Row office

== Voters in Allegheny County said YES to row office reform in 2005 ==
The ballot question changed the county charter from 10 elected row offices to four.
=== County Council determined what offices were eliminated and how the ballot question was crafted. ===
== Present Day ==
===Row-offices without elected leaders as of Jan 2006:===
* Allegheny County Medical Examiner
** Judge Manning issued an order allowing Wecht to conduct inquests and preliminary hearings into death cases, but he was instructed to do so in consultation with District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala's office.
Row-office consolidation for the end of 2007, with the completion of terms ===
* Recorder of Deeds, Valerie McDonald Roberts
* Clerk of Courts, George Matta II
* Prothonotary, Michael Lamb 
& Register of Wills, Eileen Wagner
===Remaining elective row office:===
* District Attorney, Stephen A. Zappala
** Re-elected to a four year term in Nov 2005.
* Controller, Mark Patrick Flaherty
* Sheriff, Pete DeFazio 
**Re-elected to a 4 year term in Nov 2005.
* Treasurer, John Weinstein
== County Row Office Reform put forth by County Executive in November, 2004==
The proposal cuts the number of elected row offices to two. 
The elected row offices of the clerk of courts, jury commissioners, prothonotary and register of wills would be replaced with a director of court records who is appointed by the county manager in consultation with the chief executive.
The elected coroner, recorder of deeds, sheriff and treasurer would be replaced with a medical examiner, manager of real estate, sheriff and treasurer, respectively, who are also appointed by the county manager in consultation with the chief executive. 
The county would maintain an independently elected controller and district attorney.
=====Summary of the proposal:=====
# Clerk of courts merged to director of court records.
# Jury commissioners merged to director of court records.
# Prothonotary merged to director of court records.
# Register of wills merged to director of court records.
# Coroner replaced with a medical examiner who is appointed by the county manager.
# Recorder of deeds replaced with a manager of real estate who is appointed by the county manager.
# Sheriff becomes appointed by the county manager.
# Treasurer becomes appointed by the county manager.
# Controller stays as independently elected position.
# District Attorney stays as independently elected position.