Objection filed against Republican candidate questions Centre County residency
A Republican who had petitioned to get his name on the ballot in Centre County for the 2022 general primary election is facing questions about his residency.
An objection filed Monday by Kathryn Jeziorski, of State College, states Justin Behrens, a Republican running for the newly created House District 82, has not lived in the district long enough to run for office. Therefore, she requested the court set aside his Nomination Petition and order that Behrens not appear on the ballot for nomination in the 82nd Legislative District.
The Pennsylvania Constitution requires individuals seeking to be a state representative or senator to “have been citizens and inhabitants of the state four years, and inhabitants of their respective districts one year next before their election.” Though Behrens does have an address and voter registration within the district, Jeziorski’s objection states based on “information and belief” that Behrens continues to be employed in — and that his family still lives in — Luzerne County.
In an email, Behrens said this is false. He said his family sold their residency in Luzerne County in June 2021 and purchased a home in State College and had all of their furniture moved to the house later that month. He said both of his sons have attended the State College Area School District since the beginning of the school year, his family has used local veterinarians and they have various memberships with local organizations.
“As a veteran, I have been subjected to moving from place to place throughout my life. While in the service stationed in Iraq, my wife chose to move to NEPA for work. While there, she attended Penn State University for (her) Doctorate degree and was later hired to work for the university,” Behrens wrote. “The family made the decision at this time to move to State College and make it our home in June of 2021. The allegations that I still live in Luzerne County are false and this challenge are prime examples of a wasting of taxpayer’s money and turning people off from politics.”
Jeziorski argues that Behrens knowingly filed a false affidavit when he executed the Department of State’s form affidavit on March 21, because he wasn’t a resident of House District 82 or Centre County by Nov. 8, 2021.
According to deed transfers, Behrens and his wife purchased a home in State College in June 2021.
A hearing on the objection petition is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday in courtroom number 3001 at the Pennsylvania Judicial Center in Harrisburg. The last day for the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania to render decisions in cases involving objections is April 12.
Behrens resigned as Luzerne County Republican Party chair in December 2021 to move to State College after his wife took a teaching job at Penn State, the Hazleton Standard-Speaker reported. He served in the Army and is a social worker, according to his campaign website.
HD 82 covers Benner, Boggs, Burnside, College, Curtin, Harris, Howard, Liberty, Marion, Snow Shoe and Union townships, and Howard, Milesburg, Snow Shoe, Unionville boroughs and part of State College.
Paul Takac, a College Township Council member, filed to run as a Democrat in House District 82.
The primary election is scheduled for May 17.
This story was originally published April 5, 2022 at 2:29 PM.
