Michael Dawida

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Michael M. Dawida (born September 4, 1949) is an American politician from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A Democrat, he served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the Pennsylvania State Senate, and as an Allegheny County Commissioner. He is known for helping revitalize Pittsburgh in the 1990s.

Early life and education:
- Dawida grew up in the Carrick neighborhood of Pittsburgh and graduated from Carrick High School.
- He earned a history degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1971.
- From 1969 to 1977, he worked as a childcare worker, especially with delinquent teens and drug addicts.
- He earned a Juris Doctor from Hamline University School of Law in 1977.

Political career:
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1979–1988): Represented the 26th and then the 36th districts.
- Pennsylvania State Senate (1989–1996): Represented the 43rd district.
- Allegheny County Commissioner (1996–1999): Served with Bob Cranmer and Larry Dunn. Dawida and Cranmer formed a close partnership that helped steer county government reforms. They oversaw the rehabilitation of the Henry Hobson Richardson jail into the new joint juvenile and adult court facilities. This period, with the mayor, helped spur a Pittsburgh building boom often called Renaissance III.

Later life:
- In 1999, Dawida unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination for County Executive, losing to Cyril Wecht. He later became a professor at California University of Pennsylvania.

Personal life:
- Dawida is married to Audrey M. and has three children. He resides in Carrick, Pittsburgh.