Joann M. Behrens, Jim Thorpe, has announced her candidacy for re-election to a fifth term of office as the Carbon County prothonotary. She is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination in the May 21 primary election.

Behrens completed her 40th year of service in the Prothonotary’s Office. She began working there in 1979 as a clerk and advanced to the position of second deputy prothonotary in 1988. In 1993, she was appointed to the position of acting first deputy prothonotary and later that year was named acting prothonotary. She was the first deputy prothonotary for 10 years until being elected to a four-year term of office as prothonotary in 2003.

During her tenure, she has seen and contributed to many advancements in the office, including computerization and scanning of court records. The office is the sole receiver of passport applications for Carbon County and last year processed over 1,500 applications. During her term, Behrens has brought the services of a Protection From Abuse Coordinator to the office to help assist victims of domestic violence.

Behrens is a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Jim Thorpe, where she serves on the decorating committee, is an adult altar service and helps plan the parish picnic.

She is the secretary for the Jim Thorpe Area Democratic Association; vice chairwoman of the Carbon County Democratic Executive Committee; a former director and secretary of the Board of Directors of the former Carbon County YMCA; and the Democratic Party’s committeewoman in Penn Forest Township’s Election District 53-01.

Behrens serves on the Family Courts Committee of the Criminal Justice Advisory Board for JNET, the Pennsylvania Justice Network, and the Pennsylvania Prothonotaries and Clerks of Courts Association.

A daughter of Irene B. (Besek) Nonnemacher and the late Kermit M. Nonnemacher, she is a lifelong resident of the Jim Thorpe area, having graduated from Jim Thorpe Area High School in 1977.

The candidate is married to Josiah “Cy” Behrens, Penn Forest Township, where he is the elected tax collector.

The couple has two children, Jordan and Josiah IV, a senior at DeSales University in Center Valley, studying musical theater.