Do you want to run for local political office?

LORDS VALLEY — For anyone thinking of running for local political office in 2017 or beyond, the Penn State Extension, with the assistance of the Pike County League of Women Voters and the Pike County Board of Elections, is offering a two-hour workshop on Jan. 26 that will offer information for potential candidates.
Penn State Extension government expert Peter Wulfhorst will present an overview of local government, elected and appointed offices, and the procedural requirements needed for candidates to participate in the May 16 primary election en route to the Nov. 7 general election. He is expected to be joined by members of the Pike County Board of Elections and other local officials who will share their experiences and answer your questions. Information will include petition requirements, financial reporting, filing dates and other helpful hints that candidates should know before running for local office in Pennsylvania.
“We are thrilled to support the Penn State Extension in offering this much needed workshop," said Liz Forrest, president of the League of Women Voters, Pike County chapter. "Whether you plan to run or are just thinking about running in Pike County, or in our neighboring counties, this workshop is an essential self-education tool.”
Forrest said Wayne County residents are invited to participate, and that Penn State Extension will also offer this seminar in Monroe County.
Offices up for election in 2017 will include township supervisors, tax collectors, auditors, and constables, as well as borough council members. A number of directorships for all three of Pike County’s school districts will be elected. Municipal offices such as school board directors, township supervisors and auditors and a few others are “staggered” so that not all officeholders’ terms expire in a single year. To find out whose terms will end next year, visit the Pike County Administration website at http://www.pikepa.org to find the “2016 Officials Directory.”
Other important races in Pike in 2017 will include the office of County Sheriff, two magisterial district judgeships, and the retention election of Court of Common Pleas Judge Gregory Chelak.
The seminar will be given from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26 (snow date, Tuesday, Jan. 31), at the Pike County Training Center, 135 Pike County Boulevard, Lords Valley. The cost is $25 per person.
You can register and pay the fee on line at http://extension.psu.edu/community/ecd/courses/toss-your-hat-in-the-ring.
For more information, contact Peter Wulfhorst at ptw3@psu.edu or 570-296-3400.
The League of Women Voters never supports or endorses individual candidates or political parties. It provides and supports non-partisan educational tools, such as this seminar, so that voters can make the most informed decisions. For more information visit lwvpike.org.