04-03-2025
Coney Island, Miller's co-owner Clark chosen to fill Johnstown City Council vacancy
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Downtown business owner Taylor Clark was unanimously picked Monday to become the newest member of Johnstown City Council.
The Roxbury resident was selected by the six current council members to fill the vacancy created when former Deputy Mayor Michael Capriotti resigned from the council to become the assistant city manager.
Clark will serve for the remainder of this year. Meanwhile, a special election will determine who will fill the position for the following two years, beginning in January 2026.
Clark, 31, co-owns two of the oldest businesses in downtown Johnstown – Coney Island Lunch and high-end men's clothing store Miller's of Johnstown. He is a member of the Johnstown Police Advisory Board and the Johnstown Oldtimers Baseball Association, which operates the annual All American Amateur Baseball Association Tournament.
'Here's the thing: I don't know how much it says about me other than what it says about the work that my family's put in over a long period of time – not just in the city of Johnstown, but the surrounding regions – including my grandfather and my dad,' Clark said.
'I'm just lucky enough to have had a great example from them, to have been able to follow in their footsteps, as far as running now two businesses in the city and always being civically involved some way, shape or form.'
One of his main goals is to help develop the central business district, where 'retail used to be rampant,' he said.
'I think that business perspective specifically to retail, wanting to bring that back to downtown Johnstown, is important, learning that from literally age 8 up,' Clark said.
Clark plans to take his oath of office before council's next regular monthly meeting March 12. He will join a council that consists of Mayor Frank Janakovic, Deputy Mayor the Rev. Sylvia King, Ricky Britt, Marie Mock, Laura Huchel and Charles Arnone.
Clark was selected from among four applicants for the vacancy, including Gregory Brown, Nicholas Graham and Mike Hamacek.
Clark is also running for a seat on council this year. There are six openings being contested, including a race for mayor. There are also four regular four-year positions and a two-year seat to complete Capriotti's term.
'He shows the brightest future,' Arnone said. 'I was impressed with all candidates who came before us. He shows the optimism in what we all would hope to see the next election brings to City Council.
'For too many years, it's been my age or older. Now to have Laura (Huchel) and Taylor, that's a great start for the future of this city, that we're finally having people that are under 40 that care about the city and want to move forward with it. That's truly exciting for me.'
