Democrat Mark Higgins unanimously elected chair of Centre County commissioners
The Centre County board of commissioners kicked off the new year by electing a new chair of the board during their first meeting of 2023.
Democrat Mark Higgins was elected chair by his fellow commissioners, Michael Pipe and Steve Dershem, Tuesday. The board has been under the leadership of Pipe, who is stepping down for a role in Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro’s administration, since 2016.
Higgins has been the vice chair of the board for seven years.
“I will continue our successful partnership with Commissioner Dershem, the other elected county officials, … the 570 county employees … the over 100 Human Services partner agencies and the more than 160,000 Centre County residents. We have a great team that will continue to provide great services to Centre County citizens,” Higgins said.
Prior to his election to the board in 2015, Higgins worked as a turnaround specialist in industry, with more than 30 years working with businesses, according to his campaign website. He lives in State College.
Pipe resigned as chair Tuesday and will resign from the board effective Jan. 14. He will join Shapiro’s administration, where he will serve as deputy chief of staff for public safety.
“With last week’s announcement of my appointment as Deputy Chief of Staff for the incoming Shapiro administration, I think it’d be prudent for me to today step down as chair. I want to give as much runway and success for the incoming chair and our commissioner who is joining us as well, Amber Concepcion,” Pipe said.
President of the State College Area School District board of directors Amber Concepcion was appointed to the vacant Commissioners seat that will be left by Pipe, in accordance with county code. Under that code, in the event of a vacancy the court of common pleas will fill the seat with a registered elector who is of the same political party as the commissioner being replaced.
Higgins said he considered three things while recommending who should replace Pipe on the board.
“My three criteria in choosing the recommendation were, one, I wanted someone who was prepared to govern today. Two, I wanted someone who had the political skills to keep the job tomorrow. And three, someone who had the vision and leadership to assist the Centre County government and the Democratic Party well into the future. That person is clearly Amber Concepcion,” Higgins said.
Dershem has served with Pipe for 11 years, which he said has been a pleasure.
“I wish you only the best as you move on to new adventures. And Amber ... I do appreciate you stepping up and I look forward to working with you in the very near future,” Dershem said.
Pipe said leaving the board wasn’t an easy decision to make and it is “immensely bittersweet.” But the team at county is exceptional, he said, and knew he was leaving it in good hands.
“I think in many ways our politics and government is at a crossroads, and I just felt that with the results that we saw here in Pennsylvania with Governor-elect Shapiro and really the momentum that he’s carrying into office, I felt like the opportunity to be able to partner with him and help him achieve his campaign promises and work across the aisle was really a significant thing that I wasn’t able to pass up,” Pipe said.
