Allegheny County Councilwoman Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis was elected president of Allegheny County Council on Tuesday, formally replacing Pat Catena after weeks of escalating political fallout surrounding anti-trans campaign rhetoric that triggered widespread public backlash and ultimately forced Catena from council leadership.
Naccarati-Chapkis also becomes the first woman to serve as president of Allegheny County Council.
Naccarati-Chapkis’ election marks the conclusion of a turbulent chapter in Allegheny County politics that began earlier this month when Catena distributed campaign mailers in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House District 45 attacking opponent Brittany Bloam using rhetoric referencing “transgender athletes,” “extreme left groups,” and “socialism.”
The mailers sparked immediate condemnation from LGBTQ organizations, Democratic elected officials, healthcare workers, labor activists, parents of transgender children, and community members across the county.
County Councilmember Jordan Botta later introduced a formal motion expressing “no confidence” in Catena’s leadership, while seven additional council members publicly committed to supporting the effort, appearing to give opponents enough votes to remove Catena from the presidency if the measure reached the floor.
Last week, Catena announced he would step down from the council presidency rather than face the anticipated removal vote. He remains a member of Allegheny County Council.
Naccarati-Chapkis acknowledged the importance of inclusive leadership and confronting prejudice directly during remarks after assuming the council presidency.
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“Together, we will make Allegheny County a place where everyone regardless of nationality, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, or belief, can live, work, and thrive,” Naccarati-Chapkis said.
She also emphasized the responsibility elected officials have to challenge bias and division.
“We know that these biases and prejudices exist. We must be leaders and stop them in their tracks,” she said. “We are, in fact, Mister Rogers’ neighborhood.”
Naccarati-Chapkis concluded by encouraging residents to remain engaged with local government and stressing that “good government is not about any one person” but about people “working together to serve something greater than themselves.”
Naccarati-Chapkis’ election as council president now signals a leadership transition after one of the most contentious and publicly scrutinized political controversies in recent Allegheny County memory.