John Fetterman — the large, tattooed ex-mayor of Braddock — shed his comfortable beginnings and traditional office career to campaign for social equality.
Before a December sunrise, an exceptionally large man is strolling a couple of miles on the Great Allegheny Passage trail near the Waterfront, dressed in gym shorts despite the 32-degree temperature.
In a business environment like an insurance office, he found pleasure in listening to the identical music that he did back in his youth, when he was on a path to success. He would be completely absorbed in the sounds of grunge or heavy metal rock from the late 20th century, playing through his headphones, often in solitude and darkness.
Before his inauguration as lieutenant governor, John Fetterman, a 49-year-old, reflected upon one of his uncommon journeys taken by a leadership striving to revitalize a borough with barely 2,000 residents, where he served as a citizen mayor. However, his rise to statewide office is about to be elected by any Pennsylvanian is more than just a reflection.
The daily pre-dawn walk is part of Mr. Fetterman’s healthier lifestyle, in which he shed some 150 pounds from his still-imposing 6-foot-8 frame, serving as one of the series of interviews that traced his most influential life events.
Marrying a Brazilian immigrant who discovered Mr. Fetterman from a distance of 2,000 miles by reading an article in an unknown publication; garnering an excessive amount of media coverage for a local government representative in a small town; securing his initial electoral victory by a margin of just one vote; engaging in social welfare initiatives with young individuals in impoverished neighborhoods he had never previously explored; guiding an orphaned, underprivileged young person into adulthood; and these experiences encompass the tragic loss of a close companion during his twenties.
On Tuesday, January 8, 2019, John Fetterman, the Lieutenant Governor-elect, had a conversation with Charles Prodanovich, who recognized him while walking in Trail Heritage Westmoreland in Trafford (Alexandra Wimley/Post-Gazette).
Mr. Fetterman, who was elected as the 2nd Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, acknowledges that his ascent to office cannot be easily explained. He shrugs off any doubts about his future wife catching his eye at another publication in 2005, when he was a voter in Braddock who couldn’t make it to the polls. He also mentions that his fate would have remained unchanged if any of his prior aspects, such as being a young match in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, had been different.
Otherwise, someone or his guardians similar to the Republican mainstream, such as a left-leaning Democrat, regardless of whether they have a shaved head, the man who is presumably the tallest statewide office-holder in America, stated, “I’m as baffled as anyone by how things have unfolded.”
Moreover, it is particularly noteworthy that Mr. Fetterman, a man who clearly expresses his hopes and aspirations, is happy to dedicate the next four years to assisting Wolf’s agenda. His unconventional appearance, which includes a casual wardrobe and symbolic arm tattoos, has been widely acknowledged in national magazines and newspapers, along with the uncommon aspect of his visible profile, similar to that of only a few elected officials.
A cozy start.
In the first half of his life, Mr. Fetterman had limited interaction with liberal activists, migrants, underrepresented groups, or individuals with low socioeconomic status. However, he has now developed a connection with them.
Mr. Fetterman’s childhood residence is located a short distance from Mr. Wolf’s longstanding abode, albeit by chance. It is situated in a region predominantly inhabited by conservative Republicans. Similar to Braddock, African-Americans comprise approximately one-tenth of the population instead of two-thirds. The poverty rate in this central Pennsylvania community is four times lower. Springettsbury, the York suburb where he was raised, boasts a median household income that is nearly two and a half times higher than that of Braddock.
Karl Fetterman, the next lieutenant governor, has generously supported nonprofit organizations and statewide campaigns in addition to covering his son’s living expenses for years. He used to be the mayor of Braddock, but he resigned from that position on December 21. What is notable is that he has not had a traditional job or paycheck for more than a decade. Instead, he became a partner in a New York insurance firm, thanks to his hardworking father who headed the family. Mr. Fetterman describes his childhood as contented, growing up in a middle-class family that sheltered him from any hardships.
John Fetterman in York, Pennsylvania, in 1989. (Photo courtesy of John Fetterman).
The most distinctive thing about Mr. Fetterman is that he has been a lineman and played both offensive and defensive football for Central York High School. It may have been a growth spurt of 7 inches during his early years that led him to become a lineman and play both offensive and defensive positions at Albright College and Central York High School.
Otherwise, if not for two life-altering occurrences, only one of which was expected to lead to potentially greater achievements, Mr. Fetterman would have been on a professional trajectory similar to that of his father. However, while he was en route to collect his friend and go to the gym, his 27-year-old best friend tragically passed away in a car accident. This unfortunate incident took place in 1993, at a time when Mr. Fetterman was on the verge of completing his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut.
Mr. Fetterman said, “It was too random and sudden, so it was hard to emerge from that idea you have when you can wake up in the morning and have breakfast and kiss your family goodbye, and know that you got 15 minutes left before you get blasted out of this world.”
She pleaded with Mr. Fetterman to volunteer in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, as she was reflecting on the purpose of her life at that time. She was matched with 8-year-old Nicky Santana, who came from a low-income Puerto Rican family and had lost his mother to a terminal illness and his father to AIDS. After her son’s schooling, she appealed to Mr. Fetterman for assistance.
When Mr. Fetterman encountered the poverty-stricken boy walking around the neighborhood to buy candy for the first time, he provided him with personal financial assistance and hope. With the longtime assistance and advocacy of Brother Big Santana, Mr. Fetterman was able to get him into Jefferson & Washington College and a boarding school in New Hampshire. It is common for short-term relationships to be especially important for members of Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Mr. Santana stated, “He was just invested in helping me become a better person and in my future. He had no reason to do so, but he was keeping a promise to my mother. He had no ties to me. Now, Mr. Santana, who is currently working at the nonprofit organization New Haven, which assists people with disabilities, said, “I get goosebumps when talking about it.”
From the very beginning, it seemed that Nicky Santana’s involvement in politics and his relationship with Braddock foreshadowed a future that could be as bleak as Mr. Fetterman’s invested effort suggests.
Engaging in social work.
Nicky, drawing from his experience, decided to abandon his previous path in 1995 and pursue a career as a social worker. According to him, there were numerous applicants vying for his risk management position. As he dressed in a suit each day, working at Chubb’s New Haven office, a renowned insurance company, he held a prestigious job considering his age, which he obtained when Mr. Fetterman first took him under his wing as a mentor for his Little Brother.
He expressed, “I was unable to conquer the state of being preoccupied with the arbitrary chance of one’s birth. I reflected on my own upbringing, and how I had attained an MBA along with stability, autonomy, and adaptability, while this unfortunate young boy suffered the loss of both his parents before turning nine.” “It revealed a whole world of disparity that I had never truly comprehended existed, and the extent to which it prevailed.”
Mr. Fetterman had renounced everything he was prepared for until he took an AmeriCorps job service with the Association House Hill in Pittsburgh. Prior to that, he had no connection to his new city and his family was fairly stunned. He provided GED preparation to young disadvantaged parents who had dropped out of high school.
Karl Fetterman recalled, “I never thought I would have the opportunity to handle major national accounts. It was a dream job for me.” He added, “He was planning to do social work in Pittsburgh.” “I kept my mouth shut. I also thought it was a great opportunity to make a lot of money and do something meaningful for people.”
Mr. Fetterman admits sheepishly that he spent two years indulging in the cliché “finding yourself” phase of young adulthood before obtaining his master’s degree in public policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. After those two years, Mr. Fetterman then spent the next two years obtaining a post-graduate education. AmeriCorps, a federally-backed program, provides financial support for participants for a short-term duration.
The fast brown fox leaps over the lazy dog.
Further life abilities and career endeavors, GED examination for individuals who did not complete high school, organizing the initiation of the Braddock Out-of-School Youth Program sponsored by Allegheny County. During this period, he directed his efforts towards Braddock, specifically the Hill area, building upon his previous experience in a similar job. All of these experiences ultimately contributed to his current situation, reminiscent of what he encountered in 2001.
Jovan Villars, one of the initial participants, recalls that Mr. Fetterman offered a “secure refuge” in a compact classroom located in Braddock’s Ohringer Building for young individuals seeking solace from their domestic or street-related challenges.
Mr. Fetterman, a man with a receding hairline, used to routinely shave his head, which could be seen as scary, intimidating, or even frightening to some people, especially when combined with his size. He acknowledges that his appearance, resembling a skinhead biker with a mullet, may cause such reactions.
Mr. Fetterman, unlike the gregarious stereotype of a big man, has a typically low-key and sober demeanor with a dry sense of humor. He met with the participants on their level, offering hands-on assistance while they communicated their troubles. Instead of seeking to look for how he could influence the young charges in his care, Mr. Villars said he sought to help them line up job interviews.
Ever since his statewide campaigns for office, he has maintained a consistent appearance. His attire, which closely resembled that of the program participants, consisted of dark sneakers, Dickies work shirts, jeans, or cargo shorts. Mr. Fetterman consistently dressed in this manner.
“He didn’t resemble a fish out of water. He was highly adaptable, capable of maneuvering, as he already had a blueprint from his experiences with Big Brothers Big Sisters and AmeriCorps and Hill House.” Although Mr. Fetterman’s ethnicity and upbringing differed from the majority of participants, “He was simply relatable, one of the most modest and amiable large individuals I have ever encountered,” Mr. Villars expressed.
Mr. Fetterman stayed in that role for a period of six years. At that point, he had found a new calling in Braddock.
Not apolitical anymore.
Mr. Fetterman, who served as the mayor of Braddock for four years before running for mayor, has no recollection of being disinterested in elections during his 30s. He considers his stint as president of Mr. Albright’s class to be unmemorable, but other than that, he has been working and living in Braddock since 2005.
He did not expect to win simply by seeking attention to young people affecting violence. He won the Democratic primary in a three-way race, even though his provisional vote, which could not be recorded until the day after the election, confirmed his eligibility as a voter.
Mr. Fetterman says, “it’s not important.” If someone said what would happen if I had just happened to have that day, I often think, “Why should I vote?” Or “My vote doesn’t count,” says Mr. Fetterman. “That’s an anecdote that relates to anyone on this campaign trail today.”
The budget establishes a council borough and a municipal operations manager, similar to a mayor but not serving as the mayor of the borough. Winning the primary election in heavily Democratic Braddock is equivalent to being elected in the subsequent three terms with comfortable margins.
In addition to Braddock, Mr. Fetterman established valuable collaborations with foundations, enterprises, and other organizations, but an individual borough mayor has limited capabilities. While his time in office garnered significant focus for his efforts to revive the community from the aftermath of deindustrialization, Mr. Fetterman collaborated with Braddock’s leaders on initiatives for community policing to enhance relations with the predominantly African-American population. The day-to-day operations of the police department are managed by the police chief, but the mayor’s primary responsibility is to supervise it.
Braddock Redux, the nonprofit organization of Mr. Fetterman, refurbished a run-down church to establish a community center; urban farms maintained by teenagers; demonstrations by Mr. Fetterman and other individuals were unsuccessful in halting the shutdown of UPMC Braddock in 2010, which was substituted with an urgent care center; fresh residential buildings; highly praised restaurants and bars were incorporated through the partnerships.
The community center project received a donation of over $1 million from Levi’s, who focused on the town’s gritty appearance in a national advertising campaign after discovering it through Mr. Fetterman. The inclusion of a Subway sandwich shop (which never happened) would have been a significant improvement for Braddock at the time, causing laughter from the audience in 2009 when he mentioned it. He appeared on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” twice, with the audience laughing in 2009 when he declared that the addition of a Subway sandwich shop would have been a great improvement for Braddock at the time (which never happened). The Guardian labeled him as “the coolest mayor in America.” His efforts were acknowledged in articles by The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and other national publications.
Along the way, critics suggested that residents of Braddock were more focused on efforts to help white visitors or newcomers, while there is still a lot of work to be done for the black community in this transition. Mr. Fetterman deserves a lot of personal credit for getting things done, even though there has been some local criticism.
Emphasizing that his endeavors have never resulted in the type of urban renewal that displaces individuals, Mr. Fetterman refuses to express remorse. In his role as mayor, he merely pursued inventive approaches to revitalize a community that, over the course of several decades, experienced a 90 percent decline in its population, as well as the loss of its commercial activity and standing.
He stated, “What is crucial are those initiatives and locations, individuals to allocate resources and focus, and to assemble and lead the capacity and platform to address the most significant matter.”
Upon his resignation on December 21, he stated that his utmost contentment did not stem from revitalization endeavors, but rather from the years when Braddock experienced zero instances of homicide. Simultaneously, he found the 10 homicides that transpired throughout his 13-year tenure to be deeply concerning.
Afterwards, the disturbed fresh mayor received the tattoo days. On the initial evening, he was called to a police crime scene where a pizza delivery man had been robbed and shot in the head. Mr. Fetterman, who had served as mayor for a fortnight, guided numerous volunteers in a festive cleanup initiative at the upcoming community center. The initial date is 1-16-06, which coincided with Martin Luther King Jr. Day that year. The first nine are permanently marked by dates tattooed on his right arm (his left forearm displays Braddock’s 15104 ZIP code).
The tattoos on John Fetterman symbolize the dates of homicides in Braddock during his tenure as mayor.
“I just wanted to get the date over with, but what do you expect — maybe people think of Braddock’s like that and — he’s going to be quickly forgotten in the headlines and news, by the general public in terms of the man’s life and what mattered. And I’m going to carry on with something, I’m going to remember for the rest of my life. This day is like ‘I just was’.”
In June, he was fully engrossed in his campaigning, except for the most recent period. He conducted his campaign activities and committed subsequent murders at the same tattoo parlor in Lawrenceville.
A unique love tale.
If Mr. Fetterman wanted a more positive date in ink, he would add a note on 6-9-08 when he became both a learned father and a husband.
Gisele Almeida, a former yoga retreat in Costa Rica, picked up a magazine called ReadyMade while killing time in the lobby. She read a story titled “Captain of One Industry: Mission to Save Braddock” on page 68, which depicted a large bald man in shorts leaning on a weathered building in Car Town Lincoln.
Gisele, who was 7 years old at the time, along with her son, arrived in New York City as undocumented immigrants. They were originally from Rio de Janeiro, where their mother fled from violence. Rio de Janeiro was not their native home. The Braddock efforts were deeply impacted by the striking similarity between the aspirations in Newark, N.J. And Gisele’s own aspirations. Gisele Fetterman, who is now 36 years old, had a future ahead of her.
Eventually, Ms. Fetterman, a U.S. Citizen and a nutritionist focused on anti-hunger projects, wrote an article expressing her interest in visiting the community where the work took place, captivated by the Braddock. She hoped that her family could obtain legal immigration status.
She took a pregnancy test on their wedding night, and they eloped to Burlington, Vermont. They fell in love and visited each other in New Jersey. They recognized each other as kindred spirits. In October 2007, she spent 24 hours in Braddock. He phoned her with an invitation.
Mr. Fetterman, no one knew where she drove 355 miles from, with a rough image of a town, the handwritten letter, the random magazine article, and the rest of her family’s immigration saga – Mr. Fetterman says he is still astonished by all of this, within a span of five hours, finding out that you’re going to be a father and getting married, it was a big red-letter day.
“However, a sense of adventure is deeply ingrained in me,” recalls Ms. Fetterman, “I thought to myself, what kind of situation am I getting myself into?” When she inquired about directions to Braddock from a person at a nearby gas station during her initial journey. His response was, ‘What is your reason for wanting to visit that place?’
She felt comfortable spending the night talking late after staying up, “platonically.” She had hosted a reception at the nearby Carnegie Library Braddock after an evening play at Theatre Quantum, among dozens of people that the mayor had invited. Instead of using her booked hotel room miles away, she curled up on Mr. Fetterman’s sofa in his home, which she had met him earlier that day.
“He expressed his first impression of her by stating, ‘I distinctly recall perceiving her as a genuinely kind-hearted individual.’ ‘She simply believed that he exuded an unabashed genuineness,’ she pondered.”
The couple, Ms. Fetterman and Mr. Thomson, live in a loft in a former Chevrolet dealership with big windows overlooking the Steel Works. They have three children aged 4 to 9, and Ms. Fetterman has become a co-founder of Rescue Food 412, a Store Free in Braddock that provides a variety of goods to anyone in need and redistributes otherwise thrown away usable food to hungry families.
Seeking to improve his position.
In 2016, Mr. Fetterman came in third place in a Democratic primary contested by four candidates, securing 20 percent of the total votes. He was vying for the U.S. Senate position currently occupied by Republican Pat Toomey. This marked the first indication of his aspirations extending beyond Braddock, as it marked Mr. Fetterman’s initial foray into running for a statewide office.
Fetterman, lacking the recognition and financial support of his relative, felt emboldened by the fact that Mr. Toomey would lose to Katie McGinty, the nominee of his party, receiving fewer than half of the votes.
In 2016, a conservative plan, especially in response to Donald Trump’s triumph in Pennsylvania, his Braddock tale and his forward-thinking plan drew in numerous voters. He emphasized that he also campaigned energetically in rural counties throughout the state and gained an advantage from being the only candidate from Western Pennsylvania, as opposed to the unsuccessful Senate race. Mr. Wolf became disenchanted early in his initial term with whom Mr. Fetterman successfully secured the nomination over four other Democrats, including the current holder, Mike Stack, which established his candidacy for lieutenant governor last year.
Mr. Bobby Maggio, a 26-year-old man, will be the new staff chief of Fetterman’s recent campaign. He made history in Western Pennsylvania as the first person to perform same-sex weddings. Despite owning firearms, he supports stronger gun control measures. Additionally, he has long advocated for a minimum wage of $15 and the legalization of recreational marijuana use.
Mr. Fetterman expressed, “The Democratic Party has shifted and developed its stance on the matters to align with my long-held beliefs.” “Now everyone is progressively minded. … We are acknowledging the severe level of inequality in our country as there is a growing momentum and wave.”
In accordance with the statute, he is required to preside over the state Senate, Board of Pardons, and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council, solely. However, Mr. Fetterman strongly disagrees with the idea of the lieutenant governor being a role of little importance and influence. The main factor that drives him to aspire for a higher position is the latter aspect, which reminds him of his connection with Nicky Santana.
Should he choose to pursue it, Mr. Fetterman aspires to achieve an accomplishment that would position him favorably for another run at Mr. Toomey’s Senate seat in four years. With an atypical level of responsibility for the role, he anticipates that his favorable rapport and shared perspectives with Mr. Wolf will secure his success. By granting clemency to additional prisoners who warrant an opportunity to reintegrate into society, he aims to persuade the pardons board to decrease Pennsylvania’s incarcerated population.
J.J. Balaban, a campaign consultant based in Philadelphia who is familiar with working for Democrats in Pennsylvania but not Mr. Fetterman, mentioned that no one has been elected senator or governor in Pennsylvania since the 1960s. The upcoming lieutenant governor may encounter an intriguing challenge.
Mr. Balaban stated, “The mayor of Braddock is clearly more important than you, and the governor’s power mostly comes from what allows you to do. As the lieutenant governor, your authority and power are essentially minimal. It could be seen as not a desirable office for someone like John Fetterman, who might consider himself unique in terms of his base.”
The Fettermans will no longer require the financial support from his father that has allowed them to maintain a middle-class standard of living. Mr. Fetterman, who holds the highest salary among lieutenant governors in the country, will now be earning an annual income of $166,300 along with a larger wage. There is an increased foundation.
Gregg, his sibling, possesses a dwelling in the capital city where he will travel back and forth for a few days every week in his ebony pickup truck. He considers Braddock his lasting abode, and contrary to that, he is not relocating his family into the government-provided mansion in suburban Harrisburg that Mr. Stack has resided in. Mr. Fetterman
Just don’t expect Braddock to get rid of his tattoos. Mr. Fetterman plans to wear a suit while performing his state duties, just as he did with Chubb half a lifetime ago.