2025 municipal election: Centre County candidates

Voters in Centre County will soon be deciding who they want to represent them in local government. This year’s elections will fill public roles that include mayors, school-board members, county officials, and local judges.

Some candidates have already officially announced their campaigns and filed with their political parties. Others can still proceed with write-in campaigns for the primary election on May 20, with Election Day set for Nov. 4.

Across the county’s 35 towns and townships, there are:

• 36 borough-council seats
• 31 township-supervisor positions
• 10 mayoral seats
• 3 district judge positions

CLICK HERE to view the 2025 Centre County Voter Guide

In addition, voters will choose school-board members in all five of the county’s school districts. Each district has four open seats, making a total of 20 school-board positions up for grabs.

State College Area School District

Voters in the State College Area School District will have seven candidates to choose from for the board of directors in the May 20 primary election.

The district, located in Centre County, serves a population of about 95,000 residents, according to 2020 U.S. Census data. It educates just over 6,700 students and employs nearly 700 professional staff members, based on the latest figures from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

All seven candidates are cross-filed, meaning they will appear on both the Democratic and Republican primary ballots. Pennsylvania’s Election Code allows school board candidates to cross-file, a practice that can increase their chances of advancing to the general election.

In the May 20 primary, Democrats and Republicans will each select four candidates from the list of seven. The top four vote-getters from each party will move on to the November general election as that party’s nominees.

If a candidate wins nominations from both parties, they will appear on the general election ballot as both a Democratic and Republican nominee.

Pennsylvania uses a closed primary system, meaning only voters registered with a major party can vote for candidates in the spring primary. All registered voters, regardless of affiliation, can participate in the general election in November.

Seats held by Deborah Anderson, Peter Buck, Carline Crevecoeur and Jackie Huff are up for grabs this election cycle.

The candidates for this election and their party filings are:

Kirsten McTernan — Democrat/Republican

McTernan is a registered Republican as of September 2024.

Mihaly Sogor — Democrat/Republican

Sogor is a registered Republican as of September 2024.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Kirsten McTernan and Mihaly Sogor. 

Deborah Anderson — Democrat/Republican, incumbent

Anderson is a registered Democrat as of September 2024. She was first elected in 2021 and currently serves as vice president of the board.

Rebecca Arnold Desmarais — Democrat/Republican

Desmarais is a registered Democrat as of September 2024.

Jesse Barlow — Democrat/Republican

Barlow is a registered Democrat as of September 2024

Jennifer Black — Democrat/Republican

Black is a registered Democrat as of September 2024.

Jackie Huff — Democrat/Republican, incumbent

Huff is a registered Democrat as of September 2024. Her term on the board started in 2022.

Bellefonte Area School District

Seats held by Jack Bechdel, Nate Campbell, Jon Guizar and Kristin Lyons are up for election this year.

The candidates for this election and their party filings are:

Joe Yech — Democrat/Republican

Jon Guizar — Democrat/Republican

Nate Campbell — Democrat/Republican

Kristin Lyons — Democrat/Republican

Jack Bechdel — Democrat/Republican

Penns Valley Area School District

Terms expire for Patricia Battaglia, Karla Groy, Marcia Kimler and Allen Miller in 2025. Their seats are up for election this upcoming cycle.

The candidates for this election and their party filings are:

Kendyl Wittenrich — Democrat/Republican

Daniel Decker — Democrat/Republican

Mike Pase — Democrat/Republican

Douglas Roth — Democrat/Republican

Vincent Nicosia — Democrat/Republican

Amber May — Democrat/Republican

Jessica Shawver — Republican

Bald Eagle Area School District

Seats held by Timothy Nilson, Mark Kresovich, Tina Greene and Mary Ann Hamilton will expire in 2025.

The candidates for this election and their party filings are:

Mary Ann Hamilton — Democrat/Republican

Timothy Nilson — Democrat/Republican

Mark Kresovich — Democrat/Republican

Tina Greene — Democrat/Republican

Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District

Board seats for Shawnna Baney-Shaw, Nancy Lamb, Dustin Minarchick and Richard Wood are set to expire in 2025.

No Centre County-based candidates filed to run for this cycle’s school board seats, county elections coordinator Jodi Nedd told the Centre Daily Times. Although prospective candidates cannot appear on the primary ballot, they can run for a board seat as a write-in candidate.

CENTRE COUNTY  *Denotes incumbent

DISTRICT ATTORNEY (Four-year term)

Democrat
Bernie Cantorna*

JURY COMMISSIONER – 2 Seats (Four-year terms)

Democrat
Shelley L. Thompson*

Republican
Hope P. Miller*

MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGES

District 49-1-01 (Six-year term)

Donald M. Hahn* (D/R)

District 49-3-02 (Six-year term)

Kelley Gillette-Walker* (D/R)

District 49-3-05 (Six-year term)

Steven F. Lachman* (D/R)

STATE COLLEGE BOROUGH

Mayor (Four-year term)

Democrat
Ezra Nanes*

Republican
None

Borough Council – 3 Seats (Four-year terms)

Democrat
Gopal Balachandran*
John Hayes*
Nalini Krishnankutty*

Republican
None

BELLEFONTE BOROUGH

Mayor (Four-year term)

Democrat
None

Republican
Gene D. Johnson*

Borough Council 1st Ward – 2 Seats (Four-year terms)

Democrat
Claudia E. Wilson

Republican
Rita Purnell*
Kimberly K. Shenk

Borough Council 2nd Ward – 1 Seat (Four-year term)

Democrat
None

Republican
Barbara Dann*

Borough Council 3rd Ward – 2 Seats (Four-year terms)

Democrat
Shawna McKean*
Zach Kelly

Republican
None

Borough Tax Collector

Republican
Deborah Burger

CENTRE HALL BOROUGH

Borough Councilman

Democrat
Kathryn Long
Rosalie Yearick Owens

Republican
Daniel Smith
Matthew James Roan

HOWARD BOROUGH

Mayor
Deborah Simoncek

Borough Councilman

Democrat
Autumn Hanley

Republican
Emily Herr
Chris Aikens

MILESBURG BOROUGH

Mayor
Clair D. Martin
Michaela Bressler

Borough Councilman

Democrat
Catlin Horn

Republican
Shirley J. Martin
Lauren E. Davidson-Haupt
Barry L. Campbell, Jr.

MILLHEIM BOROUGH

Mayor

Democrat
Nickelaus Engle

Borough Councilman

Democrat
Marissa Evankovich
Cecilia Gallup

Borough Tax Collector

Kathy S. Highbaugh

PHILIPSBURG BOROUGH

Mayor

Democrat
Zach Womer

Republican
John M. Streno

Borough Councilman

Democrat
Chyvonne Rhoads

Republican
Harry Wood
Jerry Lese
Faith Maguire
John Walker

Borough Tax Collector

Julie Jo Johnston

PORT MATILDA BOROUGH

Mayor

Republican
Greg Harpster

Borough Councilman

Democrat
None

Republican
Bernard Kalt
Joseph Bloom
Brandon T. Maynard, II

SNOW SHOE BOROUGH

Mayor

Republican
William Dudish

Borough Councilman

Democrat
None

Republican
Beau D. Martin

Borough Tax Collector

Democrat
None

Republican
Debrah Dudish

UNIONVILLE BOROUGH

Mayor

Democrat
Donald William Carl Hassinger

Borough Councilman

Democrat
Allen R. Runkle

BENNER TOWNSHIP

Supervisor – 1 Seat (Six-year term)

Democrat
None

Republican
Therese Hollen
Larry J. Lingle*

Township Tax Collector (Four-year term)

Democrat
None

Republican
Jessica Bradley*

BOGGS TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
None

Republican
Terry Gates, Jr.

Township Tax Collector

Democrat
None

Republican
Sharon Yangula

BURNSIDE TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
Michael Thompson

Republican
None

COLLEGE TOWNSHIP

Council – 2 Seats (Four-year terms)

Democrat
L. Eric Bernier*
Gretchen Brandt

Republican
None

CURTIN TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
None

Republican
Joseph Moore, Jr.

Township Auditor

Democrat
None

Republican
Gail Stove

Township Tax Collector

Democrat
Heather Burfield

Republican
Heather Burfield

FERGUSON TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisors – 2 Seats (Four-year terms)

Democrat
Omari Patterson*
Trevor White

Republican
David Robert Wolfgang

GREGG TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
None

Republican
Charlies Bierlein

Township Tax Collector

Democrat

None

Republican

Donna J. Miller

HAINES TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
None

Republican
Randy Ream

Township Tax Collector
Lyle Stover

HALFMOON TOWNSHIP

Supervisors – 2 Seats (Six-year terms)

Democrat
Donnan Stoicovy

Republican
Charles F. Beck*
Bruce E. Helms*
Lorin Nauman
David Charles Piper*

Tax Collector (Four-year term)

Democrat
None

Republican
Brett G. Laird*

HARRIS TOWNSHIP

Supervisor – 1 Seat (Six-year term)

Democrat
Christopher Murrell

Republican
None

HOWARD TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
None

Republican
David L. Etters
Rex A. Johnson, Sr.

Township Auditor

Republican
Stacy J. Mann

Township Tax Collector

Republican
Sheila M. Yoder

HUSTON TOWNSHIP

Township Auditor

Democrat
Amy L. Gette
Carolyn Gette

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
None

Republican
Guy Poorman

Township Tax Collector

Democrat
None

Republican
Mike Rupert

MARION TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
None

Republican
Lisa E. Barner Hovies
Donald L. Moore
Orie D. Hanley

Township Tax Collector

Democrat
None

Republican
R. Brian McCauley

MILES TOWNSHIP

Township Tax Collector

Democrat
None

Republican
Carrie A. Rishel

PATTON TOWNSHIP

Supervisors – 2 Seats (Six-year terms)

Democrat
Heidi Miller Kruesi
Pamela Robb*

Republican
None

PENN TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
None

Republican
Robert J. Fox

Township Tax Collector

Democrat
None

Republican
Debra Fox

POTTER TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
None

Republican
Jacob Tanis
Helen Amy Lake

Township Auditor

Democrat
None

Republican
D. William Pyle

Township Tax Collector

Democrat
None

Republican
Wendy Nolf

RUSH TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
None

Republican
Jason Vaux

Township Tax Collector

Democrat
None

Republican
Matthew T. Foster

SNOW SHOE TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
Jim Schall

Republican
None

Township Tax Collector

Democrat
Tara L. Guenot

Republican
None

Township Auditor

Democrat
None

Republican
Jeanne E. Bacon

SPRING TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
None

Republican
Frank W. Royer
Korena DeFurio
Orie D. Hanley

Township Tax Collector

Democrat
None

Republican
Alice Hinton

TAYLOR TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
None

Republican
Timothy Reese

Township Tax Collector

Democrat
None

Republican
Michele Reese

UNION TOWNSHIP

Democrat
Sarah M. Letterman

Republican
None

WALKER TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
None

Republican

James Heckman
Wyatt J. Harter

Township Tax Collector

Democrat
None

Republican
Kathy M. Fye

WORTH TOWNSHIP

Township Supervisor

Democrat
None

Republican
Keith Reese
R. William Irvin

Township Tax Collector

Democrat
None

Republican
Kristine A. Zerby