StateCollege.com editor Geoff Rushton conducted interviews for C-NET with candidates for boards of supervisors and councils in the Centre Region for the Nov. 4, 2025 municipal election. Today we’re featuring the elections for State College Borough Council and mayor.
THE ELECTION
State College Borough Council
Three Democratic incumbents are running unchallenged on the ballot for the three State College Borough Council seats up for election. Gopal Balachandran is seeking a second term; Nalini Krishnankutty is seeking her first full elected term after being appointed to fill a vacancy then winning a two-year interim seat; and John Hayes is running for his first full term after being appointed to fill a vacancy.
Council is the governing body for the borough and is responsible for setting policy. It is composed of seven members each elected to overlapping four-year terms.
State College Mayor
Democratic incumbent Ezra Nanes is seeking his second term and is unchallenged on the ballot for mayor of State College. He won the Democratic and Republican nominations in the primary.
Elected to four-year terms, the mayor is the presiding officer of council. The mayor cannot vote on council matters but approves or vetos any ordinance it passes. He serves as the ceremonial head and official representative of the borough.
THE ISSUES
In their C-NET interviews, council candidates answered questions about:
- Affordable housing
- Zoning
- Helping local small businesses open and thrive downtown
- Views on how downtown State College has developed in the last decade
- The Responsible Contractor Ordinance
- Replacing the Pugh Street Parking Garage
- Other pressing issues facing the borough
Nanes answered questions about:
- What he’s learned about the borough in the last four years
- His role in decision-making and policy advocacy
- The most pressing issues facing State College
- His response to recent immigration enforcement actions in the State College area
- His thoughts on how downtown State College has changed in the last 10 years
THE INTERVIEWS
Borough Council
Nalini Krishnankutty
Gopal Balachandran
John Hayes
Mayor
Ezra Nanes
ELECTION INFORMATION
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Look up your polling location here.
The last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 28.
Voted mail-in and civilian absentee ballots must be received by the county elections office, 502 E. Howard St., Suite 104, Bellefonte, by 8 p.m. on Nov. 4. Drop box locations will be closed at 9 a.m. on Nov. 3.
