Pittsburgh Restaurant Owner Challenges Onorato To Boxing Match

A Pittsburgh restaurant owner wants to box Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato in an effort to overturn a 10 percent tax on alcoholic drinks.

Jim Mitchell, who owns Mitchell's Restaurant, Bar & Banquet Center wants to fight Onorato as part of a charity amateur boxing card on Feb. 9.

If the 49-year-old restaurant owner wins, he wants the tax overturned. If Onorato wins, Mitchell said he wants to let Onorato have a countywide smoking ban that Mitchell successfully challenged with a lawsuit in May.

Onorato said he will stop by Mitchell's on Friday with two cigars so he and Mitchell can try to settle their differences over a smoke and a beer.

Previous Stories: January 16, 2008: Onorato Gets Fired Up Over Drink Tax Critics January 15, 2008: Onorato Blasts County Council Effort To Repeal Drink Tax January 15, 2008: Drink Tax Could Go Away December 28, 2007: Allegheny County Drink Tax Injunction Denied December 27, 2007: Local Restaurant, Bar Owners Fight Drink Tax December 14, 2007: Bar Owner Has Message For Onorato December 5, 2007: Dan Onorato Responds To Drink Tax Debate November 30, 2007: Opponents of Drink Tax Release Study on Impact October 2, 2007: Allegheny County Council Proposes Drink Tax