Close race among Jeannette council candidates
Just 70 votes separated the field of three candidates for Jeannette council, according to unofficial returns.
They were vying for two open seats for four-year terms on council.
It appeared incumbent Michelle Langdon held on to her seat with 33.65% of the vote. She was followed by Denise Ward, who received 33.46% of the vote. Six votes separated the candidates.
Donald Johnston Jr. rounded out the field with 31.44% of the vote, according to unofficial returns. There were 3,170 total votes.
Langdon, 68, also appeared to have won the race for Jeannette mayor. She will have to pick one of the seats. She could not be reached late Tuesday after all the precincts reported their results.
Langdon has served on council for four years and was on the Democratic ticket. An accountant, she previously worked five years for the city in varying roles, including chief fiscal officer and clerk.
Ward has been involved in the Jeannette Initiative’s plan to apply for Main Street Matters designation, a program through the state Department of Community and Economic Development that provides funding to support revitalization efforts. She was on the Republican ticket. A previous business owner in the city, she worked various roles at the former Jeannette District Memorial Hospital and at the hospital’s credit union and as a real estate agent and notary.
Johnston, a Republican, retired as Jeannette’s police chief Jan. 1, 2024, and continues to work as a full-time school police officer at Hempfield Area.
Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.
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