Twenty-four Republicans have applied to fill the remaining term of the late County Commissioner Bill Ames, who passed away earlier this year.
On Friday, the application deadline passed, and now the Lebanon County Board of Judges will review the list of potential candidates as they work to make a final decision/appointment.
The remaining term will extend through January 2024, leading up to the next County Commissioner election on November 7th, 2023.
The complete list of Republican Commissioner Applicants:
| Rick Barlow | James Houser | Lee F. Spencer |
| Michael L Bernhart | Thomas M. Houtz | Jeffery Steckbeck |
| William N. Bering, Jr. | Daniel Kreider | Larry Stohler |
| David J Brightbill | Michael J. Kuhn | Michael Wahmann |
| Sean J. Carrig | Adrian Layser | David R. Warner, Jr. |
| David Allan DiNunzio | Natalie Redcay | Steven M. Wolfe |
| D. John Grace, Jr. | John A Schlegel | Dainel Wright |
| Robert M. Griffiths | Mathew ShIrk | Sharon Zook |
Seven of the 24 applicants are currently members of the Lebanon County Republican Committee and are serving on party boards.
Some notable applicants include former PA. Senate Majority Leader David (Chip) Brightbill, current Lebanon County Solicitor, David R. Warner Jr., former Lebanon School Director Board of Directors Chairperson, Michael J. Kuhn, and the Lebanon Valley Council of the Arts director, Sharon Zook.
All applicants were required to fill out and submit an application that was provided to them by the Lebanon County government. The application included educational background/experience, current/past employment, a list of three non-related references, etc…
When asked about her thoughts on this process, current County Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz said, “During an appointment, the candidates need only convince the judges, and perhaps the Party that they are the best candidate for the position.” This process is in contrast to a traditional election in which “candidates will often establish campaign committees, raise money, constrict websites, engage in social media, file reports, complete an ethics statement, attend commissioner meetings…”
Litz said that to her, the ideal candidate for this position is someone who is “Honest. transparent, and does the right thing, even if it’s not popular.” While commissioners can have different backgrounds, they should hold the same passion, humility, dedication, and empathy, Litz said.
Author: Alisher Aminov
