Preceded by Dick Yoder Role Mayor of West Chester Succeeded by Tom Paxson Spouse Tom Comitta | Party Democratic Party Name Carolyn Comitta | |
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Occupation Politician, Educator, Financial officer Office Mayor of West Chester since 2010 Residence West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States Education | ||
Children Tom Comitta, Anne Comitta | ||
West Chester Mayor Carolyn Comitta congratulates Jester Chiropractic during the grand opening.
Carolyn Comitta is an American politician, educator and financial officer. She is a member of the Democratic Party, and is currently serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives representing the 156th District. Previously, Comitta was the first woman to serve as Mayor of West Chester, the seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Contents
- West Chester Mayor Carolyn Comitta congratulates Jester Chiropractic during the grand opening
- West Chester Mayor Carolyn Comitta rides in the Fames water rescue boat wcdailylocal
- Early life and education
- Professional career
- Mayor of West Chester
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Personal life
- References
West Chester Mayor Carolyn Comitta rides in the Fame's water rescue boat. @wcdailylocal
Early life and education
Comitta was born in Buffalo, New York, and her family moved to West Goshen when she was 2 years old, where she has lived ever since. Comitta received her BS in Education from West Chester University (then West Chester State College) in 1974, and her M.Ed. from Widener University in 1989.
Professional career
From the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, Comitta worked in the Octorara Area School District as a special and gifted education curriculum specialist and teacher. Since 1988, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of World Information Transfer, Inc., a non-profit, non-governmental educational organization focused on health- and environment-related issues.
She currently serves as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of her husband's firm, Thomas Comitta Associates, Town Planners and Landscape Architects.
Mayor of West Chester
Comitta was first elected to the West Chester Borough Council in 2005, taking-over the Fifth Ward seat vacated by incumbent Democratic Councilwoman Barbara McIlvaine Smith. While on Council, she served as chair of the Borough Council's Public Safety Committee, and also chaired the Planning Zoning, Business & Industrial Development Committee. She also served as a member of the Parks, Recreation and Environmental Protection Committee, as well as the Finance Committee.
She sought the office of Borough Mayor in 2009, and defeated Councilman Bill Scott in the Democratic primary. She was elected unopposed in the fall general election, and took office the following January. In succeeding the term-limited incumbent Mayor, Republican Dick Yoder, Comitta became West Chester's first ever female Mayor, and its first Democratic Mayor since 1992.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
On January 7, 2016, Comitta announced her intent to run for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 156th District, challenging incumbent Dan Truitt. After a lengthy recount, she was declared the winner over Truitt by 25 votes on December 16, 2016.
Personal life
Comitta and her husband, Tom, have two grown children. Tom Comitta is a Planner and Landscape Architect.