The Republican candidate for Pennsylvania’s 82nd House District representing parts of Centre County denies allegations that he does not meet residency requirements and is ineligible to be on the ballot.
A petition filed with Commonwealth Court on Monday by registered Republican and State College resident Kathryn Jeziorski seeks to keep Justin Behrens off the ballot. The petition claims it is “uncertain if Mr. Behrens has, in fact, ever lived in Centre County or if he simply has a Centre County mailing and voter registration address.”
It also states “on information and belief” that Behrens still resides and works in Luzerne County and alleges that he could not establish a year of residency within the 82nd district, as required by the Pennsylvania Constitution, before the Nov. 8 general election.
Behrens strongly disputed the allegations in an email to StateCollege.com on Tuesday.
“The allegations that I still live in Luzerne County are false and this challenge are prime examples of a wasting of taxpayer’s money and turning people off from politics,” he wrote.
Behrens said he and his family decided to move to State College in June 2021 when his wife was offered a professorship at Penn State.
Property records in Centre and Luzerne counties confirm Behrens purchased a State College home last June and the sale and deed transfer of his Wright Township home were completed in July.
Behrens added that his children have attended State College Area School District schools since the start of the 2021-22 academic year and are members of a local Boy Scout troop. He also provided dates for the hiring of professional movers, furniture purchases and veterinary appointments in State College last summer. He says he is a member of the American Legion Post 245 in State College and removed his membership from a Luzerne County post.
“It is a shame that we need to talk about this issue, which is 100% false,” Behrens wrote. “People are suffering living pay check to pay check and not having relief. Let’s focus on issues that matter to the people of the 82nd District, not on the desperate attempt by a desperate campaign to keep me off the ballot.”
A hearing for the objection petition is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Pennsylvania Judicial Center in Harrisburg.
Monday was the last day to file objections to nomination petitions for the May 17 primary election. April 12 is the final day for Commonwealth Court to render decisions on objections.
Behrens, a U.S. Army veteran and social worker, resigned as chairman of the Luzerne County Republican Party on Dec. 3. He is CEO of Keystone Mission, a faith-based nonprofit serving the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre areas. He told the Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader he would stay with his in-laws in Luzerne County when he commuted for work with Keystone Mission.
He previously ran for the state House twice in Luzerne County.
The redrawn 82nd district is new to Centre County and has no incumbent. It includes parts of State College Borough, along with all of Benner, Boggs, Burnside, College, Curtin, Harris, Howard, Liberty, Marion, Union townships and Howard, Milesburg, Snow Shoe, Union boroughs.
Behrens is the only Republican candidate for the 82nd district, while College Township Councilman and Lemont resident Paul Takac is the only Democrat running.
