By all accounts, Allegheny County Councilman Matt Drozd is the lightning rod on a 15-member council, which most critics and Grant Street observers say is devoid of any political backbone, often wholeheartedly backing County Executive Dan Onorato's policy priorities without question.

But the negative feelings the Republican may have generated rocking the boat didn't stop him from cruising to an easy victory over Avalon Councilman Thomas Michalow in the District 1 race on Tuesday.

In his first term, Mr. Drozd, 65, of Ross, established himself as the anti- "go-along, get-along," legislator, known for often pounding the table and wagging his finger in his quest to challenge Mr. Onorato's administration and his colleagues.

The certitude of his political posture is mostly grounded in an insurgent, if not populist, ethos that Mr. Drozd hammers home at most council meetings -- the need to cut property taxes and, in his view, give long-struggling residents an incentive to stay in Allegheny County.

As one of the four Republicans on council, where they face an overwhelming 11-member Democratic majority, Mr. Drozd's critics say his approach often undercuts his positions and consistently relegates him to the periphery of key debates.

And when he drew a solid challenger in Mr. Michalow, many thought that Mr. Drozd's rhetoric might have finally caught up with him and that he might not succeed in his bid for a second term on council.

But Mr. Drozd easily dispatched Mr. Michalow, 38, by a 13-point margin.

A history and German teacher at Northgate High School, Mr. Michalow said he had decided to challenge Mr. Drozd because he believed that Mr. Drozd had become ineffective on council.

On Avalon Council, where he also served on its planning commission, Mr. Michalow said he had spent a decade immersed in the intricacies of local government, which readied him for Allegheny County Council.

But on election night, Mr. Drozd said his message of lower taxes reminded people why they elected him. "The people want us to cut taxes," he said.

Mr. Michalow said such a message may have been insurmountable. "We made the best effort," he added.

The district includes Aleppo, Avalon, Bellevue, Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, Coraopolis, Crescent, Edgeworth, Emsworth, Kilbuck, Leet, Leetsdale, Moon, Ross, Sewickley and West View.

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