PITTSBURGH — There’s a shake-up at city hall in the middle of the mayoral primary.
Channel 11 learned Saturday that Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s chief of staff, Jake Wheatley, resigned Wednesday.
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Chief Investigator Rick Earle reached out to Wheatley and he said he was taking a leave of absence to work on the Mayor’s re-election campaign.
But later that same day, the Mayor sent a new release about Wheatley’s departure and he never mentioned any of that.
The news release thanked Wheatley for his service and said he had resigned last Wednesday.
The release also said the Mayor had promoted Chief Economic Development Officer Kyle Chintalapalli to Chief of Staff.
The Mayor, in that release, praised Chintalapalli’s work.
Wheatley joined the Mayor’s office three years ago after nearly 20 years as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
News of Wheatley’s departure sent shockwave through City Hall.
Earle asked Pittsburgh City Councilmember if he was surprised.
“Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I know that Chief Wheatley was a close friend and confidant of the mayor,” Bob Charland said.
Charland, who represents communities in the South Hills, said he was caught off guard by the resignation.
Charland said Wheatley was very familiar with many of his neighborhoods, as Wheatley represented while serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
“It was nice to have somebody who had some of the experience of the Hilltop and someone who was not afraid to come to neighborhoods in the Hilltop,” Charland said.
Wheatley, who served in the Marine Corps and has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh, is the latest high-profile employee in the mayor’s office to step down.
Communication’s Director Maria Montano resigned last August and Police Chief Larry Scirotto retired in November, after only 17 months on the job amid scrutiny of returning to officiating college basketball.
Charland wonders if the departures are a symptom of bigger problems in the administration.
“Is that why we are having trouble with snow plowing, is that why we aren’t turning the water fountains on when the pools open? I think there are some questions to be asked. Is this the symptom of a bigger cause?” Charland asked.
And of course, there is the primary election in May where Gainey is facing a challenge from Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor.
11 Investigates reached out to both the Mayor’s office and his campaign but have not heard back.
O’Connor’s campaign declined to comment.
Wheatley told 11 Investigates on Monday afternoon that he will have a statement on his departure later this week.
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