Allegheny County Councilman Matt Drozd says he will challenge the county charter requirement that he leave his current post if he decides to run for county executive. Mr. Drozd, R-Ross, said Thursday he had not decided yet whether to run for the top county job. He will form a exploratory committee to help him make that decision.

He estimated there was a "more than a 50 percent chance" that he will be a candidate in the Republican primary this spring. Current County Executive Dan Onorato, a Democrat, has announced he is not seeking re-election. Mr. Drozd, 66, is a retired Air Force Reserve lieutenant colonel and substitute teacher for the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

The county charter requires that council members who seek another elected position resign their seats. It imposes no such requirement on the county executive. Mr. Drozd said that provision was unfair and may be unconstitutional. While Mr. Drozd said he hoped to keep his council seat, he said he would not accept pay for the post while he was running for county executive. Council members are paid $9,000 per year.