It was the fourth time for the Republican mayor of Altoona, who first won election a decade ago, when the mayoral job was part-time, followed by successive victories after it became a full-time gig eight, then four years ago — then again Tuesday, when he defeated Democrat Bryant Giselman, 4,869 to 1,906, with some mail-in votes still to be counted.

With the polls closing an hour and a half later, Pacifico realized the result was now out of his control, and that he’d done all he could, he said Tuesday evening at a watch party in a pizza restaurant on Seventh Avenue, with a handful of supporters and a few City Council members nearby.

“(Campaigns) are mentally, emotionally and physically draining,” Pacifico said.

That is especially true given that his responsibilities as the mayor continued apace — taking precedence over the campaign, he said.

Giselman

“It was a busy summer and fall,” he stated.

But as the closing of the polls approached Tuesday, he felt “at peace,” he said.

He’s not sure what he’ll be doing when his term expires in early 2028, he said.

But he won’t be mayor at that point, as the city charter limits the holder of that office to three terms.

“I haven’t given it much thought,” he said. “Four years is a long time.”

He likes to think that voters have appreciated what he’s done, he said.

“We truly are trying to make Altoona better,” he said. “To make the city a place where people want to come and raise their families.”

It hasn’t always been easy, according to Pacifico.

“Sometimes you inadvertently create enemies,” he said.

That can happen when a constituent reaches out about an issue, and he lacks the power to do anything about it, he said.

“Sometimes people take that personally,” the mayor said.

In those cases, a solution may not be as simple as the constituent might think, he said. “And sometimes it’s not a ‘mayor’ problem.”

The loss was “kind of expected,” Giselman said, in a brief phone interview.

“It’s not the outcome I wanted, but I appreciate every voter,” he said.

He congratulated Pacifico and wished the mayor luck.

It was Giselman’s third electoral defeat, having previously lost in races for City Council and for state representative in the 79th District.

“I’m definitely taking a break,” Giselman said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.