into the process, to build a better future for everyone. We should promote diverse business owners, connecting LGBTQ people and POC to the resources needed to start and grow small businesses.

In September 2022, City Council recognized the first ‘Protect Trans Kids’ Day in Pittsburgh with a proclamation written by trans teens. Please review the proclamation and offer some concrete policy or program solution you would consider championing in response to their priorities.

A major tenet of my campaign is increasing after school programming in the City, whether it is city-run or run by partners. It’s imperative that we have appropriate programming for all of our youth, especially our trans youth. As I will say many times in office, I would be a fool to think that I know exactly what that is. I will lean heavily on advice from experts, from the readers of this blog, who know what that programming might look like.

I will also always advocate for Trans Youth in sports, like I did in April of 2022 when I wrote and delivered my own Will of Council denouncing the hateful attempts of Rep. Gleim.

An important experience for me was understanding how different life is for unhoused men vs. unhoused women and nonbinary folks, who are often survivors of sexual violence within 3 days of “living rough.” These experiences need to be considered anytime we talk about moving a camp, which will likely break up built in protections that may have existed in the current camp.

Potential mergers or collaborations with the County creates a dilemma for City employees who would lose access to domestic partner benefits. The County briefly offered them to same sex, non-unionized employees before rescinding them in 2015. The City offers domestic partner benefits to all employees. The former City 911 employees lost this benefit when merger with the County 911 Department. Would you commit publicly to require any potential partner for mergers and consolidations to ensure City employees do not lose benefits?

Absolutely–-any negotiation over mergers and consolidations should include protections for employee benefits

How do competitive primary elections benefit the residents of a community?

With the recent withdrawal of the other candidate that had been in this primary, there will no longer be a competitive primary for the Third Council District. However, I still plan to run the kind of campaign that I always planned to–knocking on doors, meeting community members where they are, and always listening to their concerns. I hope that I can bring some of the benefits of a competitive primary through those efforts: accountability, engagement, and the opportunity to influence policy.

What are three reasons people should vote for you/support your campaign?

1. I am ready to do this job on day one–being a city council member is a complicated endeavor, with the need to balance a huge variety of interests, priorities, and stakeholders. I’ve spent the last five years working in city council, navigating that balance, and coming to understand the needs of this district

2. I promise to always listen to my constituents, even when–especially when–they disagree with my plans. I believe that the people that know best what their neighborhoods need are the people that live in them and I do not believe and will not stand for a top down system of government.

3. That being said, there is a difference between common disagreements and a diversity of opinions, and hate. I will not back down when it comes to standing against hate. In a district where Councilman Kraus’s signs were spit on for his sexuality, and mailers were sent out calling him a “homo,” I am unapologetic in my commitment that bigotry and hatred will have absolutely no platform to stand on and will never have a sympathetic ear in my office.

Tell me about your endorsements and supporters.

Organizations: Allegheny County Democratic Committee, Allegheny-Fayette County Labor Council, Pittsburgh Fire Fighters – IAFF Local No. 1, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, SEIU 32BJ, Steel City Stonewall Democrats, Young Democrats of Allegheny County

Elected Officials: Mayor Ed Gainey, State Representative Jessica Benham, State Representative Aerion Abney, Councilman Bruce Kraus, Council President Theresa Kail Smith, Councilperson Erika Strassburger, Councilman Anthony Coghill

Is there anything you’d like to add?

Just thank you for this opportunity! It’s already been an honor to serve District 3, and I’m thrilled to continue doing that.

Where can readers find your campaign online and on social media?

Charlandforpgh.com

Facebook.com/charlandforpgh

twitter.com/CharlandBob

Thank you, Bob

Other Q&A’s in this election cycle series. You can read previous cycle Q&A’s here.

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