Braddock looking for new mayor
City’s popular leader ascending to post of lieutenant governor
A job opportunity will be advertised in Thursday’s Valley Mirror newspaper for a position that will be opening up in Braddock: Mayor.
On Tuesday, Gov. Tom Wolf — who shared the Democratic ticket with current Braddock mayor and lieutenant governor nominee John Fetterman — cruised to victory with a 19-point margin over Republican nominee Scott Wagner.
Braddock Borough Council will choose someone to fill in for Mr. Fetterman until the next election, in May. But that is not deterring community leaders from continuing Braddock’s recent progress.
“We’ll be asking for letters of interest and resumes,” borough council President Tina Doose said Wednesday. She, along with five other council members, will decide whom to appoint in January.
In Harrisburg on Wednesday, Mr. Fetterman said he would “trust the will of the people” in choosing Braddock’s next leader.
He and his wife, Gisele, will continue to live in Braddock while he serves as lieutenant governor.
Though the tattooed 6-foot-8 Mr. Fetterman put the community on the map — he has appeared on several network and cable late-night talk shows and received attention
in a 2010 Levi’s ad campaign — leaders of the economically depressed steel town say success won’t stop with him.
The borough suffered after the steel industry collapse, and today has a median income of $24,551, according to census data. The borough has been under the state’s Financially Distressed Municipalities Act — known as Act 47 — for roughly three decades.
“John has been a good voice for Braddock. He has a narrative that sells. To be honest, if anything, he’ll be able to help us in a different way. Hopefully through some state support for programs,” Ms. Doose said.
The progress since Mr. Fetterman’s election in 2005 has been “stunning,” said Paula McWilliams, president and CEO of Heritage Community Initiatives, a nonprofit that has been in Braddock for 35 years. She cited “catalyst” businesses and recent investment.
Her organization is renovating the Cuda Building on the main artery of Braddock Avenue, where a Crazy Mocha coffee shop will soon move in.
Last year, with the support of Mr. Fetterman, the critically acclaimed Superior Motors restaurant opened across from the U.S. Steel Edgar Thomson mill.
“Everyone just assumes that we will just go on, business as usual,” said Superior Motors chef Kevin Sousa, who employs roughly 30 people at his restaurant, half of them Braddock residents.
“Braddock has a great group of people who are behind the scenes, and I’m sure we’ll be fine,” he said.
Ms. Doose said other significant opportunities are on the horizon, including a $3.7 million bid that a manufacturing company recently submitted for property in the borough — she didn’t identify the company — and a $14 million investment from the state in artist housing.
Behind the counter at Brassero Grill on Wednesday, David Dickun, 28, said he returned to Braddock because of Mr. Fetterman. His father built their family homein Braddock, but when he was 16, his parents moved him out of the community because of crime.
“I’m sure it’s going to be different, but he’s been on the campaign trail for over a year now, and he’s kept the borough in line” Mr. Dickun said. “The president of council does a lot. The things that [Mayor Fetterman] implemented in the community, it will stick around. It doesn’t matter if it’s him as mayor or someone else, maybe me.”
“No, no, no,” he said, laughing. “Not me.”
Chardae Jones, 29, who co-chairs Braddock’s Home Rule Commission, said she’s optimistic.
“It’s sad to see him go, but I’m also excited to see what’s next for him and for the community,” she said. “This allows someone to step up and say, ‘I have fresh ideas.’ So many of my peers have asked me, ‘Are you running?’ and I say:
‘I don’t know.’”