Allegheny County Council candidate Joe Wise dies

Joe Wise, a Republican candidate for Allegheny County Council, died on Saturday.

Sam DeMarco, chair of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County, confirmed the death in a statement.

Wise, of Moon Township, was running for the council seat in District 1. He was facing Democrat Jack Betkowski of Ross.

“Personally, I will miss his wonderful sense of humor and his drive to make his community a better place for everyone,” DeMarco said in a statement. “Joe always lit up whatever room he walked into and never took himself too seriously. His loss will be felt by so many for a long time.”

Wise graduated from Moon Area High School in 1983. He earned his bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in marketing and finance from Duquesne University.

After graduation, Wise moved to Washington D.C. where he served as legislative assistant and press secretary to U.S. Rep. Austin J. Murphy and to U.S. Senator Harris Wofford, according to Wise’s campaign website.

He later served in senior leadership roles with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and at Burson-Marsteller and Powell-Tate public affair firms. Wise then moved back to Pittsburgh where he worked as a government relations officer for UPMC Health Plan. Most recently, he ran his own public relations firm and was an active real estate agent.

Wise served as a Moon Township supervisor beginning in 2013. He said he helped save the township $236,000 by improving budget practices, trimming waste and reducing inefficiencies. He was also a former chairman of the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County.

In running for Allegheny County Council, Wise said that he was “committed to putting Allegheny County taxpayers first and second and third.” He cited the broader goal of serving as a stalwart watchdog on how public money gets raised and spent as his top focus, including by protecting property owners from tax hikes and “alleviating unnecessary fiscal burdens.”

He also prioritized eradicating blight and improving dilapidated properties.

“I’m sad and shocked by his sudden passing,” said Pat Catena, Allegheny County District 4 councilman. “My thoughts and prayers are obviously with the family.”

Wise leaves behind his wife, Mary Jo, and son, Christian.

“Regardless of the positions he held and the jobs he worked, nothing meant more to Joe than his family,” DeMarco said. “He spoke constantly and lovingly of his wife, Mary Jo, and with incredible pride and admiration in his son Christian.”