The candidacy filing window to run for office in Petersburg is open as of July 28, marking the start of the local election season.
“This is one of my favorite times of year, is doing the elections and the community involvement,” said Petersburg Borough Clerk Becky Regula.
All elected positions in Petersburg last three years. However, several terms on this year’s ballot are shorter than that because the seats were vacated prematurely. Some positions will be the duration to complete those vacated terms. Regula says the staggered approach is to avoid a bunch of positions expiring and going up for election at the same time.
There are 23 positions in local office due this fall. That includes five seats on the Planning Commission, out of seven total.
Regula called it “unusual” to have that many commissioner seats due for election at the same time.
“There’s a lot. It’s a big deal,” she said.
Typically, each board has two or three seats up for election in a given year. But the Planning Commission has undergone gradual turnover since the 2025 election. Regula said a few commissioners stepped down for health reasons or because they felt unable to serve out the role.
“But nobody indicated to me that it was because they were unhappy with the Planning Commission seat,” she said.
The Planning Commission has three 3-year seats, one 2-year term, and one single-year position up for election.
Regula said terms with a shorter commitment are a “great opportunity” for people to try out serving in local office.
“I think it’s great for individuals to serve on a seat where they have interest, and then go from there, as they experience how it is to serve on a board,” she said.
Voters will elect candidates to fill three available seats on the Petersburg Borough Assembly: Assembly Member Scott Newman was appointed to Mayor Bob Lynn’s assembly seat last year after Lynn won the mayoral race between the two. Appointments last until the next municipal election, so Newman’s seat is up as a one-year position. There are also two 3-year seats open on the Assembly, as Vice Mayor Jeigh Stanton Gregor and Assembly Member Rob Schwartz’s terms expire this fall.
Other open positions include two Hospital Board seats, three on the Harbor Advisory Board, three Library Advisory Board seats, two seats on the Parks and Rec Advisory Board, three Public Safety Advisory Board seats, and two School Board seats.
All are for 3-year terms except for one 1-year position on the Public Safety Board and another on the School Board.
Residents running for local office can submit the required paperwork to the Borough until 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 25.
Candidacy forms and expectations for positions on the various boards, as well as voting information, can be found on the Petersburg Borough’s website.
Petersburg’s 2026 municipal election day is Oct. 6. The last day to register and qualify to vote is Sept. 6.
