This editorial endorsement ran in the October 31 edition of The Tribune-Democrat.
Leadership on Johnstown City Council will change with the general election Tuesday.
We believe this is the Rev. Sylvia King’s time to become mayor.
Because of her experience in city leadership and her positive approach to solving the problems facing the community, we give our endorsement to King, the deputy mayor, to make the logical step up.
King, a Democrat, is opposed on the ballot by Republican candidate John DeBartola, while city Councilman Chuck Arnone, a Republican, is running a write-in campaign.
The four-year mayor’s seat and four four-year terms on City Council will be filled. A special election will also take place for the remaining two-year term of a former council member’s vacated seat.
Johnstown’s current mayor, Democrat Frank Janakovic, did not seek re-election after nearly a decade of service.
King told our Dave Sutor that she has a “hopeful, optimistic vision for what Johns-town can become.”
She said that if elected, she wants “to create more open lines of communication through community forums, digital updates and better access to council information.”
During King’s nearly eight years on council, the city has navigated its state-mandated exit from the Act 47 pro- gram for financially distressed municipalities, sold the sewer system and used the money to shore up its pension funds, and eliminated many blighted properties.
King acknowledges that “there’s still work to do in the areas of communication and trust” and said she wants to encourage transparency with “openness” and “clarity.”
DeBartola, who describes himself as “a fighter for the community, putting residents first,” has campaigned on change for the city.
He told Sutor: “I view the problems in the city through the eyes of the public – not as an entrenched city official.” In his opinion, he said, residents are “tired of being forgotten about, as outsiders have taken control of the city, and residents need to be prioritized.”
The Main Street and Central Park projects have been contentious throughout the redesign phase. As a member of council, King voted in favor of the Central Park redesign project, while DeBartola spoke in opposition to the proposal.
For the council seats, we encourage voters to research the candidates and their positions – including through our stories this past week – and make informed decisions on Election Day.