Joe Wise

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

Joe Wise

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 2, 2021

Education

Bachelor's

Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1987

Graduate

Duquesne University, 1991

Personal

Birthplace

Sewickley, Pa.

Religion

Baptized Catholic

Profession

Residential real estate agent

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Joe Wise (Republican Party) ran for election to the Allegheny County Council to represent District 1 in Pennsylvania. He died on October 30, 2021, before the general election on November 2, 2021. Wise's name still appeared on the ballot.

Biography

Joe Wise was born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. He earned a bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1987 and a graduate degree from Duquesne University in 1991. Wise's career experience included working as a residential real estate agent.

Elections

2021

See also: Municipal elections in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (2021)

General election

General election for Allegheny County Council District 1

Jack Betkowski defeated Joe Wise (Unofficially withdrew) in the general election for Allegheny County Council District 1 on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Jack Betkowski (D)	51.3	12,203
		Joe Wise (R) (Unofficially withdrew)	48.5	11,533
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	47

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 23,783
= 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 Allegheny County Council District 1

Jack Betkowski advanced from the Democratic primary for Allegheny County Council District 1 on May 18, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Jack Betkowski	98.9	8,533
		Other/Write-in votes	1.1	97

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,630
= 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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Allegheny County Council District 1

Joe Wise advanced from the Republican primary for Allegheny County Council District 1 on May 18, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joe Wise	98.2	5,077
		Other/Write-in votes	1.8	93

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,170
= 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.

Campaign themes

2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

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

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Joe graduated from Moon Area High School in 1983 and went on to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he received his bachelor’s degree in international affairs. After graduation, Joe would take full advantage of his love for public service, moving to our nation’s capital and serving as legislative assistant and press secretary to U.S. Representative Austin J. Murphy, and later U.S. Senator Harris Wofford. Joe would next earn a Master of Business Administration from the Duquesne University Palumbo-Donahue School of Business, and continue to build an extremely successful career as a public affairs and communications executive in Washington, D.C. A proud native of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, Joe is the son of Kathleen and the late Jack Wise. His father’s career in local government first as a member of the Moon Township Board of Supervisors, a candidate for the Pennsylvania state legislature, and later chairman of the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County sparked Joe’s interest in politics and would later inspire his own run for office. From his father, Joe learned the value of never giving up on a cause he believes in and never backing down in the face of opposition or obstacles. From his mother he learned the importance of compassion and empathy during times of calm and crisis.

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?

• Throughout Joe’s entire life in public service in Moon Township, Harrisburg, and Washington D.C., Joe has worked extremely hard to provide constituents with local government leadership that was sensitive and responsive to their needs. Just as Joe heard residents then, Joe hears the needs of Allegheny County now.
• Joe will make County Government BORING Again
• Now is not the time to look back, but to MOVE FORWARD…TOGETHER.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Government Operations, Education, Criminal Justice, Economic Affairs and Development, Employment/Jobs, Health Care, Environment.

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

It simultaneously encompasses and stands along side of local municipal governments (Pop. 916,019) and a Class 2 city (Pop. 300,286).

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

My father. From him I earned the value of never giving up on a cause I believe in and never backing down in the face of opposition or obstacles.

My Mother, from whom I learned the importance of compassion and empathy during times of calm and crisis.

U.S. Senator John Heinz, who always acted in the best interest of his party but also ALL of his constituents.

U.S. Senator Harris Wofford, from whom I learned the true importance of pubic service.

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

Resoluteness, empathy, accountability, reasonableness, fortitude, humbleness.

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

Resoluteness, empathy, accountability, reasonableness, fortitude, humbleness.

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

- Approving and amending legislation submitted by either the County Executive or a Council member.

- Annually adopting a balanced county budget.

- Permitting use of county land.

- Levying taxes and fees.

- Confirming or rejecting appointments for county agencies and authorities.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That of a faithful, accountable, and impactful public servant.

What is your favorite book? Why?

TIE:

Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.; Chernow, Ron

and

Dante's Inferno,

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

Yes insofar as understanding the machinations and processes of policy-making at the governmental level. However, I would encourage anyone with an interest in how government impacts their daily lives to run for office, regardless of experience.

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

Full understanding of the public policy making process and an ability to resolve issues and problems and provide options and solutions involving a wide variety of people, places, and ideas.

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

Allegheny County Council District 1

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