Drop in Jeannette's Democratic voters reflected in city council shift

In the past 20 years, the number of Democrats registered to vote in Jeannette has decreased by about 2,000 while the number of Republican voters has risen by 400, according to West moreland County statistics.

Now, that shift will be reflected in city council.

After Tuesday’s election and once a new member is sworn in, everyone on council will be Republican.

Democrats maintain a slight edge in voter registration in Jeannette — 45% compared to 41% for Republicans.

The lone Democrat on council, Robin Mozley, didn’t seek reelection and Mayor Curtis Antoniak, who was elected in 2017 as a Democrat, changed his party affiliation in April 2022 to Republican. Mozley is set to be replaced by Republican Jim Miller for a four-year term.

Councilman Chad Krawtz, a Republican, also is running for a four-year term after he was appointed in June 2022 following the death of Ron Smith, who was a Democrat. Both Krawtz and Miller are unopposed.

It’s unclear if the all-Republican board is a first in Jeannette, but Paul Adams, associate professor of political science at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, said cities that elect at-large council members can become dominated by a single party.

As a small city, Jeannette’s voter registration and partisanship play a role.

“Historically, party identification mattered less in such local elections — people that are elected are those with strong name recognition and ties to the community,” Adams said.

Bob Carter, who was a Democratic mayor from 2010 to 2014, said there was one Republican on council at the time. But it didn’t matter, he said, the group worked together and with Republican officials in offices at the county and state levels.

“In a small city … in your local government, there should not be any division between the Republicans or Democrats,” he said. “You’re supposed to be representing every single person in your community.”

In more recent years, the political makeup of council has been split, typically with two Republicans and three Democrats.

In 2004, Democrats had about 4,400 registered voters, or 65% of the total vote, in Jeannette. Republicans had 1,700 voters, or 25%, according to county statistics. Others accounted for 10% of all registered voters.

The gap in political party has narrowed and the total number of registered voters has declined by 22% over two decades.

Antoniak switched his affiliation because he said the Republican party more closely reflects his Christian beliefs.

“I was a staunch Democrat … but the values changed,” he said. I’m pro law enforcement, I’m pro life, I’m pro gun and I’m pro country.”

He recalled council members being all Democrats in the 1980s. With the impending shift, Antoniak said he feels being aligned with Republican officials at the state and county level might help send more aid Jeannette’s way.

“I think it helps tremendously,” he said.

It might be a turnoff to some Democratic voters, though, Adams said. Americans are identifying more strongly with one party or the other.

“As America has become more polarized, local elections — including school boards, city councils and others — have become a new battleground, whereas 60 years ago, party identification and polarization were less embedded in local and municipal politics,” Adams said.

With municipal governmental bodies being dominated by one party, while another maintains the majority of registered voters in a municipality, it could result in residents feeling less represented or connected to their local officials, Adams said.

Carter said he has seen that polarization but local elected officials should work across party lines for the good of those who they serve.

“You got there by the backs of Democrats and Republicans,” he said.