Meet Homestead Mayor-elect Mary Nesby … It’s about real work, not a title

Come January 2026, Mary Nesby will make history as Homestead’s first Black woman mayor.

That’s admirable, Mayor-elect Nesby told the New Pittsburgh Courier, but for her, it’s not about titles. In her mind, with all she feels she’s done in the Homestead community, she feels like the mayor already. She told the Courier on Nov. 10 that she’s lived in Homestead for the past 23 years, and after being on Homestead Borough Council for the past eight years, she knows the ins and outs of not only Homestead in the community, but in the political world. Her friends, family and supporters serenaded her as she easily won the General Election for Homestead Mayor on Election night, Nov. 4, 2025, during an Election Night Watch Party at EON in Homestead. But…”this is real work, this ain’t about a title,” Mayor-elect Nesby told the Courier. “This is about being consistent and showing up every single time, even when you don’t want to, even when I’m grieving, even when there’s trauma going on in my household, you still have to show up in these spaces, and we don’t get paid a lot of money to do that.”

For those wondering, Homestead’s mayor receives as low as $125 and as high as $175 per month as budgeted over the past four years and approved by Homestead Borough Council.

Homestead has a population of nearly 3,000, with nearly 60 percent of the residents identifying as African American. Mayor-elect Nesby said even though she will no longer have a vote on Homestead Borough Council, she’ll become the official “face” of the borough, and she feels she can make faster connections with other people and community groups to bring more resources to Homestead’s residents.

“I now don’t have to wait for seven votes to get something done,” Mayor-elect Nesby told the Courier.

WINNERS—CARLA L. PAYNE-HARRISON WON HER BID FOR WEST MIFFLIN COUNCIL, AND MARY NESBY IS LESS THAN TWO MONTHS FROM OFFICIALLY BECOMING MAYOR OF HOMESTEAD. (PHOTO BY CHIEF IKHANA-HAL-MAKINA)

Mayor-elect Nesby, who has no problem speaking up for herself and Homestead residents, said she’s ready to get things done. She wants to restore the trust between Homestead police and the community, create pathways to economic stability, have job training, workforce programs and small business development programs.

“I reached the point where I wanted to be more than just a vote,” Mayor-elect Nesby told the Courier. “I wanted to lead. Serving on Council, it gave me valuable insight on how the system works, showed me where the systems fall short for the people. I saw a lot of missed opportunities for collaboration and real community impact, and I feel like I have a bigger platform to bring people together.”

Mayor-elect Nesby will replace John Burwell, who, in 2022, became Homestead’s first Black mayor. Betty Esper was Homestead’s longtime mayor, serving first in the early ’90s, then returning in 1998 and stayed in the mayoral chair until her retirement in early 2022, when Burwell took over.

“In order to create lasting change, the kind that heals, uplifts and unites, we needed leadership that can bring people together around a shared vision,” Mayor-elect Nesby said. “As mayor I have the ability to set the tone, lead with compassion, transparency and accountability. My decision to step into this role came from love, love for Homestead, love for our people, and love for the generations coming after us.

Mayor-elect Nesby added: “This isn’t about power; it’s about purpose.”