Here’s a list of Centre County candidates who will be running in the 2025 municipal election
A host of elected offices in local government are up for election this year and will appear on the ballots of thousands of Centre County voters.
Some 36 borough council seats, 31 township supervisors positions and 10 mayor seats will be up for grabs across the county’s 35 municipalities, in addition to three district judge seats. A number of school board seats across the county’s five school districts will be up for the taking too.
The primary election is May 20 and municipal election is Nov. 4.
Below is a list of who’s running and background about the positions they are seeking. Candidate announcements have also been included for those that submitted them to the CDT.
Borough Councils
Bellefonte Borough
Bellefonte’s 1st Ward will have two four-year seats, currently held by Republicans Kent Bernier Rita Purnell, up for election. Purnell will appear on the ballot, as will Republican Kimberly Shenk and Democrat Claudia Wilson.
Bellefonte’s 2nd Ward will have one four-year seat, currently held by Republican Barbara Dann, up for election. Dann will appear on the ballot.
Bellefonte’s 3rd Ward will have two four-year seats, currently held by Democrats Shawna McKean and Johanna Sedgewick, up for election. McKean will appear on the ballot, as will Democrat Zach Kelly.
Bellefonte’s mayor seat is also up for grabs, with incumbent Gene Johnson set to appear on the ballot.
Centre Hall Borough
The Centre Hall Borough Council will have three four-year seats up for election. The seats are currently held by Republicans Matthew Roan and Daniel Smith and Democrat Kathryn Long.
Incumbents Long, Roan and Smith will appear on the ballot, as well as Democrat Rosalie Owens.
Howard Borough
The Howard Borough Council will have four four-year seats up for election, although only three of the four seats are currently being held. They’re held by Democrat Lydia Waters and Republicans John Gribble and Philip Winchell. None of the incumbents’ names will appear on this year’s ballot.
Appearing on the ballot will be Democrat Autumn Hanley and Republicans Emily Herr and Chris Aikens. The borough’s mayor seat is also up for election, which is currently held by Republican Deborah Simoncek. Simoncek will appear on the ballot.
Milesburg Borough
The Milesburg Borough Council will have three four-year seats, three two-year seats and the mayor’s seat up for election. Currently holding the four-year seats are Republicans Fred Kellerman, Plummer Davidson and Lauren Davidson-Haupt. The two-year seats are currently held by Republicans Barry Campbell, Jr., Shirley Martin and Kirsty Lloyd. The mayor’s seat is currently held by Republican Clair Martin.
Davidson-Haupt and Campbell, Jr. will be appearing on the ballot seeking four-year terms, and Shirley Martin will be seeking another two-year term. Also on the ballot seeking both a two- and four-year term is Democrat Catlin Horn, although she can only choose one seat if elected to both. Clair Martin will reappear on the ballot, running against Republican Michaela Bressler.
Millheim Borough
The Millheim Borough Council will have two four-year seats up for election, along with the mayor’s seat. Currently holding those seats are Democrats Cecilia Gallup and Nickelaus Engle, and currently holding the mayor’s seat is Stephen Myers.
Gallup will appear on the ballot, as will Democrat Marissa Evankovich. Engle will appear on the ballot as well, running for mayor.
Philipsburg Borough
The Philipsburg Borough Council will have four four-year seats, one two-year seat and the mayor’s seat up for election. Currently holding the four-year seats are Republicans Faith Bordas-Maguire, Jerry Lese, James Stiver and Harry Wood, with Republican John Streno serving as mayor.
Incumbents Bordas-Maguire, Lese and Wood will all appear on the ballot, as will Democrat Chyvonne Rhoads and Republican John Walker. Streno will appear on Republican ballots for mayor, and Democrat Zach Womer is also running for mayor.
Port Matilda Borough
The Port Matilda Borough Council will have three four-year seats up for election, currently held by Republicans Joseph Bloom, Mark Belinda and Bernard Kalt. The mayor’s seat is currently held by Republican Ida Lively.
Kalt and Bloom will appear on the ballot, as will Republican Brandon Maynard, II. Republican Greg Harpster will appear on the ballot running for mayor.
Snow Shoe Borough
The Snow Shoe Borough Council will have three four-year seats and the mayor’s seat up for election. Currently holding the council seats are Republicans Bruce Houck, Christopher Barton and Beau Martin, with William Dudish serving as mayor.
Incumbent Martin will appear on the ballot, as will Dudish, running for mayor.
State College Borough
The State College Borough Council will have three seats up for election this year, plus the mayor. All of the council incumbents will appear on the ballot: Democrats John Hayes, Nalini Krishnankutty and Gopal Balachandran. Democrat Ezra Nanes, current State College mayor, will appear on the ballot.
Krishnankutty announced Feb. 13 she would seek reelection to the borough council. She has been on the council since 2022 when she was appointed to fill a vacancy. She was elected to a two-year term in 2023 and is currently the only woman on the council.
“It has been an incredible honor to serve as a council member for the last two and a half years, in this community which has been my home for the last 37 years,” Krishnankutty said in the announcement. “I am seeking re-election to continue working with our residents and local governments to maintain our high quality of life and services, increase access to resources for all residents, and ensure our sustainable growth in the future.”
She said her leadership experience and her balanced, analytical and inclusive approach are important assets to have while solving issues for residents and pointed to the rewrite of the borough’s zoning code as an example, which is more than five decades old.
“We have an opportunity to enhance the vibrancy of State College and ensure that it continues to be a great place for all our residents, amidst the reality of being a university town with a steady stream of out-of-town visitors throughout the year,” she said. “As we focus on revising zoning, we must be committed to sustainability, find new revenue streams, preserve our strong neighborhoods, support local businesses, and increase attainable housing for residents, amidst the realities of strong market demands for student housing here.”
Nanes announced Jan. 14 he will seek reelection to a second term.
Nanes listed several focus areas of his campaign in a press release, including championing local businesses, elevating the town’s profile and building relationships — all of which, he said, will continue to enhance the quality of life in State College.
Under his leadership, the borough has seen infrastructure projects advance, such as the Calder Way project, which will transform one of the borough’s corridors into a more accessible and vibrant green space, the release states. Other highlighted accomplishments include community programs, like the Downtown State College Improvement District’s free holiday bus token program, and advocating for sustainability by presiding over the council’s deliberations and decision to enter into the Solar Power Purchase Agreement.
“State College deserves high-energy leadership. I will continue to face challenges head-on and bring relentless positivity and self-awareness to this role,” Nanes said in the release. “The office of Mayor requires not only a significant capacity for navigating the complexities of public life but also humility and a deep emotional intelligence to connect with people and acknowledge our shared experiences and differences. I am proud of what we have accomplished so far, but there is still more work to do. I am ready to continue showing up for our community and fighting for a State College that affirms the dignity of every resident.”
Unionville Borough
The Unionville Borough Council will have two four-year seats and the mayor’s seat up for election. Currently holding the council seats are Democrat Allen Runkle and Robert Fisher, with Democrat Donald Hassinger serving as mayor.
Incumbent Runkle will appear on the ballot, as will incumbent Hassinger.
Township Supervisors
Benner Township
Benner Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Republican Larry Lingle.
Lingle will appear on the ballot, as will Republican Therese Hollen.
Boggs Township
Boggs Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Republican Terry Gates, Jr.
Gates, Jr. will appear on the ballot.
Burnside Township
Burnside Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Democrat Michael Thompson.
Thompson will appear on the ballot.
College Township
The College Township Council has two four-year seats up for election, currently held by Democrats Dustin Best and L. Eric Bernier.
Bernier will appear on the ballot, as will Democrat Gretchen Brandt.
Brandt, a current State College Area school board member, announced Feb. 17 that she is seeking a seat on the College Township Council, looking to represent the township she’s lived in for the past two decades.
“I look forward to advocating for sustainable practices and fiscal responsibility in the many decisions that will come before Council in the next four years,” Brandt said in a press release. “I also look forward to actively engaging with the residents of College Township.”
Brandt has been a SCASD school board member for the past 10 years, previously serving as its vice president. On the school board, she’s been a “strong and outspoken supporter of sustainable practices and fiscal responsibility,” according to the press release, and understands that it’s the responsibility of local governments to make sure that development decisions support the long-term health and safety of the community.
Brandt is also the school district’s liaison to the Centre Region Council of Governments, where she currently serves on the Parks Authority Committee, the Climate Action and Sustainability Committee and the Parks Governance Committee. She has also chaired the region’s intergovernmental Power Purchase Agreement Working Group.
Curtin Township
Curtin Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Republican Joseph Moore, Jr.
Moore, Jr. will appear on the ballot.
Ferguson Township
Ferguson Township will have two four-year, at-large supervisor seats up for election, currently held by Democrats Omari Patterson and Lisa Strickland.
Patterson will appear on the ballot, as will Democrat Trevor White and Republican David Wolfgang.
Gregg Township
Gregg Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Carol Gingrich, whose party affiliation is unknown.
Republican Charles Bierlein will appear on the ballot.
Haines Township
Haines Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Republican Randy Ream.
Ream will appear on the ballot.
Halfmoon Township
Halfmoon Township will have two six-year supervisor seats up for election, currently held by Republicans Charles Beck and David Piper.
Piper and Beck will appear on the ballot, as will Republicans Lorin Nauman and Bruce Helms, and Democrat Donnan Stoicovy.
Harris Township
Harris Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Democrat Bruce Lord.
Appearing on the ballot will be Democrat Christopher Murrell.
Howard Township
Howard Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Republican David Etters.
Etters will appear on the ballot, as will Republican Rex Johnson, Sr.
Huston Township
Huston Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Democrat/Republican Charles Donley.
There will be no supervisor candidates for Huston Township shown on the ballot.
Liberty Township
Liberty Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Republican Guy Poorman.
Poorman will appear on the ballot.
Marion Township
Marion Township will have one six-year supervisor seat and one two-year supervisor up for election, currently held by Democrat Archie Gettig and Republican Herbert Chapman, respectively.
Appearing on the ballot for the four-year seats will be Republicans Orie Hanley and Donald Moore, and appearing on the ballot for the two-year seat is Republican Lisa Barner Hovies.
Miles Township
Miles Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Republican Joel Freed.There will be no supervisor candidates for Huston Township shown on the ballot.
Patton Township
Patton Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Democrats Pamela Robb and Elliot Abrams.
Robb will appear on the ballot, as will Democrat Heidi Miller Kruesi.
Penn Township
Penn Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Republican Robert Fox.
Fox will appear on the ballot.
Potter Township
Potter Township will have two six-year supervisor seats up for election, currently held by Republican Jake Tanis and Democrat Dick Decker.
Tanis will appear on the ballot, as will Republican Helen Lake.
Rush Township
Rush Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Republican Jason Vaux.
Vaux will appear on the ballot.
Snow Shoe Township
Snow Shoe Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Democrat Ronald Bucha
.Appearing on the ballot will be Democrat Jim Schall.
Spring Township
Spring Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Republican Frank Royer.
Royer will appear on the ballot, as will Republican Korena DeFurio.
Taylor Township
Taylor Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Republican Timothy Reese.
Reese will appear on the ballot.
Union Township
Union Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Republican Tammy Hanscom.
Hanscom will appear on the ballot.
Walker Township
Walker Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Republican James Heckman.
Heckman will appear on the ballot, as will Republican Wyatt Harter.
Worth Township
Worth Township will have one six-year supervisor seat up for election, currently held by Republican Keith Reese.
Reese will appear on the ballot, as will Republican R. William Irvin.
District judge
District judges make up the first level of judicial authority in Pennsylvania and is the court where most people experience the judicial system for the first time.
They have a diverse jurisdiction, handling everything from traffic tickets and marriage ceremonies to issuing search warrants and emergency protection from abuse orders. They are also responsible for the initial stages of criminal cases, such as setting bail to determine pretrial freedom and presiding over preliminary hearings.
Their annual salary in 2025 is about $110,000 and they serve six-year terms. There are six district judges in Centre County.
Running for the three open district judge seats this year will be incumbents Steve Lachman, Kelley Gillette-Walker and Don Hahn, with all three names appearing on the ballot.
Lachman is running for a third term, and announced his candidacy on Jan. 14. In his comments, Lachman said he is “still dedicated to bringing respect, transparency, and impartiality to the courtroom.”
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College in New York, a law degree from Vermont Law School and a doctorate in geography from Penn State. He has lived in State College with his wife, Kathleen, since 1997. They have two children and three grandchildren.
“During the past two terms, I have been honored to serve our community. I take the duty that voters have entrusted in me with the utmost seriousness. I work each day to uphold the law and protect our community,” Lachman said in a statement. “If the voters allow me another term, I promise to maintain a fair and just courtroom and I will continue to prioritize rehabilitation and education where possible.”
Dates to know
May 5: Last day to register to vote before the primary election
May 13: Last day to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot
May 20: Municipal primary election
Nov. 4: Municipal election
This story was originally published January 14, 2025 at 12:43 PM.