Kayla Portis becomes Sharpsburg’s first Black mayor

The U.S. Census says there’s about 180 Black people that currently live in Sharpsburg, or 5.6 per­cent of the borough’s pop­ulation.But don’t let the small percentage fool you—in the past eight months, African Americans are making historic moves in Sharpsburg politics.Kayla Portis, 39, a Sharpsburg Borough councilmember since 2021, made history on July 11 by being appoint­ed Sharpsburg’s first Black mayor. And follow­ing an open interview pro­cess with Portis and other candidates on that July 11 evening by members of council, guess who official­ly nominated Portis for mayor? Corey Ochai, who made history in January 2024 by becoming the town’s first Black male councilmember.After Councilman Ochai nominated Portis, Sharps­burg Councilwoman Sar­ah Ishman seconded the nomination. A vote came thereafter, and the re­maining councilmembers voted Portis into office. Applause was then heard throughout the room, some 40 people in atten­dance, and Portis, wearing a long, black and white dress, was sworn into of­fice by District Judge Mat­thew V. Rudzki.“I felt like I was ready,” Portis told the New Pitts­burgh Courier in an exclu­sive interview, Aug. 1. “I’ve been here most of my life, and I was ready to pro­mote more change.”The Courier previously reported on Portis’ histor­ic feat when she became...