A new Centre County board of commissioners could be elected this year. Here’s who’s running
As the primary election season kicks off, five people have announced their candidacy for the board of Centre County Commissioners.
The three-person board of commissioners is the chief governing body of the county. Their duties include appointing personnel, supervising county offices and programs, and contracting in different program areas, according to the county website. The board also acts as the fiscal managers of the county and develops and adopts the budget, assessment of property, taxes and borrowing of funds. With the recent adoption of salaries for the next term of elected county officials, the commissioners will be paid $81,995 beginning in 2024.
Democrats Mark Higgins and Amber Concepcion, and Republican Steve Dershem are the current Centre County Commissioners. The board is elected every four years.
This list will be updated as more candidates announce their intentions to run. The primary election is May 16 and the municipal election is Nov. 7.
Republican incumbent Steve Dershem announced Feb. 6 that he will seek reelection. In a press release, he said his approach to county government “has always been one of teamwork.”
“I have had the privilege to work with many creative and talented county staff and directors to face and solve challenges both great and small. Examples of our successes include the design and build of a modern county-wide 911 system, the construction of a state-of-the-art emergency responder training site and the development of mental health and substance abuse programs that have since been (modeled) across the state,” he wrote in the release.
Dershem, a resident of Bellefonte, has been on the board of commissioners since first elected in 2003.
“I am proud to seek reelection to the leadership of an organization that is dedicated to the improvement of our communities, the betterment of the lives of our residents and the prudent use of your tax dollars,” Dershem said.
Democrats Mark Higgins and Amber Concepcion announced Jan. 30 they will seek election as a team. In a press release, they stated their focus will continue to be supporting secure and healthy families and businesses throughout the county. As an example, they pointed to a Behavioral Health court that will join the DUI and Drug specialty courts beginning this year.
“We continue expanding such criminal justice initiatives, in collaboration with other County stakeholders, that balance the rights of victims with the rights of the accused,” the release states. “These initiatives have proven to aid rehabilitation and reduce repeat offenses, thus reducing the number of incarcerated Centre County residents by half. The result is not only a savings for taxpayers, but more intact families in our region and better outcomes for children and seniors.”
Higgins and Concepcion said they’ll “continue defending the rights of citizens to have their votes counted accurately” and will administer elections that everyone can participate in, including by providing access to ballot drop boxes in safe and convenient locations.
Their other goals for the county include preserving and expanding affordable housing, supporting economic development, broadband services, better access to mental health services, and sustainable energy initiatives with a strong return on investment.
Higgins, a resident of the State College borough, has served as commissioner since 2016 and was recently elected chair.
“I love serving the citizens of Centre County and would humbly ask the citizens of Centre County for the opportunity to continue serving for a third term,” Higgins said in the release. “I have been part of a team that has not increased County Government property taxes for thirteen years. We have continuously visited all thirty-five municipalities in Centre County and will continue to care deeply about the County as a whole.”
Concepcion, a resident of Patton Township, was appointed as commissioner in December 2022. Before that, she served on the State College Area School District board for eleven years and as president for the last nine years.
“Now, more than ever, County Government Services are vital to growing our local economies, investing in infrastructure, and serving the needs of families throughout the County,” Concepcion said in the release.
Rush Township Supervisor Pat Romano Jr. announced on Facebook on Jan. 9 that he would again seek election to the board of commissioners. He previously ran for commissioner as a Republican in 2019.
“Four years ago, in 2019, I was a relatively unknown candidate for Centre County Commissioner. I worked hard and used my own money to run a ‘name recognition’ campaign in the primary and I nearly found myself on the ballot heading into summer,” Romano wrote. “Four years later, in 2023, it appears I am being called to service. It’s time to ‘throw my hat back into the ring’ to work for the people of Centre County.”
Romano owns the We Are Inn in Philipsburg and is the chairman of the Rush Township board of supervisors.
Entrepreneur and businessperson Marie Librizzi, a Republican, announced her candidacy for the board of commissioners on Jan. 30.
Librizzi has lived in Centre County since 1978 and recently retired after 42 years of co-owning Old Main Frame Shop & Gallery. Her other entrepreneurial ventures include previous ownership of the Boalsburg Pump Station Cafe, Sadie’s Gourmet Waffles and The Gathering Restaurant, according to a press release.
Running for county commissioner is the next step in her history of community involvement, the release states.
“I believe in the power of optimism, the importance of self-created opportunities, and the value of hard work,” Librizzi said in the release. “Ensuring prosperity for future generations is one of my top concerns. On a local level, serving as a county commissioner naturally aligns with my strong history of supporting economic development and human services.”
One of her top initiatives is to help include Centre County’s rural areas in county-wide conversations and decisions.
“There’s a lot to love about Centre County. We have a lot of strengths,” Librizzi said. “However, for too long Centre County has been viewed as just the Centre Region. It’s important to me that we increase the involvement of individuals, businesses, and organizations in some of our county’s more rural areas. There’s a lot of talent all across Centre County, and by working together we can grow and enhance the entire county as a whole.”
She plans to visit Centre County’s 10 boroughs and 25 townships during her campaign. She looks forward to meeting new people and reconnecting with those she met during her decades in business, she said.
Librizzi, who lives in Ferguson Township, previously served as president of the Downtown State College Improvement District. Additionally, she served 14 years in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the civilian arm of the U.S. Coast Guard, and held several leadership positions. She is a member of the State College Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Post 245.
This story was originally published January 30, 2023 at 1:08 PM.
