Objection to Centre County Republican appearing on ballot is withdrawn
The objection to a Republican who had petitioned to get his name on the ballot in Centre County for the 2022 general primary election was withdrawn Friday.
On Monday, State College resident Kathryn Jeziorski filed an objection and requested the court set aside Justin Behrens’ Nomination Petition and order that he not appear on the ballot for nomination in the newly created 82nd Legislative District. Jeziorski’s objection stated Behrens has not lived in the district long enough to run for office, which Behrens disputed.
The hearing was rescheduled to 2 p.m. Friday, but prior to that, Jeziorski withdrew the objection and the hearing was canceled, according to court documents.
An attorney listed for Jeziorski declined to comment.
In an email, Behrens said the objection was “nothing more than a desperate attempt by a desperate campaign to knock me off the ballot.”
“Clearly, they realized that the facts were on my side, not theirs,” Behrens wrote.
“This debacle was nothing more than a waste of taxpayer money and an attempt to besmirch my grassroots campaign.”
According to deed transfers, Behrens and his wife purchased a home in State College in June 2021. 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.
Paul Takac, a College Township Council member, filed to run as a Democrat in House District 82. 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.
The primary election is scheduled for May 17; the general election is Nov. 8.
