MIFFLINTOWN - A long-time educator and current Juniata County Commissioner chairman, Jeffrey M. Zimmerman intends to seek the Republican nomination for re-election in the May 17 primary.
During his tenure as commissioner, the Juniata County Courthouse was renovated, the rural addressing project completed, the comprehensive plan finalized and an accounting system for the 21st century was implemented, Zimmerman said in a press release.
Other changes include an upgrade of assessment office software, redesign of the Juniata County website, update of the county directory and continuing work on the emergency tower project between Reeds Gap and Black Log Valley, he said.
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Jeffrey M. Zimmerman
"Serving the citizens of Juniata County for the last three years as their county commissioner has been a very rewarding and enjoyable experience," Zimmerman said. "Juniata County is still one of the 'last best places' to raise a family."
Born and raised in Juniata County, Zimmerman is the son of Violet (Lebkicher) and the late Lester H. Zimmerman. He graduated from Juniata Joint High School in 1966 and earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education from Penn State University.
"Maintaining and improving our quality of life for our children and their children will become more of a challenge as the demand for services continues, while available resources at all levels of government - federal, state, local - dwindle," Zimmerman said. "The future will bring challenges, certainly, but also opportunities to improve the place that I have always called home, Juniata County."
His nearly 34 years in public education included assignments at Walker Township Elementary, Fayette Township Elementary and East Juniata High School. From 1979 until 1993, he was employed by the Newport School District as an assistant principal/athletic director as well as a high school principal.
Zimmerman served as principal as well as the director of vocational education and the Juniata-Mifflin Area Vocational-Technical School, now the Mifflin-Juniata Career and Technology Center, until his retirement in November 2003.
From 2004 to 2007, he was employed as a field assessor with the Juniata County Assessment Office. He was elected to serve on the board of commissioners in 2008.
Zimmerman represents the county on various boards including the Mifflin-Juniata Regional Services, Mifflin-Juniata Area Agency on Aging, Penn State Agriculture Extension, Juniata Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, South Central Workforce Investment Board, the Juniata County Industrial Development Authority, the Juniata County Historical Society and the Penns Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Married for 41 years, Jeff and Miriam Zimmerman have lived in Locust Run, Fogel Hill and have resided at 20 N. Fourth St., Mifflintown, for the past 26 years. Their three children, Mitchum, Joshua and Annie, as well as their German exchange daughter Olivia, graduated from Juniata High School. The Zimmermans have four grandsons and two granddaughters.
In his free time, Zimmerman said he enjoys family, grandchildren, fly fishing for wild trout on Penns Creek, tying flys and reading the literature of fly fishing.
