Candidates hope to replace Macey in District 9 seat

For the first time in nearly 20 years, District 9 residents will have new representation on Allegheny County Council.

Incumbent Bob Macey, the longest-serving member of the current council, announced his retirement plans earlier this year.

Macey, 76, D-West Mifflin, was appointed to council in mid-2006 to fill a vacancy left by Caleem L. “Jay” Jabbour.

Macey won a three-way primary race in 2007 and has served in the seat ever since — becoming a fixture of Mon Valley politics and community organizations.

Democrats Aaron Adams of Duquesne and Dylan Altemara and Kellianne Frketic of Elizabeth Township are running to replace Macey.

Since no Republicans are on the ballot, the Republican Committee of Allegheny County is asking voters to write in Patrick D. Provins, vice chair of the Elizabeth Township Republican Committee and director of field operations for a private ambulance service.

A member of council for the City of Duquesne since 2022, Adams said his top three pri- orities if elected for District 9 would be to balance public safety, economic development and infrastructure because “they’re deeply connected.”

Adams also wants to prioritize upgrading community-owned infrastructure such as water and roads to ensure they are reliable and built for growth.

“I will support safer communities and schools by investing in community policing, mental health resources and school safety programs,” Adams said. “To boost economic development, I’ll champion policies that attract new businesses and create good jobs, making our district a place where families want to live and invest.”

Altemara has more than a decade of operational experience in K-12 education, higher education, nonprofits and the IRS as well as grant funding/ reporting and more. He holds leadership roles as president of the PA Equality Project and chair of the Elizabeth Township Democratic Committee.

If elected, Altemara said he would prioritize securing funding and work to expand social services for mental health, behavioral health and substance abuse crisis unfolding in the Mon Valley, as well as aiming toward targeted property tax relief.

“I will draw from my IRS experience and knowledge of taxes to provide targeted

property tax relief to working people and seniors on fixed incomes throughout the Mon Valley,” he said, “while ensuring the wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share downtown and in the suburbs.”

Frketic said she brings a unique blend of professional skills, deep-rooted community advocacy and lived experiences. She serves as inventory control coordinator at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and is involved in several other organizations, including being vice president of Three Rivers Democratic Women, the Elizabeth Township Democratic Committee and more.

A lifelong resident of District 9, Frketic plans to prioritize economic growth/workforce development, food security for all and environmental justice/ public health. She added that she isn’t a career politician, but rather a “working-class leader” who knows how to get things done.

“Our communities deserve living- wage jobs, sustainable economic opportunity, and long-term investment,” Frketic said. “I will work to attract businesses that provide unionbacked jobs with strong benefits and require commitments that they stay in our communities beyond the lifespan of tax incentives as well as expand funding for the Community College of Allegheny County and workforce training programs.”

Provins grew up and works in the Mon Valley, is a U.S. Navy veteran, was in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard for four years and has been a paramedic for more than 25 years. He added that District 9 is utilized for its resources with limited or no return or investment, so accountability is important.

If elected, he will also advocate for fiscal responsibility while maintaining roads, bridges, parks and public safety in the district as well as infrastructure in steel areas. He wants to preserve and grow jobs in the area.

“The tremendous number of resources are available to rebuild and improve the area, and we must stop the blight and continued decline of areas of District 9,” Provins said. “We must plant the seeds and start growth that has been stagnant over the last 25-plus years.”

District 9 comprises Dravosburg, Duquesne, Elizabeth Borough, Elizabeth Township, Forward Township, Glassport, Liberty, Lincoln, McKeesport, Munhall, Port Vue, South Versailles, Versailles, West Mifflin, Whitaker and White Oak.