New City Manager Starts Work in Duquesne

Crawford brings experience from city of Pittsburgh, county government

By Tom Leturgey
The Tube City Almanac
January 20, 2023
Posted in: Duquesne News

Duquesne’s new city manager realizes he has many challenges in his post, but he’s ready to take on the charge.

Scott Crawford, 54, started work Dec. 19; Kelly Robertson had left the job in August, and George Newsome had assumed the Interim duties ever since. Newsome moves over to administrative assistant with the addition of Crawford.

“I’ve been working a couple of different roles,” said Crawford in a telephone interview on Tuesday. He has worked in a variety of different financial roles throughout his career. A Mt Washington native, Crawford was with the city of Pittsburgh from 2015 to 2019.

In 2020 and 2021, he was with the Allegheny County Health Department’s financial offices. He tried the private sector with stops at the Rivers Casino and PNC Bank, before finding the vacancy in Duquesne.

To an observer, the different jobs may seem like a lot; however, those in the finance department often find varying employment opportunities, and Crawford hopes that he will stick around in Duquesne for a while.

“I’d rather be ‘doing things’ rather than ‘reporting on them,’” continued Crawford. “[Being city manager] gives me both.”

Duquesne will soon embark on a positive financial chapter, when the city is expected to emerge from Act 47 oversight later this year. “The goal is to move the city forward,” he says. “First and foremost, it’s to get the community involved: getting engaged, learn and question. We need to get everyone on board.”

Crawford was among the last class to graduate from South Hills High School in the Pittsburgh Public Schools system. He earned his associate degree from Community College of Allegheny County and his bachelor’s degree in business from Point Park University. A fraud and forensics degree and master’s in business administration from Carlow College followed. He worked and continued his education completing his final degree in 2017.

While Crawford never lived in Duquesne, some extended family members had in the past, and he always appreciated the city. When he learned of the city manager position, he applied. “I always liked Duquesne and couldn’t pass this up.” Crawford and his wife, Liz, recently sold their home in Pittsburgh and relocated to Castle Shannon.

He believes his work with the City of Pittsburgh — especially navigating fiscal and administrative log jams — will benefit the government and residents in Duquesne. “How does this benefit the residents of Duquesne? That’s the only question that matters,” he adds.

He notes that in Pittsburgh, the mayor and city council are put on a sort of pedestal, but the officials in Duquesne are “members of the community” and residents as well as business owners see them around town.

“As I’ve told people since day one on this job, I don’t know what I don’t know yet,” he says. “I have a good support system here. We will get there eventually.”

Serving as a fiscal watchdog “won’t be a cake walk,” he says. But he says he is eager to work with Newsome, Mayor Scott Adams, city council and the rest of city government.

“I’m not looking to build something here, and then move on to do something else,” Crawford says. “I’m at a part of my career where I’m not going to build something here, and then leave. I would hope to never have to need a resume again.”

Originally published January 20, 2023.

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