Doug Shields Running for District Magistrate

Doug Shields is in the Regent Square area on a platform that his career was built on a foundation of respect and honor for the law.

A Squirrel Hill resident, the president of City Council has years of experience in local government, but said it all started in his early days as a litigation paralegal, where he worked on cases ranging from bankruptcies to nuclear power plant issues.

“I have a very strong background in the law working with lawyers and have been engaged in the function of the judiciary and rules of procedure,” Shields said. “I understand the aspects of the functions of the court, legal proceedings and what they do.”

, Joe Weinroth and Dan Butler also are running for the position. The election is May 17.

After living the life of an activist, Shields joined the late Mayor Bob O’Connor’s team as the chief of staff during O’Connor’s time on city council.

Shields said his previous experiences in activism and running a community tutor program prepared him for city hall.

“From an early age, we went to civil rights marches,” he said of growing up. “We have a social responsibility in this world. It was an interesting thing to work for city council.”

In 2004, Shields became a Pittsburgh City Councilman, representing the 5th Council District. In 2006, he became council president and was reelected to that position in 2008.

Shields said dealing with legal matters on a daily basis, whether it’s the city being sued or his experience writing law, has prepared him for the magisterial district justice position.

“It’s not something that is totally foreign to me, in fact that is what I am founded in,” Shields said. “Had I not had that rich foundation in the law, I would not have been that successful.”

Shields said knowing how to implement ideas has been the main trait that has made his involvement in city council a success.

“It’s not about the ideas you have – it’s about how you execute the law in support of the idea,” Shields said. “You can have a policy but if you don’t know how to arrange that capital, you don’t have an idea.”

Shields said the district magistrate’s position has been a goal in his life because it would allow him to also help resolve conflicts, which has been another experience he has tackled at the city council level.

“This office does not come up very often and this was an opportunity for me, after eight years of serving the public on city council,” he said. “I think I have earned the right to at least ask the public to consider me for this position.”

With 28 years of experience in dispute resolution, Shields said he could step into the shoes of a district judge and be prepared from day one.

“You have civil actions, which are landlord tenant matters, it could be about a paint job with a contractor and these are the things I have bee doing for a long time on city council,” he said. “I also have worked on countless briefs. This is the place where people in the 14th and 7th ward go to resolve minor disputes.”

Shields said what he likes about campaigning in his magisterial district is getting out and taking it to the community.

“You see so much more when you’re walking and when you knock that door, I really enjoy it. It’s a lot of fun to be able to go door knocking.”

He also said he has already heard from many of his supporters along the way.

“People do appreciate the work you have done and the body of work I have put forward and they say I have been a voice of reason,” he said. “That’s gratifying and you have to have an innate love of the city.”

For more information visit http://shields.missioncontrolhost.com/biography.