ASHLEY COMANS SAYS SHE’S READY TO BECOME THE HOUSE DISTRICT 34 REPRESENTATIVE. (PHOTO BY J.L. MARTELLO)
Could join Reps. Powell and Mayes as Black women from region in state House
Remember Pa. House District 34?
It’s the district of 60,000 residents that encompasses Wilkinsburg, Rankin, Swissvale, Braddock, Braddock Hills, North Braddock and East Pittsburgh, among others, and parts of the City of Pittsburgh.
It’s the district that, for years, was represented by a Black woman, Summer Lee. But as most people know, Lee is now in the U.S. Congress, representing Pa.’s 12th District.
A special election was held on Feb. 7, 2023, to see who would serve out the remainder of U.S. Rep. Lee’s term, and Democrat Abigail Salisbury prevailed.
But in five months, the seat will be up for grabs again in the state’s Primary Election, and another Black woman, Ashley Comans, vows to make it her seat.
“I spent a lot of my life living in Wilkinsburg,” said Jada Shirriel, who leads Healthy Start Pittsburgh. “I absolutely believe she (Comans) is the person that is needed throughout this district. I see Ashley show up as a mother and a wife, that’s a full-time job, while also working full-time, while being in community, while being on the (Wilkinsburg) school board. Ashley is tenacious, small and mighty, I think she has friendly, thick skin, she can roll with the punches that can be needed, but still being focused on what’s important.”
Shirriel made the comments at Comans’ campaign announcement, Nov. 18, at Vickey’s Soul Grill, inside the Hosanna House in Wilkinsburg.
If Comans wins the Democratic Primary, she would be a virtual lock to become the Pittsburgh region’s latest African American woman to hold elected office in the state House. In addition to Congresswoman Lee, there’s newly-minted state Rep. Lindsay Powell (District 21) and Rep. La’Tasha Mayes (District 24).
ASHLEY COMANS, WITH SUPPORTERS. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)
Amanda Barber, a Wilkinsburg School Board Director (board members are referred to as directors), told Comans’ supporters she has served on the board with Comans for about a year, and that “she’s an incredible advocate for everyone in this district. From the teachers to the students, she has worked tirelessly to make sure that we are paying living wages in our districts to everybody that works with our children. She builds coalitions with everybody on the board to make sure that the advocacy becomes policy.”
Comans is no stranger to the political game. In addition to her tenure on the Wilkinsburg School Board, she has expressed to the New Pittsburgh Courier numerous times about her intentions to run for state representative. She originally announced her desire to run for the House District 34 seat following Congresswoman Lee’s announcement that she would run for Congress nearly two years ago. But as Lee was undergoing harsh attacks via television and radio ads to deter voters from voting for her in the 2022 Primary Election, Comans suspended her own campaign, as technically, Congresswoman Lee was still running to keep her 34th District House seat if she didn’t prevail in the congressional run. Ultimately, Congresswoman Lee prevailed over her Democratic challenger, Steve Irwin.
Thus, when it was time for Comans to slide into Congresswoman Lee’s House District 34 seat, a curve ball was thrown. The Allegheny County Democratic Committee chose Salisbury over Comans to be the Democratic candidate in the Feb. 2023 special election.
But that was then, Comans said. This is now.
ASHLEY COMANS
Representative Salisbury “was selected behind closed doors by a handful of committee voters,” Comans said at her Nov. 18 event. “When voters had a choice in the last Primary Election, they rejected her (Rep. Salisbury lost to Congresswoman Lee in May 2022, but Congresswoman Lee resigned to join Congress). I’m running now to give people a choice, to give voters a chance to nominate a candidate chosen by the community. I am committed to being transparent, accessible, accountable and having open communication with the constituents of this district.”
Comans has resided within the 34th District her entire life. She is a Woodland Hills High School graduate who said that “public service is a noble calling. When I decided to run for school board in 2017, I was motivated by my goal to send my daughter to the same school district where I began my early learning. Six years later, I am proud to say I am a parent of a Kelly Primary Pre-K student who is learning in a high-quality program.”
Comans said she’s dedicated to improving education for children in the community, and she’s particularly dedicated to improving Black maternal and infant health in the region.
“As a Black mom who works in my everyday job to strengthen maternal and child health, and working with elected officials to push legislation to sustain the longevity and other work that works to combat the trends, I know it’s possible that we can save the lives of our Black moms and birthing folks with bold legislation that works for working families,” she said.
WILKINSBURG MAYOR DONTAE COMANS, WITH DAUGHTER, BELLAMY
Comans’ husband is Dontae Comans, the mayor of Wilkinsburg.
“This is a special race for me and for her; this is basically Ashley’s homecoming,” Dontae Comans said to applause. “Raised in District 34…Woodland Hills…Wilkinsburg…this is her town, so it’s time for her to take over and move this district in the position it needs to be.”
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