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Tuesday, May 20, 2025, arrives with a civic duty: the municipal primary election. Polls will open across Mifflin and Juniata counties, offering every registered voter a direct hand in shaping local governance.
Local primary elections are where democracy begins.
This is not a distant debate; these are choices about the people who will oversee our schools, ensure our safety, manage our finances, and make decisions impacting our daily lives. Participation in these local contests forms the foundation of how our communities function and evolve.
In Mifflin County, voters from Armagh to Wayne Township will find critical decisions on their ballots. Both Democratic and Republican voters will select their party's nominee for Judge of the Superior Court and Judge of the Commonwealth Court, positions with far-reaching influence on Pennsylvania's legal landscape. Closer to home, the race for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the 58th District appears on both ballots, with Aaron L. Gingrich as a candidate for both parties.
County-row offices, including Register & Recorder, Sheriff, and Treasurer, are also before voters. On the Democratic ballot, these county positions currently list only write-in opportunities, a clear signal that active voter participation is necessary to field candidates for the November general election. Republican voters will choose between candidates for Sheriff, with Douglas S. Cramer and Martin Bubb vying for the nomination. Ellen Amspacker is listed for Register & Recorder, and Diane L. Griffith for Treasurer on the Republican side.
School Director positions for the Mifflin County School District are prominent, with multiple candidates seeking nominations for both two-year and four-year terms. These individuals will make profound choices about educational policies, budget allocations, and the future of our students. For example, Democratic voters will consider Mary Lou M. Sigler, Diane Stewart, and Joshua Looney for the two-year terms. Republican voters have a wider field for these same seats, including Brent Erb, Joshua Looney, Mary Lou M. Sigler, Diane Stewart, and R. Brian Ketchem. Similar choices exist for the four-year terms.
Voters in Kistler and Newton Hamilton Boroughs, and Wayne Township, will also select nominees for School Director in Region I of the Mount Union Area School District. Various townships and boroughs will also have elections for Magisterial District Judge, auditors, tax collectors, supervisors, borough council members, mayors, judges of elections, and inspectors of elections. Many of these hyper-local roles, particularly on some Democratic ballots, await write-in candidates, emphasizing the power each voter holds to ensure these positions are filled.
Across the county line in Juniata County, a similar array of important local decisions awaits. Voters will also nominate candidates for Judge of the Superior Court and Judge of the Commonwealth Court. County-level positions include Sheriff, Register & Recorder, and County Treasurer. Republican voters will see Joshua Stimeling for Sheriff, Alicia Anstine Seigler for Register & Recorder, and Laurie S. Hower for County Treasurer. Democratic ballots for these county offices indicate write-in opportunities.
The race for Magisterial District Judge 41-3-01 features Tracy L. Powell and Tara L. Ebright Swartz, both appearing on Democratic and Republican ballots. Juniata County voters will also select School Board Directors by region, with candidates like Angela Jo Varner in Region 1 (on both party ballots) and Helen Casner in Region 4 (Democratic ballot). Other regions present write-in opportunities, again calling for voter engagement.
From Beale Township to Walker Township, and in boroughs like Mifflin, Mifflintown, and Port Royal, residents will select nominees for township supervisor, auditor, tax collector, mayor, and council seats. These are the officials who directly manage local infrastructure, emergency services, and community resources.
Why do these local elections command such attention in smaller communities? The individuals elected on Tuesday will not operate from distant capitals. They are neighbors, community members who will make decisions directly influencing the quality of life here.
School directors will guide the education of our children. Township supervisors and borough council members will determine how local tax dollars are spent on roads, parks, and public safety. Sheriffs maintain peace and order. Register & Recorders and Treasurers manage public records and funds with an expectation of diligence.
In local elections, especially primaries, which often see lower turnout, each vote carries immense weight. A handful of votes can, and often does, determine the outcome of a race. This is where individual participation has its most discernible impact.
These elections are not merely a civic ritual; they are a practical exercise in community self-determination. The people chosen in this primary will, in many cases, go on to the November ballot, and for races in areas with a dominant political party, the primary itself is often the deciding contest.
The individuals who step forward to run for these offices, and the citizens who cast their ballots, are the engines of local democracy. These roles are demanding, often thankless, yet they are fundamental to a responsive and representative government.
On Tuesday, May 20, take the time to be an informed voter. Review your sample ballot. Understand the responsibilities of each office. Your community's future is not shaped by chance, but by choice. Make yours count.