Mary Jo was born and raised in Southwest Pennsylvania, graduating from Greensburg-Salem High School. Both parents held careers in public education. Her father was a high school guidance counselor, and her mother taught Civics and Pennsylvania history.

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She recalls driving through the Squirrel Hill and Fort Pitt tunnels as a young adult attending Robert Morris University. It was in Moon that she met Joseph Wise, her husband of 26 years and a native of the township. Her father-in-law, the late Jack Wise, had an enormous impact on her love for public service. She spent countless hours with her friend and mentor discussing local politics. Through their discussions, she would grow a deep-rooted understanding and love of local government and Allegheny County.

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Mary Jo and her late husband, Joseph, lived in the DC area for 12 years. Her career gave her an opportunity to grow an in-depth understanding of both federal and local government by working as a government contractor for a small private marketing and advertising firm, HR Communications Ltd. After the birth of their son, Mary Jo and Joe returned to Allegheny County in 2006. They made Moon Township their home. Mary Jo spent ten years as a stay-at-home mom, raising their son Christian. During that time, she volunteered at her church as an officer of Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), and later volunteered as the President of the Home School Association (HSA) for her son’s elementary school. Upon returning to the workforce, Mary Jo decided to work in philanthropy. She now works as an Executive Assistant.

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As a widow, Mary Jo is a fierce advocate for both caregivers and young widow(er)s. From the tragedy, Mary Jo has learned the value of never giving up on a cause she believes in, along with never backing down in the face of opposition or obstacles. These lessons and her experiences motivated her to seek public office. In the fall of 2023, Mary Jo won her first election to the Board of Supervisors for Moon Township. As an elected official, she has served as a champion of transparency and fiscal responsibility. She has garnered experience working with a bipartisan board for the growth of the community, spearheading efforts such as:

• The completion of a new state of the art police station.

• Upgrades to the existing Moon Township Library Children’s Department.

• Making necessary upgrades to Moon Parks for the enjoyment of all residents.

 

In addition to helping foster growth for the community, these critical wins for the community were accomplished without an increase in taxes. Mary Jo has continued to work to find ways to create cost savings for investments within the community, including bond refinancing and the utilization of a joint bid paving program between Moon, Crescent and North Fayette.

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She currently lives with her son Christian, their German Shepherd named Shep, a fat cat named Bandit, and is proud to call Allegheny County home.