Letters: Candidates will move township in right direction; County treasurer has long list of accomplishments
Editor’s note: The CDT welcomes letters endorsing candidates in the Nov. 7 election and will accept letters that are received by Oct. 30. Letters are subject to editing, must be based on facts and should avoid attacks on other candidates.
Candidates will move township in right direction
My family moved to Halfmoon Township 27 years ago. We watched as the township grew and became an active local government. Halfmoon joined the Centre Region Council of Governments (COG) to provide consistent, quality services, support the Schlow Library and contracted with CNET for meeting accessibility and convenience. Unfortunately, several accomplishments were reversed in the past two years by a majority of the current board.
There appears to be a theme for most of the current board acting improperly and thwarting citizen involvement. For example, most board members called a last-minute meeting to discuss withdrawal from our library contract on Dec. 26, 2022. Second, many board members treated the former township manager unprofessionally, leading to her resignation. Third, most of the board voted to rescind the dedicated fire fund and rely solely on the general fund, competing with other budget needs.
On Nov. 7 citizens can choose to elect Patti Hartle and Tammy Perkins, two qualified candidates for supervisor. Patti has served for the past six years, making decisions in the best interest of the citizens and laying groundwork for a vibrant rural community of the future. Tammy is committed to the health and safety of the citizens and supports a good neighbor approach regarding neighboring municipalities. Patti and Tammy are committed to establishing sustainable funding formulas for both EMS and fire.
I urge you to vote for Patti and Tammy. They are committed to transparent, fair, and fiscally responsible decision-making in the best interest of all residents.
Andy Merritt, Port Matilda
County treasurer has long list of accomplishments
I have known Colleen Kennedy for about 12 years and without reservation, I can say that Centre County is very fortunate to have her as its County Treasurer. She brings over 20 years of accounting experience to that office and has modernized that office during the last four years.
A partial list of Colleen’s accomplishments includes: lowered investment fees on the employee retirement fund saving the county hundreds of thousands of dollars annually; increased county interest earnings by 600% from 2021 to 2022; the introduction of credit card eCheck payments to the treasurer’s office; implementation of online dog licensing; modernization of outdated record keeping bringing more accountability and transparency.
Over the last four years, Colleen has managed nearly $13 million in hotel tax revenues providing over $12.3 million to the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, which helps visitors to our region. In 2023, the county earned $2.19 million in unreserved interest which was a 556% increase over 2022 and a 4450% increase over 2021. The county earned an additional $1.3 million this year on bond proceeds for capital projects. The Centre County Treasury is in excellent hands. To keep it that way, vote for Colleen Kennedy on or before Nov. 7.
Jesse L Barlow, State College. The author is the president of the State College Borough Council.
Local candidates that stand out
There are many good people running for office this year in Centre County, but three local candidates really stand out. I personally endorse all three of them and hope their constituents vote accordingly.
David Roberts is seeking a seat on the Benner Township Board of Supervisors. I have known him for years as an active member of the Sierra Club Moshannon Group and Nittany Valley Environmental Coalition. David bulldogs every issue he selects to pursue, such as his deeply felt concern about people’s drinking water (he has led efforts to determine the origin and extent of PFAS pollution in the Spring Creek watershed). David would be a breath of fresh air on the board, where he is well known for his many contributions during their meetings.
Joanne Tosti-Vasey is seeking reelection to the Bellefonte Borough Council. She is a personal heroine whom has promoted environmental sustainability throughout her public service, most recently with Bellefonte’s current Sustainability Survey. Joanne is tireless and worked with me on both the Spring Creek Watershed Commission and Atlas, providing expertise that was invaluable.
Betsy Whitman is running again for a seat on the Patton Board of Supervisors. I live in this township and have worked on several issues over time with Betsy. I remember especially her efforts to commit our municipality and region to 100% clean, renewable energy, and her work with the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society. Like the previously mentioned candidates, she too advocates for the economic vitality of her community. Please consider giving them your vote.
Douglas M. Mason, Port Matilda. The author is the chair of the Sierra Club Moshannon Group.
