George F. Halcovage Jr.

Party: RepublicanAge: 58Education: Villanova University, Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Class of 1979; Nativity BVM High School, Class of 1975, Academic Curriculum; Professional Insurance Agents School of Insurance, Dickinson University, 1976, Property & Casualty 1977, Life Insurance; Maryland Casualty Co. School of Insurance, 1978; USF&G Insurance Co. Life Insurance School, 1979; Certified Insurance Counselor - Life Member 1981; USF&G Leadership Institute - Leadership Development for High Performance Agents - Dec., 1997.Profession/trade: First elected as Schuylkill County commissioner in 2012; currently president of Morgan & Halcovage Insurance Agency, Minersville; registered representative for Series 6 & 63, MetLife Securities, Inc.Affiliations: Includes Certified Professional Insurance Agents Society, life member 1992; board member of the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board; past chairman and present board member of the St. Joseph Center for Special Learning Development Advisory Board, Pottsville; chairman and board member of the City of Pottsville Hospital Authority; board member of the Schuylkill Economic Development Council, 2009-present; past president and member of the Minersville Area Rotary Club; member of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce; vice president and board member of the Schuylkill County Crimestoppers; board member emeritus of the Schuylkill County Council of the Arts; Manufacturers Association of MidEastern Pennsylvania; Minersville Merchants Association; member of St. Patrick's Church, Pottsville, cantor and choir member, eucharistic minister, Finance Committee member, former parish council member; district deputy of the Knights of Columbus, 2011-present.Joseph DevineParty: DemocratAge: 59Education: Nativity BVM High School and the Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor of science degree in administration of justice.Profession/trade: Currently serves as a city councilman for the city of Pottsville. Enlisted as an Airman during the Vietnam era as a communication specialist with United States Air Force attached to SAM Special Air Missions at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington DC. At 50, he was a Navy Petty Officer deployed to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom with the U.S. Navy Reserve as a U.S. Navy Customs border clearing agent on the Iraqi southern border. Returned from Iraq in 2006 and retired.Affiliations: Volunteer for the City of Pottsville for over 20 years. He is a past chairman of the Pottsville zoning hearing board, serves on the board of directors for the CACL federal credit union in Pottsville, and is retired from the United States Postal Service with 33 years of service. He is a life member of the American Labor UNION of the National Association of Letter Carriers. Devine is an active member of the American Legion, the Pottsville War Veterans, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Knights of Columbus, St. Clair Fish & Game, Humane and East End Fire companies and the Green Wave Association, Chamber of Commerce, Pottsville Positive, and the Pottsville Recreation Commission.Frank J. StaudenmeierParty: RepublicanAge: 65Education: Immaculate Heart High School (currently Cardinal Brennan High School), Lehigh County Community College, Bloomsburg University and Penn State University.Profession/trade: 24 years as Area Manager and Community Development Director for Pennsylvania Power & Light Electric Utilities Corporation.Public office: First elected in 2002 as Schuylkill County commissioner.Affiliations: Currently on the board of directors and was chairman of the board of the Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation; past president and member of the board of directors of the Schuylkill County United Way. He is currently on the board of directors of the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation, Ashland Community Enterprises, and Schuylkill Community Action. In 1992, Staudenmeier was named Schuylkill County Business Man of the Year.He served as president and board member for both the Manufacturers Association of Mid-Eastern PA and the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce. Staudenmeier formerly served on the board of directors of the Shamokin Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Council of Northeastern PA; Shamokin Downtown Revitalization Corporation; Shamokin Area Industrial Corporation; Schuylkill County Council of the Arts and the Lower Anthracite United Way.He has coached youth sports, including serving as president and manager of Ashland Teener League and Ashland Area Girls Softball Association, and secretary and manager of the Ashland Little League. He is also a member of the Ashland Kiwanis Club and the Ashland Elks Club.Staudenmeier was recently inducted into the County Commissioner Association of Pennsylvania's "Academy for Excellence." He also serves as chairman of the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool Organization.Gary J. HessParty: DemocratAge: 58Education: Saint Clair High SchoolProfession/trade: President of Hess Catering; former Schuylkill Haven Mayor;Affiliations: Schuylkill Haven Island Commission; Our Haven Foundation Walk-In Center; Schuylkill Haven's Island Park Festival, chairman; Pennsylvania Junior Chamber of Commerce/Jaycees Education Foundation; Schuylkill County Democratic Committee, executive board member.Nelson ReppertParty: LibertarianAge: 75Education: Hamburg High School. Graduate of Bloomsburg University, and Evangelical Congregational School of Theology.Profession/trade: Pastored various Evangelical Congregational Churches from 1962 until retirement from Bethany EC Church in 2007; now ministers to the terminally ill as a hospice chaplain for Consolidated Health services. Served on Cressona Borough council for eight years.Affiliations: Has served on the Blue Mountain Recreation Commission and conducted an outreach program in Tamaqua and Mahanoy City for the former Good Samaritan Hospital's drug and alcohol program.