SUNBURY - It's official: Merle H. Phillips will seek election to remain on the Northumberland County board of commissioners.
Phillips, appointed in November to serve the final year of Kurt Masser's four-year term in 2011, announced Friday he will seek nomination to a four-year term in the post in the May 17 primary.
He said he remains undecided if he will run individually or as a team.
"I decided this morning (Friday) to run because so many people, including officials in the county Republican Party, asked me to seek election," Phillips said. "I've enjoyed being a commissioner the past few months, and I believe I can help the people of this county for another four years."
When he was appointed to replace Masser, who was elected to the state Legislature, Phillips said he would only serve as commissioner until the end of 2011. At the time, Northumberland County judges said their decision to pick Phillips and bypass a list of 25 people who had expressed interest in the seat with the county Republican Party was because the recently retired state legislator had no intentions to run for election.
Phillips, 82, who lives in Upper Augusta Township near Sunbury, had said earlier this week when he acknowledged he was considering a bid that he had a right to change his mind.
Two others running
Two other Republicans who announced their candidacies for commissioner are Thomas G. Aber, a Milton tax assessor and inspector for Northumberland County Housing Authority, and Richard J. Schoch, a Sunbury attorney. Schoch has publicly expressed interest in having Phillips as a runningmate.
Incumbent Democratic commissioners Vinny Clausi and Frank Sawicki are seeking re-election. No other Democratic candidates have announced their intention to run.
The deadline for circulating and filing nomination petitions is March 8.
Despite different party affiliations, Phillips' announcement was met with praise from Clausi, who said he's quickly come to admire the retired legislator's approach.
"The man really has his heart in the right place," said Clausi. "He is supporting me in doing the right thing for the taxpayers of Northumberland County."
Phillips had called into WKOK radio to announce on the air his plan to run, and Clausi followed with a call offering his praise.