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Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
King wins Democratic nod for Johnstown mayor, will face GOP's DeBartola in fall
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Deputy Mayor the Rev. Sylvia King and self-described community watchdog John DeBartola are now set to face off in the general election to become the City of Johnstown's next mayor. DeBartola ran unopposed in the Republican primary Tuesday. King defeated fellow Councilwoman Laura Huchel for the Democratic nomination. She got 630 votes, or approximately 59% of those cast, compared to 418 for Huchel, according to unofficial results posted by the Cambria County Election Office. 2025 Primary Election | Johnstown Republican Mayoral candidate John DeBartola talks with Melanie Shiley, Judge of Elections at Seventeenth Ward No. 3 polling place, at Walnut Grove Church of the Brethren on Bedford Street in Johnstown on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. 'I'm honored,' King said. 'I'm grateful. My stomach is in knots, but of course I'm very happy. I'm very happy because I feel privileged and I thank God for this awesome opportunity that has been afforded to me. I know that I still have to go on to win in November. I'm praying, of course, for success there, but this was the first hurdle that I needed to overcome.' King, a Kernville resident, is involved in multiple nonprofit organizations, along with being a community development officer at AmeriServ Financial Bank and pastor at Christ Centered Community Church. 'These things have prepared me to be able to be in this position of servant leadership,' King said. DeBartola garnered 501 votes, with 71 going to write-ins. He is a social worker, Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter president and leader in the Revitalize Johnstown online community who frequently runs for elected office, challenges government officials at public meetings and publishes information gained through Right-to-Know requests. PHOTO GALLERY | 2025 Primary Election | Johnstown DeBartola has recently been objecting to council's plan to use American Rescue Plan Act money to remake Central Park. 'It's a shame that for 2 years people have voiced concerns of spending $8 million on Central Park when our area has so many other more important issues,' DeBartola said in a written statement. 'Now city council claims they were misguided by the former city manager. Council needs to listen to the public. Johnstown can only rise again when the people elect community leaders that are incorruptible and honest and transparent in their actions involving the operations of our city.' DeBartola has an ongoing lawsuit against the city, alleging his rights were violated when he was not given the legally allotted time to speak during courtesy of the floor at a Johnstown Planning Commission meeting. He is suing all council members, including King, for $1 million apiece.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Johnstown Deputy Mayor King announces bid for mayor
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Rev. Sylvia King, a two-term member of Johnstown City Council who was recently elevated to deputy mayor, is looking to take a next step in her political progression. On Tuesday, King, a Democrat and pastor at Christ Centered Community Church, officially announced her candidacy for mayor at Studio 404, an event venue in Johnstown's Hornerstown neighborhood. She is running to succeed Mayor Frank Janakovic, who is not seeking reelection. 'I feel like I've been doing a good job on council, working with the neighborhoods, working with the citizens, trying to improve the quality of life in the city,' King said. 'With the mayor stepping down, it was the right time.' King, if elected, will become mayor on a council that is about to undergo a significant transformation. Six of the seven seats, including King's position, are up during this election. But she cannot simultaneously run for both mayor and a council position, so King choose to seek the mayor job, which is decided in a separate head-to-head, winner-take-all race. Council spots go to the top vote-getters from among a field of candidates. 'Mayor or bust,' King said. 'I know that. I'm all in. I'm an all-in type of person.' Seats held by Ricky Britt, Marie Mock and Laura Huchel are also being contested. Huchel is seeking reelection. Britt and Mock are not. 'My age is catching up with me,' Britt, 79, said. 'I don't have that fire anymore like I used to have. I think there's a time for every man to open the door for younger generations to come in there with fresh ideas. I just think it's time for me to get out of the way.' Reflecting on his time in city government, Britt said, 'I think the council that I've worked with for almost eight years now, I think we've accomplished a lot. We brought back some kind of stability back to the city, some kind of dignity anyway. We've accomplished a lot. There's still a lot that needs accomplished.' Mock is in her fourth four-year term. 'My family has been extremely supportive and patient during my time on council,' Mock said. 'It's time for my family. I've enjoyed working to help the residents, the community and business owners. My hope is that those that win the election have the very best interest in the city, and not return to the chaos of past years. We've worked very hard over the years, and there's much more to do. But being a disruptive, negative force will not get us anywhere.' Those four council seats and mayoral position were up this year as part of the regular election schedule. Another council spot opened when Deputy Mayor Michael Capriotti resigned to become assistant city manager. City Council is in the process of selecting an applicant to fill that position through the rest of this year. Public interviews are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Then, as part of the election, a candidate will be voted in to finish out the remaining two years of Capriotti's term. Charles Arnone, the lone Republican on the board, is the only council member not up for election this year. He, like Capriotti, was most recently reelected in 2023.
