Alan “Butch” Puccetti has unseated two-term incumbent Kim Chiesa during yesterday’s election for Kittanning 3rd Ward Council position.
Kittanning Borough’s 3rd Ward had nearly 43% voter turnout, due in part to a highly contested race between Republican Council incumbent Kim Chiesa and former Kittanning patrolman Democrat Alan “Butch” Puccetti.
Puccetti won by a landslide -220 votes to Chiesa’s 53 votes.
This would have been Chiesa’s third term in office. She has served as council president the last several years. After years of being a Democrat, she ran this year as a Republican.
He reflected on his life as a patrolman.
“When I was hired by Kittanning Borough, it was one of the proudest days of my life,” Puccetti said during a live interview aired on Family-Life TV and WTYM radio last night. “I was more proud to become an officer here than my first home run as a young kid.”
Puccetti said he was humbled by the outpouring of votes.
Kim Chiesa will vote on final budget before her term expires at the end of 2019. She has served as Kittanning Borough Council President.
“When I wanted to run for office, I had 16 signatures and still had people stopping at my house asking to sign my petition. When I turned it in, there were 26 or 28 signatures.”
Puccetti said his fellow officers watched to see if he would stay in Kittanning following his retirement.
“There were bets being taken to see if I would go back to Plum Borough. I bought a house here. I met the lady of my dreams here. My daughter is here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I even had some people say I’m voting for you even though you arrested my kid, but I think you were fair,” Puccetti continued. “This is a bigger town than I ever imagined - the kindness and outpouring of support - and I’m hoping I don’t let anybody down.”
Puccetti will take his seat representing the 3rd Ward in January.