Party: Republican
Place of residence: Center Township, Beaver County
Education: B.A., communications, University of Pittsburgh

Pa. State House 16th District election: Costanza v. Matzie | 90.5 WESA

Party: Republican
Place of residence: Center Township, Beaver County
Education: B.A., communications, University of Pittsburgh
Current occupation: Co-owner, Cesina's Sausage Co., Aliquippa

The biggest concern I hear going door-to-door — and see firsthand in communities that have lost jobs and investment — is simple: It costs too much to live, work and raise a family in Beaver County. Property taxes, utility bills and everyday expenses keep climbing, while families need better-paying jobs and more opportunities. I grew up here, raised six children here and help run our family business, so I understand what rising costs mean for a family budget.

John Costanza is originally from Beaver County. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the University of Pittsburgh. He lives in Center Township, Beaver County, and has raised six children.

Education: B.A., communications, University of Pittsburgh
Current occupation: Co-owner, Cesina's Sausage Co., Aliquippa
Related experience: Small-business owner; more than 40 years in sales, including 31 years in the transportation industry and 24 years at FedEx; former assistant football coach, Aliquippa High School; church volunteer and member of the San Rocco Foundation

Costanza co-owns a small family sausage business in Aliquippa. And while he told WESA he’s been active in the community — through coaching, church and cultural associations — he’s a political newcomer. Costanza has a background in sales management and says job creation and affordability are key concerns for district voters.

John Costanza currently co-owns Cesina's Sausage Co. in Aliquippa. He has a background in sales management.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

I would want to see the actual legislation before considering any new source of state revenue. On skill games, I know many local civic, veterans and community organizations count on that money, and I want to ﬁnd a legal and responsible way for it to continue. On recreational marijuana, Harrisburg should not view legalization simply as a quick fix for the state budget.

The biggest concern I hear going door-to-door — and see firsthand in communities that have lost jobs and investment — is simple: It costs too much to live, work and raise a family in Beaver County. Property taxes, utility bills and everyday expenses keep climbing, while families need better-paying jobs and more opportunities. I grew up here, raised six children here and help run our family business, so I understand what rising costs mean for a family budget.

That’s why my focus in Harrisburg will be on affordability and accountability: lowering the tax burden, reducing costs, attracting good-paying jobs and investment, and demanding responsible government.

Wants a legal and responsible way for civic, veterans, and community organizations to continue receiving skill-game revenue.

Plans to lower taxes and costs, attract jobs and investment, and pursue responsible government.

- Wants a legal and responsible way for civic, veterans, and community organizations to continue receiving skill-game revenue.
- Plans to lower taxes and costs, attract jobs and investment, and pursue responsible government.

Economy

I would want to see the actual legislation before considering any new source of state revenue. On skill games, I know many local civic, veterans and community organizations count on that money, and I want to ﬁnd a legal and responsible way for it to continue. On recreational marijuana, Harrisburg should not view legalization simply as a quick fix for the state budget.

Any proposal should carefully consider the potential public safety, health and community impacts, as well as the experiences of states that have already legalized it.

Calls for recreational marijuana proposals to consider public safety, health, and community impacts and other states' experiences.

- Calls for recreational marijuana proposals to consider public safety, health, and community impacts and other states' experiences.

Healthcare

Supporters of private schools have urged the state to expand a tax break that allows businesses to deduct contributions they make to those schools. Critics say private schools should provide more details about tuition costs and the family income of students that benefit from such support. Where do you fall on these questions, and on how the state should fund grade-school education generally?

I grew up here, I love our local schools, and I believe we need to fairly fund public education and give every child in District 16 the opportunity to succeed. At the same time, I believe parents should have choices when it comes to ﬁnding the school that works best for their child. I see EITC as an important partnership between the private sector and families that helps make those choices possible.

I grew up here, I love our local schools, and I believe we need to fairly fund public education and give every child in District 16 the opportunity to succeed. At the same time, I believe parents should have choices when it comes to ﬁnding the school that works best for their child. I see EITC as an important partnership between the private sector and families that helps make those choices possible.

I support reasonable transparency, but we should not create unnecessary barriers that make it harder for families to access scholarships and educational opportunities for their children.

Supports fairly funding public education while giving parents choices among schools for their children.

Supports the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and reasonable transparency without creating barriers to scholarships and educational opportunities.

- Supports fairly funding public education while giving parents choices among schools for their children.
- Supports the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and reasonable transparency without creating barriers to scholarships and educational opportunities.

Education

Data center projects are too big and costly to approve first and ask questions later. I believe local residents should have the final say. Before projects move forward, communities should know how much power and water they will use, their impact on infrastructure, and potential costs to taxpayers and utility customers. Families should not face higher bills or pay for tax breaks benefiting these projects.

Data center projects are too big and costly to approve first and ask questions later. I believe local residents should have the final say. Before projects move forward, communities should know how much power and water they will use, their impact on infrastructure, and potential costs to taxpayers and utility customers. Families should not face higher bills or pay for tax breaks benefiting these projects.

I support legislation protecting local control, requiring data centers to cover their costs, and ensuring they deliver jobs, revenue and lasting benefits to our communities.

Supports local control and requirements that data centers disclose impacts, cover their costs, and deliver community benefits.

- Supports local control and requirements that data centers disclose impacts, cover their costs, and deliver community benefits.

Energy & the Environment

As of October 16, 2026, John Costanza’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Posted April 28, 2026 by Donna Velasco in Pledge Press Releases

For immediate release
April 28, 2026

Ambridge, PA – U.S. Term Limits (USTL), the leader in the national, non-partisan movement to limit terms for elected officials, is gathering support from state lawmakers across the nation. Its mission is to get 34 states to apply for an amendment proposal convention specific to term limits on Congress. 2026 Pennsylvania state house candidate, John Costanza (district 16), has committed support for term limits on Congress by signing the term limits convention pledge.

The U.S. Term Limits pledge is provided to candidates and members of state legislatures. It reads, “I pledge that, as a member of the state legislature, I will cosponsor, vote for, and defend the resolution applying for an Article V convention for the sole purpose of enacting term limits on Congress.”

John Costanza Pledges to Support Congressional Term Limits

Pledges to support an Article V convention resolution solely to establish term limits for Congress.

- Pledges to support an Article V convention resolution solely to establish term limits for Congress.

Voting & Elections

Facebook

John Costanza

- Plans to lower taxes and costs, attract jobs and investment, and pursue responsible government.

Edward Krutsch

Buket Urgen

Robert F Matzie

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws, including introducing tax bills. 
- State representatives and their staff respond to constituent concerns and questions through emails, phone calls, and website announcements. 
- State representatives oversee the executive branch and can vote to overrule a veto by the Governor.  
- They are elected to two-year terms and have a salary of $106,000, with a 1-3% annual increase

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