Tracy Royston was sworn in as Allegheny County Deputy Controller on November 23 by Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David Wecht. By statute, Royston will become acting Controller when Controller Chelsa Wagner leaves office January 3 to assume a seat on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.

Royston was joined at her swearing-in by husband, Josh, daughter Maya, a student at Syracuse University, and son Kyle, a student at Taylor Allderdice High School. The family resides in Point Breeze. She was sworn in on the Tanach, the three Jewish divisions of the Old Testament.

A member of Wagner’s staff since 2018, Royston comes to the post with a deep background in government and non-profit management. She served in the administration of former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy and worked for 18 years in the local non-profit sector in program management, fundraising, government relations and public policy roles.

She is a graduate of Ithaca College, holds a Masters in Social Work and Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh, and served as a fellow of the Coro Center for Public Affairs.

Wagner said Royston’s broad experience in and outside of government has prepared her to assume the vital oversight role of the Controller’s office.

“Tracy brings an analytical eye to organizational management and budgeting that connects directly with programming and services and ensuring they are delivered efficiently and effectively. These skills and experience, along with her important role in the management of the office over the past several years, have prepared her to assume this crucial job for our citizens and taxpayers,” Wagner said.

Along with maintaining the record of innovation and oversight established by Controller Wagner, Royston said she hopes to utilize her background in mental health and human services to make stronger connections between the County’s financial health and the provision of services to vulnerable populations, a major element of the County’s budget and workforce.

“The pandemic has strained so many residents’ ability to provide for themselves and their loved ones while maintaining their physical and mental health, and we must ensure resources are properly directed to support those who find themselves in precarious positions,” Royston said. “I look forward to working with the Department of Human Services and County administration to find areas where we can partner to ensure that the fiscal well-being the County has built over the last decade can provide these types of important supports for our residents.”

“My deepest thanks to Controller Wagner for the leadership she has provided for this office and for her faith in me to continue its important work. Meeting the considerable standards she has set will be my aspiration, as I suspect it will be for anyone following her in this role,” she said.

“Our dedicated and experienced staff give me the utmost confidence that we will continue to provide County residents with the independent oversight and advocacy for effective and accountable government that has been the hallmark of this office.”