Maria Montaño Leaves Mayor Gainey's Team
- Maria Montaño is no longer part of the Gainey administration, according to sources.
- The departure was reported by KDKA-TV.
- The reasons for Montaño's exit have not been disclosed.
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Maria Montaño has officially left her position as the communication director for Mayor Ed Gainey, according to sources familiar with the situation. The announcement came on Wednesday, but the reasons for her departure remain unclear, as does the identity of her successor. Montaño joined the Gainey administration in 2022 as a press secretary and was later promoted to communications director. Her appointment was notable, as she became the first openly transgender woman to hold the press secretary role in Pittsburgh, marking a significant milestone in the city's history. Prior to her tenure with the Gainey administration, Montaño served as a communications specialist for SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, where she gained valuable experience in public relations and advocacy. Her contributions to the administration have been recognized, but the circumstances surrounding her exit have raised questions among local observers. As the Gainey administration moves forward, the search for a new communications director is expected to begin soon. The administration has not yet provided any official statement regarding Montaño's departure or the future direction of its communications strategy.