Incumbent, 2 challengers poised to win contested Allegheny County Council races

An incumbent and two challengers jumped out to early leads Tuesday in the three contested races for Allegheny County Council, according to unofficial results.

In council’s District 1 race, with all precincts reporting results as of midnight, Democrat Jack Betkowski of Ross had collected 51.2% of the 23,629 votes counted compared to 48.6% for the late Joe Wise, a Republican from Moon, unofficial tallies showed. There were 47 write-in votes.

Wise, 56, died Saturday but remained on Tuesday’s ballot. A win by Wise would require County Council and its Republican Caucus to fill the vacancy early next year, Allegheny County GOP Chairman Sam DeMarco said before the election.

Betkowski, 66, did not immediately return a message left late Tuesday.

A two-term Ross commissioner, Betkowski worked for 34 years at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. During his campaign, he said his top priority if elected would be working to combat stormwater-related problems such as flooding, landslides and rising sewer bills by fixing aging infrastructure and working to reduce the potential for damage and destruction in flood zones.

The district includes Aleppo, Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, Coraopolis, Emsworth, Findlay, Glen Osborne, Glenfield, Haysville, Kilbuck, Moon, North Fayette, Ross and West View.

In council’s District 3 race, with about 99% of precincts reporting results as of midnight, Democratic incumbent Councilwoman Anita Prizio of O’Hara had collected about 54% of the votes counted compared to nearly 46% for Republican challenger Meredith Dolan, 32, of Fox Chapel, unofficial tallies showed.

Prizio, 58, did not immediately return a message left late Tuesday.

A court-appointed special advocate who also owns and runs an internal engine parts company, Prizio said her top legislative priorities are fighting for clean air, clean water and good jobs. She was appointed in January to a new, seven-member council committee on sustainability and green initiatives.

Dolan, 32, rose to become a congressional chief of staff on Capitol Hill before returning to Western Pennsylvania with her husband to raise their growing family. She is active with several area nonprofits. During her campaign, she identified her top priorities as public safety, infrastructure and improving child and family services.

The district includes Aspinwall, Etna, Fox Chapel, Hampton, Indiana Township, Millvale, O’Hara, Reserve, Shaler, Sharpsburg and West Deer.

In council’s District 8 race, with about 99% of precincts reporting results as of Wednesday morning, Plum Democrat Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis had collected 60.8% of the votes cast compared to 39.1% for Plum Republican Eric Casteel, according to unofficial results.

They were running to replace Democratic Councilman Paul Zavarella of Plum. Zavarella, who was appointed in 2019 to fill a vacancy created by the death of longtime Councilman Charles Martoni, decided not to run to retain the seat.

When reached by phone just before midnight, Naccarati-Chapkis, 51, said, “We’re quite pleased. We spent many hours in the district and had an opportunity to listen to and learn from the residents and the officials about the issues that are important to them.”

She said her top priority on council would be to address the county’s aging infrastructure and work to ensure that all county residents have access to safe and affordable drinking water. She has 25 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector and serves on several nonprofit boards. During her campaign, she said her top priority if elected would be working to ensure all county residents had access to safe and affordable drinking water.

Casteel, 60, is a Westinghouse nuclear cybersecurity engineer who has worked for about 40 years as an executive and as an entrepreneur at several small- to medium-sized companies. During his campaign, he said he wanted to focus on fiscal responsibility in county budgeting and work to improve communications and collaboration between county and local governments.

The district includes Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, East McKeesport, East Pittsburgh, Edgewood, Monroeville, North Braddock, Pitcairn, Plum, Rankin, Swissvale, Trafford, Turtle Creek, Wall, Whitaker and Wilmerding.

Running unopposed in Tuesday’s election were Council President Pat Catena, a Democrat, in District 4; Democratic Councilman Bob Macey in District 9; and Democratic Councilman Bob Palmosina in District 12.