Candidate PACs emerged in this year’s Centre County school board races. Here’s how each did

School board candidates running together in groups or as part of a PAC emerged in this year’s election, and three of those groups were successful while one was shut out completely.

In State College, the Democratic PAC Slate for State won all five open seats, beating out the Republican United for SCASD PAC. In Bellefonte, the Republican group Win4Bellefonte won four seats, electing all their candidates.

In Penns Valley, the Valleys’ Voice PAC of Republican candidates had a mixed showing, with one race too close to call.

Below is a closer look at Tuesday’s results. All results are unofficial until certified by the Board of Elections, and provisional and military/overseas ballots have yet to be counted.

State College

The Slate for State PAC swept the State College Area election, with all five candidates taking the five open seats. Members Dan Kolbe, Amy Bader, Gretchen Brandt, Anne Demo and Aaron Miller ran as Democrats. The Slate candidates received more than 13,000 votes each, nearly double that of the Republican candidates.

In a statement sent to the CDT, Slate for State thanked voters and volunteers.

“We are grateful for the trust the voters have placed in us, as it also demonstrates our community’s trust in our schools — our teachers, staff, and administrators,” Slate for State wrote. “Those are the people doing the hard work of educating students. School directors should be a bridge between the district and the community and be a support to educators.”

The other PAC in the State College race, United for SCASD, released a statement on Facebook following the election. Candidates Michelle Young, Barry Fenchak, John Krajcovic and Nathan Bish all ran as Republicans.

In the statement, United for SCASD thanked supporters and wished current and future board members well.

“While the results of the school board race are not what we had hoped for, we are grateful for meeting so many of you and for the relationships that we have built,” they said. “Thank you to our candidates and the time they sacrificed with their families to step up and serve our community.”

Megan Layng, a Republican who had been part of United for SCASD but parted ways with the group before the primary election, was also on the ballot.

Bellefonte

For the second time in as many elections, Win4Bellefonte candidates were the top vote-getters for the Bellefonte Area school board. Republicans Kimberly Weaver, Timothy Kessling, Jennifer Barnhart and Patrick Buck ran as part of Win4Bellefonte and will fill four of the five seats up for election. Weaver is the only incumbent of the group.

Democrat and incumbent Donna Smith is in the lead for the final seat, but she’s separated from former Win4Bellefonte candidate Darrell Sharp by only 18 votes.

In an email to the CDT, Smith said she looks forward to continue serving on the school board and facing the issues affecting the district.

“Serving on the school board is an honor and privilege that I don’t take for granted,” she wrote. “The work involved is significant and requires dedication, cooperation, open-mindedness and a sincere desire to serve.”

Sharp said he is waiting for the official vote count and will not concede in the meantime.

“Regardless of the outcome, I would like to stress that the work of the community is not done,” Sharp wrote in an email to the CDT. “I encourage all residents to stay involved, stay informed, and ensure all candidates, as well as the current board members, are held accountable for executing the promises and commitments that have been made.”

Penns Valley

The race for the fourth seat on Penns Valley Area school board remains highly contested, with Democrat and incumbent Scott Butler having only a two-vote lead on Republican Molly Miller.

Miller is part of The Valleys’ Voice PAC, alongside Republican candidates Kim Kellerman-Domin, Dan Hall and Michael Pase. Kellerman-Domin and Hall will fill two seats on the board, alongside Democrat and incumbent Domer Smeltzer.

When asked if she had a comment on the race, Miller responded “yes…recount” in an email to the Centre Daily Times.



Kellerman-Domin said the PAC would release a statement after the official vote count but thanked her voters and supporters in an email to the CDT.

“I want to promise each of you that I will continue to put forth the same energy as a school board member as I did when I was in the midst of the campaign,” Kellerman-Domin wrote. “We ALL have a vested interest in the Penns Valley Area School District and want only what is best for its students, staff and residents.”

This story was originally published November 8, 2023 at 3:32 PM.