It appears likely that State College will be getting a new mayor next year.
Current Mayor Don Hahn is running unopposed in the May 21 primary election for Centre County magisterial district judge 49-1-01, a position currently held by Carmine Prestia, who is retiring at the end of his fourth term in January 2020. A Democrat, Hahn is cross-filed on the Republican ballot as well and is the only candidate on either ballot, according to information provided by the county elections office. The deadline for candidates to file petitions was Tuesday.
That means that Hahn — barring a successful independent or write-in candidate, or other unexpected turn of events — will likely begin a six-year term as district judge in January and vacate his position as mayor.
District Court 49-1-01 serves parts of State College and the Penn State campus.
Two other district judge positions are also up for election this year, and incumbents Kelly Gillette-Walker and Steven Lachman are running unopposed on the Democratic and Republican ballots in the primary for both of those seats.
Hahn has been State College mayor for one year and two months after winning the 2017 election and taking office in January 2018. If elected district judge, he would leave the mayor’s office with about two years remaining in his term.
According to the borough charter, borough council would have 45 days from the start of the vacancy to reach a majority decision on the next mayor. If council cannot reach a majority decision in that time, the vacancy would be determined by the Court of Common Pleas.
In that case, registered voters from the borough could petition the court and explain their eligibility for the position. The court would look at the qualification of the candidate, not their policy.
“In my experience I have never seen the borough have to resort to a petition to the court to fill an elected office,” borough solicitor Terry Williams said last month.
The new mayor would serve out the remainder of Hahn’s term, which ends in January 2022.
The last time a State College mayor was replaced mid-term was following the death of Mayor Bill Welch, two months before the 2009 election in which Welch was expected to run unopposed. Felicia Lewis was appointed interim mayor by council until Elizabeth Goreham won the November election and took office in January 2010.
In addition to his role as mayor, Hahn is an attorney and founding member of the Centre County law firm of Stover, McGlaughlin, Gerace, Weyandt & McCormick, P.C. He previously served on borough council for 12 years.
Centre County Gazette’s Vincent Corso contributed to this report.
