Brian Naughton

Brian Naughton

Independent

Candidate, Pittsburgh City Council District 4

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 4, 2025

Education

High school

Carrick High School

Personal

Birthplace

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Religion

Agnostic

Profession

Chef

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Brian Naughton (independent) is running for election to the Pittsburgh City Council to represent District 4 in Pennsylvania. He declared candidacy for the general election scheduled on November 4, 2025. He did not appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary on May 20, 2025.

Naughton completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Brian Naughton was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He earned a high school diploma from Carrick High School. Naughton's career experience includes working as a chef. He also has career experience in jobs training and community outreach.

Elections

2025

See also: City elections in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2025)

General election

General election for Pittsburgh City Council District 4

Incumbent Anthony Coghill, Tracy Larger, and Brian Naughton are running in the general election for Pittsburgh City Council District 4 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		Anthony Coghill (D)
	Submit photo	Tracy Larger (R)
		Brian Naughton (Independent)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Pittsburgh City Council District 4

Incumbent Anthony Coghill advanced from the Democratic primary for Pittsburgh City Council District 4 on May 20, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Anthony Coghill	97.2	4,985
		Other/Write-in votes	2.8	141

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,126
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Brian Naughton (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Pittsburgh City Council District 4

Tracy Larger advanced from the Republican primary for Pittsburgh City Council District 4 on May 20, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Tracy Larger	95.2	714
		Other/Write-in votes	4.8	36

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 750
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Brian Naughton completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Naughton's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born in the city of Pittsburgh and raised in the Carrick neighborhood from the age of eight years old on. I come from a very large family and am the oldest of six, who all reside within Pittsburgh or surrounding boroughs. Technically, I'm the second oldest of nine when including my step siblings who live outside of Allegheny County.

I went into the service industry as a teenager and continued through that throughout my life which took me through NYC for around six years. Married for eighteen years as of this posting (2007), we bought a home back in the neighborhood I grew up in.

Watching the southern neighborhoods of Pittsburgh be continually ignored was the impetus of this campaign. We pay our taxes and vote just as any other district of the city yet remain unheard.

I will hear my neighbors, and so shall the City of Pittsburgh.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Communication is a two way street, especially when elected to serve as a representative of your neighbors. I will always hear out those I would be serving if bestowed with the honor of doing so. I will also always respond in a timely manner to concerns brought to me.
• The City of Pittsburgh has all but ignored District Four for at least the last seven and a half years. I mean to change that. While I understand that I won't be able to right things immediately, I will push for the neighbors of the district to be treated as equals to the residents of the other eight district.
• We need to balance the budget. While the Mayor sets the budget, Council approves it. Council must listen to the City Controller in regards to maintaining a balanced budget. These holes we're dealing with have accumulated over decades with no strides made to deal with them. The city faces budget challenges exacerbated by recent years. We have to meet them head on and be fiscally responsible while doing so.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Resident mental health, food insecurity, our unhoused population, budget stabilization, holding vacant property owners accountable, equal service from public works and CitiParks, business and population growth, and leaving Pittsburgh better off in any way possible.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

As part of the legislative body of the city, members must be thoughtful in revising or passing laws. Both as to how it will effect the residents, as well as making sure anything done does not run against the Home Rule Charter of which the City of Pittsburgh falls under.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My grandfather. Even though he passed on when I was twelve, his teachings still dictate my moral compass.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Social Contract by Jean-Jaques Rousseau is interesting because it explodes the idea of consent to governance. While his writings are often attributed to the beginnings of the French Revolution and Robespierre's terrors that followed, it should be seen as somewhat of a guard rail to what will be acceptable to the citizens.

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King's August 28th, 1963 I Have A Dream speech has and always will resonate with me as something to strive for in society. Equality and justice for all.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

In my mind, the three qualities any public servant must have are integrity, empathy, and being communicative both in hearing issues as well as responding in a timely manner.

After that, being a strong negotiator and advocate for those they serve are also must have qualities. Community isn't about self, nor should governance be.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Integrity, empathy, compassion, and an open and honest communicator.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

At the end of the day, an elected official answers to those who entrusted them with the responsibility of representing them. Being truthful, empathetic, a zealous advocate for those they represent, and communicative as I stated above are the biggest components to upholding that sacred trust bestowed.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I just want to leave things better than I found them.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The Challenger explosion. I was six years old watching it live in my grandparent's living room.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Dishwasher when I was 16, I stayed there for about six months

What is your favorite book? Why?

Consider the Fork by Bee Wilson. I love when people are able to piece together history in a relatable and informative way.

Lion in the Living Room by Abigail Tucker for the same reasons.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Harry Bosch. Everyone counts or no one does.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Take Back the Power by The Inturrupters

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Getting in my own way with things at times through overthinking, which used to lead to many sleepless nights.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Being the group that approves the mayor's budget is something that people should be more aware of. While the Mayor proposes the budget, council has to approve it prior to it being official.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe it can be beneficial, certainly. However, lack of experience in politics or governance should not be a bar. Especially seeing how those who have experience in either or both are running things at all levels of government.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Honestly, being able to understand those they would represent is probably the biggest thing I can think of. Having a head for numbers would certainly help with understanding the budget. Having integrity and being a great communicator would round this out for me.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?

A city councilor gets the chance to help all of the residents of their district while helping to improve the city as a whole.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Three men walk into a bar, you figure the first would've told the other two.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

With obfuscation comes corruption. Everything should be above board. Without accountability anything goes.
Both transparency and accountability are paramount to any public servant.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2025 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel Union Station

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

Pittsburgh City Council District 4

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Personal

Facebook