Jacob Klinger

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Jacob Klinger

People First

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 2, 2021

Education

Bachelor's

Syracuse University, 2015

Personal

Birthplace

Leesburg, Va.

Religion

Jewish

Profession

Union organizer

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

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Personal LinkedIn

Jacob Klinger (People First) ran for election for Pittsburgh Constable Ward 6 in Pennsylvania. He lost in the general election on November 2, 2021.

Klinger completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Jacob Klinger was born in Leesburg, Virginia. Klinger earned a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University in 2015. His career experience includes working as a union organizer, Steelers beat reporter, lumber (and stick) stacker, janitor, referee, snow shoveler, resource navigator, and grocery stock clerk. Klinger has been affiliated with the Pittsburgh Union of Regional Renters, Pittsburgh DSA, the IWW, and the NewsGuild.

Elections

2021

See also: City elections in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2021)

General election

General election for Pittsburgh Constable Ward 6

Michael Ceoffe defeated Jacob Klinger in the general election for Pittsburgh Constable Ward 6 on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Michael Ceoffe (D)	51.6	548
		Jacob Klinger (People First)	47.3	502
		Other/Write-in votes	1.1	12

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,062
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Pittsburgh Constable Ward 6

Michael Ceoffe advanced from the Democratic primary for Pittsburgh Constable Ward 6 on May 18, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Michael Ceoffe (Write-in)	21.0	13
		Other/Write-in votes	79.0	49

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 62
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Klinger's endorsements in the 2021 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Jacob Klinger completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Klinger's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a tenant and union organizer, the oldest of four kids, and a writer. In my free time I like to bake and cook for my friends and neighbors. I'm also trying to learn to garden better from a bunch of different people. Taurus Sun, Libra Moon, Scorpio Rising.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• When Constables choose to take tax-payer funded contracts to evict and otherwise harm their neighbors, they hurt our community. I will not take on these contracts.
• Instead, I will connect neighbors with pre-existing resources, and each other, to save us the money, trouble, and trauma that usually follows the way Constables work.
• We should take protecting the polls VERY seriously.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Anti-racism, housing, workers' rights, reproductive healthcare, abolishing the carceral state, food supply chains, the environment, community defense, LGBTQ rights, and infrastructure — it's literally all connected.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Constables have the option to accept and execute eviction orders. In Allegheny County they are largely the only people who do this, which means they have a choice to either profit off their neighbors' impending homelessness, or not. As peace officers they can also direct traffic, protect forests and waterways, and are required to protect the polls on election day. The latter is especially important in a time of increasing reactionary violence, which openly threatens the possibility of a truly democratic society.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My maternal grandfather (we called him Pop-Pop). I don't actually know what he thought about anything political, though I could guess, but he was a really honest, go-about-his business guy in the years I knew him. He was also good for household mischief and little adventures, so everyone who knew him has their own little stories, even if they mostly just keep them for their own memories. It's sweet.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Currently I'm reading the Sociology of Freedom and Inhabit.global. Murray Bookchin's a real one.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Accessibility. If people can't get at you, how can they hold you accountable? They can't.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I'm really empathetic and I find it easy to focus on what's important. I think those two go hand in hand, especially with the information that runs through this office. It's going to take a lot of work to meaningfully be a resource and spread resources with folks, but I think those two traits build into that really well.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Protecting the polls on election day, being a good neighbor.

What legacy would you like to leave?

One of positive examples of genuine community care.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

9/11. I was 8. It was a Tuesday and I was in third grade.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a grocery cashier and clerk when I was 15, and worked that job off and on for about 5 years through school.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Upside Down by Eduardo Galeano. It was prophetic and poetic, but also genuinely hopeful about people. He was also pretty funny.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Victor Nikiforov

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Heart of Glass - Blondie

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

We were poor for a lot of my childhood.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

Protecting polls on election days. We've seen and are likely to see further increases in reactionary attempts at voter suppression.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Yeah, Constables can and do take contracts to serve and execute evictions. It's one way they can make money. They can also fulfill bounties and profit off the transportation of prisoners. This is strange and, to me, unnecessary.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not especially. It's more important to be a neighbor.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Familiarity with the issues people tend to have before a Constable comes into their life. So for instance, if you're facing eviction, you're probably short on rent. If you're short on rent, you've probably been cutting money on food, water, clothes, maybe school supplies for you or any kids in your life. People need to be able to address all of those as human rights. And always all at once. It's something I know from my work with the Pittsburgh Union of Regional Renters, and my own life, and anybody going to cash in on locking someone out really should think long and hard about the hurt they're doing. Couldn't be me.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2021 Elections

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Candidate

Pittsburgh Constable Ward 6

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