Brooke Sanfilippo, welcome to Erie City Hall.
Sanfilippo, a Democrat who defeated current City Council members Chuck Nelson and Ed Brzezinski to claim her party’s nomination for city controller in the May primary, rolled to a decisive victory over Republican Matthew Strupczewski in the Nov. 4 municipal election.
According to unofficial vote totals from the Erie County Courthouse, with 100% of the city vote counted, Sanfilippo garnered 14,755 votes, or 73%, to 5,378 votes, or 27%, for Strupczewski.
Brooke Sanfilippo plans to seek the Democratic nomination for Erie city controller in the May 20, 2025 municipal primary.
Sanfilippo, 47, is a pension and 401(k) administration manager who previously worked for Erie County government. She will take office in January.
Strupczewski is a 24-year-old U.S. Army officer. He ran unopposed for the GOP nomination in the May 20 municipal primary.
Previous coverage: Democrat Sanfilippo, GOP’s Strupczewski square off in Erie controller’s race
Sanfilippo’s candidacy was also endorsed by current City Controller Teresa Stankiewicz, a Democrat prohibited from running again because of the city’s limit of three consecutive terms.
Stankiewicz was first elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2017 and 2021.
The city’s controller watches over various aspects of city finances, including contracts, purchase orders and pension funds. The controller is also tasked with verifying and auditing city records and accounts.
The position currently pays $38,000 annually. However, City Council in September 2024 approved a 97% yearly pay boost for the controller’s post, increasing that salary to $75,000 a year.
The raise takes effect in January, which means Sanfilippo will receive the higher salary.
Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on X at @ETNflowers.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Dem Sanfilippo captures huge win in Erie controller’s contest