Constable races rarely attract attention, yet alone multiple candidates, but this year in Pittsburgh’s 6th ward, a very intriguing candidate is running for the job.
Jacob Klinger is a housing advocate who is currently working as a tenant organizer to help people facing eviction notices. Before that, Klinger, who is Jewish, reported on the Pittsburgh Steelers for PennLive, and quit his job in protest after the Central Pennsylvania news site described a Neo-Nazi rally as “peaceful.”
He says he was drawn to running for constable after discovering exactly what their role was in the eviction system, and says instead of taking contracts to carry out removal orders, he would reject those and instead use that information to proactively reach out to tenants and try to connect them to resources that might help them stay in their homes.
“I am already doing so much of this work, trying to keep people in their homes, what if I just did this as an elected official?” says Klinger. “I have seen kids that are out of the house and literally separated families. One of the messed up things about it is the neighbors come out, and even if people don’t like their neighbors, they don’t want to see them get done like this. There are clearly levels to intervene that are less trauma inducing.”
Klinger is running for constable in Pittsburgh's Ward 6, which includes all of Polish Hill, as well as sections of Lawrenceville and the Strip District.Bloomfield, Polish Hill, Lawrenceville, be on the lookout for a knock on the door as I'll be canvassing our neighborhoods very soonI'm running for Constable in PGH D7W6.
— Jacob Klinger (@Jacob_Klinger_) September 28, 2021
Let's disrupt evictions together. pic.twitter.com/EjZ2crwMaw
In addition to carrying out the duty of protecting the polls, Klinger says his goals are to help spread education about what the eviction process actually is. He says many people are confused when they get an eviction notice on their door, assuming that means they have to leave, when really it means they are just summoned to court. And even if the notice is approved by a judge, there are still other resources available, he says.
“A lot of times people get a scary piece of paper from their landlord, but that’s not the final decision,” says Klinger. “Even when there is an order for possession [removal order], it would be helpful to have someone who can level with folks. Tell them this means you need to file an appeal, and here are some resources for government funds.”
In March, Klinger was charged with vandalism and other charges for allegedly damaging the doors of a Magistrate District Court in McKees Rocks, Forest Hills, and Baldwin which caused delays in hearings at those courts. On Nov. 12, 2020, Klinger and other suspects allegedly sealed the entry doors with foam insulation and the keyholes with epoxy glue, and used U-Locks to bar the doors, according to Allegheny County Sheriff’s deputies.
According to court documents, a conviction or a plea has not yet been reached for these charges, and the case is still on-going.
When reached and asked about these charges, Klinger said “It is an ongoing legal matter, and it is one I expect to be resolved shortly.” He added that this was the first time he had been asked about these charges.
With such an obscure and down-ballot office like constable, an obstacle to Klinger’s candidacy is his running under the People First ballot position in a city and ward that votes heavily Democratic. Klinger’s general election opponent is also Michael A. Ceoffe, a member of the well-known Ceoffe family of Lawrenceville, who is running on the Democratic ticket.
However, Klinger says he is hopeful because he has been canvassing door to door a lot and meeting with voters, directly explaining who he is and what a constable does, something he says many people did not previously know. Klinger is also buoyed by the fact that Pennsylvania no longer has a straight ticket voting option anymore, meaning that voters must individually choose each candidate, instead of just picking a party.
He says his move from a sports journalist to a housing advocate and now to a constable run has been a journey, but one he wouldn’t change.
“It has all happened in a weird time warp zone,” says Klinger. “I think the most I can really say is the same principles have run through it all for me, for the duration.”
Editor's note: This story has been updated from its original version to include information about vandalism charges made against Klinger, and Klinger's response to these allegations.