Elected Office: Member of County Council—At Large
Past:Member of County Council—At Large
John DeFazio (D) was elected by the voters of Allegheny County to one of two at-large seats on County Council. It took the urging of friends and union leaders for him to run for Council.
A former professional wrestler, Councilman DeFazio was known as “Jumpin Johnny” in the 1960s and 70s. He appeared in several matches on Channel 11’s Saturday broadcast of “Studio Wrestling.” While “Jumpin Johnny” was in recess during the week, Councilman DeFazio followed his father’s footsteps to the steel mills. At the age of 29, he won the presidency of his local union.
At the age of 36, Councilman DeFazio became the International Staff Representative for the United Steelworkers of America. Later, Councilman DeFazio worked as the Director of the United Steel Workers of America in Pennsylvania.
Councilman DeFazio serves on the Maglev Board and as coordinator of the Civil Rights Committee in Western Pennsylvania. He has served as chairman of the Shaler Democratic Committee. Councilman DeFazio has always seen himself as a “man of the people.” He has stated “I’d like to be more accountable to the people, trying to do what the majority of the people want.”
He and his wife, Marsha, have six children and live in Shaler.
