Northern Westmoreland communities would get new state senator through redistricting

Several northern Westmoreland County municipalities in the Alle-­Kiski Valley would get a new state senator if a proposed redistricting map is approved.

The affected municipalities are the cities of Arnold, Lower Burrell and New Kensington; the boroughs of East Vandergrift, Hyde Park, Vandergrift and West Leechburg; and Allegheny Township.

State Sen. Jim Brewster, a Democrat, has represented those communities for a decade as part of his 45th District.

Under the new proposed state Senate map, they would become part of 41st District, represented by Republican Joe Pittman.

While Brewster successfully challenged the last redistricting in 2012 that would have moved his district to the Poconos, he said he will not fight it now.

“I’d rather not lose my communities in Westmoreland County,” Brewster said. “They’re trying to do the map this year in as fair a way as they can. There will always be somebody who doesn’t think it’s fair. It’s driven by the census. We’re going to have to see what the public comments are. I suspect there will be some tweaking.”

While losing his towns in Westmoreland County, Brewster’s district would add several in Allegheny County — Baldwin and Whitaker townships and the boroughs of Castle Shannon, Homestead, Munhall, West Elizabeth and West Homestead.

He was last elected in 2020, narrowly defeating Republican challenger Nicole Ziccarelli, who was elected Westmoreland County district attorney in 2021.

Pittman joined the Senate after a special election in May 2019 and was elected again in November 2020. He said he is looking forward to learning the area and communities that are not entirely new to him. For nearly 20 years, he was chief of staff to retired state Sen. Don White, who represented parts of the area.

“I think it’s a pretty compact and contiguous district,” he said. “There are a lot of commonalities throughout the district. It is a big territory, but that is part of the reality of needing to have 260,000 people to represent,” he said. “Southern Armstrong County and areas of northern Westmoreland County are very like-minded. They have the same concerns and challenges.”

Through the proposed changes, Pittman’s district loses the 24 municipalities he represents in Butler County and Murrysville. In addition to the Westmoreland County municipalities now represented by Brewster, it gains nine townships and four boroughs in Jefferson County.

He would continue to represent all of Armstrong and Indiana counties.

Tom Guzzo, a Democrat who has been mayor of New Kensington for 12 years, found an understanding ear in Brewster, who previously was mayor of McKeesport.

“He really understood the issues that faced our cities. He understood the importance of local government,” Guzzo said. “He was in tune with our needs and really helped us secure grant dollars for police cars, computers, infrastructure and blight removal and business development.”

Guzzo said he does not know Pittman but is looking forward to working with him should the proposed map be approved. He doesn’t think political affiliation will matter.

“We are all elected to do what is right for our constituency regardless of party,” Guzzo said. “I go into this with an open mind.”

Pittman does not foresee any party issues.

“As a region, our fundamental concerns are economic growth and opportunity. That crosses partisan lines,” he said. “My primary focus as a state senator is economic opportunity. I have never let partisan affiliation stand in the way of trying to move communities forward, and I never will.”

Mike Korns, chairman of the Allegheny Township supervisors and a Republican, has not had contact with Brewster in the two years he has held office. But Korns said he has been told Brewster has been good to the township in the past, helping it secure funding for various purchases.

Korns said he knows Pittman personally, having met him during his campaign, and he believes his township would be well-served by Pittman.

“He seems to be very focused on his constituents. I believe his party affiliation and ideology is a good fit for where Allegheny Township is today,” Korns said. “All three of the current board of supervisors are Republicans. Republicans have done very well electorally up here, as in all of Westmoreland County, in the last several elections.”

Brewster maintains an office within New Kensington City Hall. Guzzo said he would like for Pittman to keep the office, which city residents make use of regularly.

Pittman, who would have to close his Murrysville office, said he would relocate that office to the area, but it is too early to know where.

“Those are conversations we really can’t have until the lines are formalized and also until they take effect” after this November’s election, Pittman said.

Brewster said he will continue working for the communities of his district as it exists today until the final signature is put on the redistricting plan.

“If the senators and representatives do their job, and the local leaders are as active as they are now, it won’t matter who they get,” Brewster said. “I have high regard for my colleagues in the Senate on both sides of the aisle. We may have different opinions on some topics, but for the most part they are all hardworking people.

“At the end of the day, they’re going to get the representation they need regardless of what the map looks like.”