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Four seeking Hollidaysburg mayor position

Three candidates already serving on borough council

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Despite current Mayor John Stultz Jr.’s decision not to seek re-election, this year’s Hollidaysburg mayoral race will be a contested one, with three current borough council members vying for the seat.

Last week, Stultz said he is “retiring” after his term expires at the end of this year.

Including his time as mayor and time spent on Borough Council, Stultz said he has served the community for more than two decades. Now, Stultz said he is looking forward to spending time with family.

“I just kind of want to change the focus a little bit,” he said.

Three council members — Joseph Dodson, Jeffrey Ketner and Patrick Plummer — are looking to take his place. All three will compete in this year’s Republican primary.

Ketner was elected to council in 2015 when he defeated incumbent Richard Scholton for the Ward 7 seat.

Since then, he said he has remained loyal to his constituents. Ketner said that was true most recently when he voted against revamping trash pickup in the borough — a change he said most residents in his ward oppose.

In Hollidaysburg, the mayor oversees the police department. Ketner, the borough’s former police chief, said he is uniquely capable of handling that task.

“I don’t think there is anybody more qualified than I am,” he said. “I don’t want to brag, but it is what it is.”

Dodson, Ward 2’s councilman, already served as mayor for eight years before he was defeated by Stultz in 2013.

“I think I did a great job, an outstanding job in my other eight years,” he said.

Among his accomplishments, Dodson listed raising thousands of dollars in donations and grant funds for different projects, including the installation of sidewalks and the construction and upkeep of Patriot Park.

He also mentioned work to get police officers new equipment, but, mostly, he touted his accessibility to the community.

“I actually picked up my phone and was available to anyone who needed me,” Dodson said.

A concern for public safety, specifically speeding and aggressive driving, drove Plummer, Ward 3’s councilman, to the mayoral race, he said.

“I want our school children to be able to safely walk and drive to and from school,” said Plummer, who has mentioned safety concerns at multiple council meetings.

“This means sitting down with the chief of police and the borough manager in order to find creative ways to allow the police department to address the … issues,” he said.

That being said, Plummer also applauds the borough police department, calling it “excellent.”

“I am proud of the men and women who serve everyday making Hollidaysburg one of the safest communities to live and work in,” he said.

For the Democratic primary, only a single petition was filed for the mayoral race by Tuesday’s deadline.

David B. Bailey, 32, a National Guard veteran and Altoona Community Band’s assistant director, said the mayoral race will be his first attempt at public office.

In an area dominated by Republicans, Bailey said he still feels confident about his chances to win the seat.

“I see a lot of the same people doing it,” he said of this year’s candidates. “I think people want to see a fresh face. I also believe there are a lot of hidden Democrats.”

Bailey also promised to remain accountable and accessible to borough residents.

“I think that is what a mayor is supposed to do,” he said.

In addition to the mayoral race, Plummer and Dodson will face off for council’s Ward 2 seat.

Within Hollidaysburg, council members must live in the wards in which they are elected. But that was complicated when ward boundaries were redrawn in October.

The newly approved ward map moves Plummer into Ward 2, which is now represented by Dodson. However, because Plummer’s Ward 3 term is not over until 2019, he will be able to hold onto that position despite living in Ward 2.

Plummer also is able to run for the Ward 2 seat, and if he wins, he’ll take the Ward 2 spot; if he loses, he’ll retain the Ward 3 seat.

Plummer and Dodson have been at opposite sides of a recent trash hauler debate, with Plummer supporting a change and Dodson opposing it.

At the heart of the debate is the Intermunicipal Relations Committee, which oversees state-mandated recycling in Hollidaysburg.

The IRC is facing financial troubles, and officials have said a change to trash collection will require residents to pay a small fee to help fund the IRC.

The alternative, they said, is increasing taxes to do the same.

To Plummer, raising taxes is not an option.

“I am opposed to any tax increase to fund the poorly-funded state mandate to recycle in the Borough of Hollidaysburg,” Plummer said.

However, many residents have been vocal in their opposition of the proposed trash hauler changes, and Dodson said he’s heard them and plans to say “no” when it comes to a vote.

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